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The twins were digging around in the bags, pulling out items and setting them on the counter. Max stopped, sitting back on his heels as he looked at his father. “Kill who, Dad?”

“No one, don't worry about.”

Jax popped his head up and glanced between us. “Then why did you say it?”

“It's nothing,” Tyler said, his voice growing annoyed. “How about you two go find grandpa and bother him. He loves it when children bother him, maybe you can go through his war chest and try on his old uniforms?”

The boys whipped their heads to look at each other. I couldn't help but think that the two of them had some weird connection where they could talk telepathically. They did it all the time. Someone would ask them a question, or there would be something that they needed to decide together, and that's what they would do.

They would stare at each other, neither one speaking, and then suddenly, as if they had some type of discussion in private, they would answer at the same exact time, with the same exact answer, using the same exact words or mannerisms.

It was wild.

Simultaneously, both boys turned their attention to Tyler. “Alright,” they said together, climbing to their feet and running off. Their quick heels pounded against the floor, moving up the stairs, and disappearing down the hall to the other side of the house.

Standing in silence, Tyler went to speak, but I stopped him. “Look, I know people are saying things, Mom won't tell me what exactly, but I know enough to imagine. But none of them are true. You should know me better than that.”

“I do, I do know.” Dipping his chin into his chest, he ran his hand through his hair. “I just had to make sure. I don't want to be that person that never asks, I'd be so angry at myself if you needed my help, but you were too afraid to come to me, and I never took the time to ask.”

“Tyler, I appreciate the gesture, but I'm not in trouble, I'm not afraid of Yuri, and I know better than to associate with him anymore. So you don't have to worry, okay?”

“Okay,” he said, his voice matter of fact, with no hints of uncertainty.

Finishing up in the kitchen, I carried the bag of decorations into the living room where my mother and Jill were sitting and talking.

“All done with the food, all that's left are these.” Holding out the bag, I placed it at my mother's feet. “Hey, Jill.”

Rising to her feet, she stepped in and gave me a hug. “Hey, Gwen, it's good to see you.”

“Yeah, you too. I can't believe how big the boys have gotten. It's wild.”

“Tell me about it, they're both about to pass me in height, I'll be looking up at them in no time.” Sitting back on the couch, she crossed her leg, setting her hands delicately in her lap. “Congrats by the way, Tyler told me you closed a big case recently? What was it with—the Greenier company?”

“I did, yes, and thank you.”

“Maureen!” my father yelled down from upstairs. “You got to come see this!”

“What?” she screamed back, as if the entire floor between them didn't exist.

“Your grandsons, you gotta see them!”

My mother and Jill stood up, both of them following the sound of his voice. Taking advantage of the empty room, I threw myself onto the couch, settling into the cushions.

I could hear laughter coming from upstairs, and I knew I should probably go see what was so funny. But I felt exhausted. I hadn't slept well since I decided to come home for the holiday, just being in this town again had been the only thing on my mind.

It drained me, completely consuming my brain until I couldn't think about anything else. I was surprised I had even been able to function at the firm with the anxiety I felt about this trip.

The weight on my eyes drew my lids down, causing me drift between sleep and consciousness. Every so often, I'd open my eyes, only to have them yanked back down.

Sleep had taken over, my body so emotionally tired that exhaustion had won.

I could hear voices around me, some were soft and some were loud. Opening my eyes, I looked out the window to see that the daylight was gone and night had taken over.

Pushing myself up on the couch, I looked into the dining room and saw everyone sitting around the table, all of them stringing popcorn onto thread.

Rubbing my eyes, I threw my legs off the couch and sat with my head in my hands, trying to wake up.

“Look who finally decided to get up.” My father was laughing as he threw a piece of popcorn up to catch it in his mouth. “Good evening.”