Page 58 of Before It's Too Late

“Yeah. It’s on the counter over there,” Zach said, pointing to the other side of the kitchen. “I didn’t know what was for dinner, so I just grabbed French.”

“That’s fine. I’ll make it work,” Alex answered.

“Okay, well, I’m gonna go change munchkin here before we eat.” Zach stood with Taylor in his arms and grabbed her diaper bag on his way out of the kitchen.

The moment Zach was out of earshot, Amy looked at Cael. Her voice softened. “How’s he really doing lately, Cael? With handling Taylor and Abbey’s situation?”

Cael sighed and glanced toward the hallway down which Zach had disappeared with Taylor.

“He’s okay. He’s had a hard time, and Friday, it seemed like the dam finally broke. But he’s okay. He’ll be okay.” He paused and looked at Alex as he pulled out the chair beside him and sat. “I’m thinking of staying over at his place on a regular basis from now on to help with Taylor and keep him from feeling so alone.”

Amy smiled sweetly at her husband, then Cael. “And what about you?”

“What do you mean?”

“How are you holding up?”

Cael pressed his lips together and folded his hands on the table. He thought about the best way to answer Amy’s question. How was he holding up? He really hadn’t stopped to think about how he was doing with everything. He’d been focused on Zach, supporting him after his breakup, being there for him after Abbey’s accident, and helping with Taylor.

Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, but somehow, he held them back.

“I’m okay,” he said, his voice hoarse as he spoke through the strain in his throat. “Abbey’s my family, too. You all are.” Cael shook his head gently and closed his eyes, rubbing a hand over his face. “I just wish there was more I could do.”

Amy reached a trembling hand across the table and placed it over Cael’s.

Cael rubbed at his watery eyes, trying to catch the tears before they fell, but it was no use. A few drops slipped free. He quickly wiped them away. His heart weighed heavy in his chest and it suddenly felt as though his lungs had no room to expand.

“Sorry. I’m sorry,” he whispered. Cael pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep, steadying breath.

“Cael?”

Cael looked up at the sound of Zach’s concerned voice, hoping he didn’t look too distraught. Zach had enough to deal with. The least Cael could do was keep it together.

“Dad, will you take her?” Zach said, handing Taylor off to Alex. He came around behind Cael and leaned down, wrapping his arms around him and pressing his nose into Cael’s hair.

Cael straightened and clamped his hand over Zach’s as they rested against his chest. “I’m okay,” he whispered.

“You sure?”

Cael nodded. “Yeah,” he said, his voice a little firmer. “I’m good.”

The oven timer beeped, and Cael gave Zach’s hand a squeeze, then let go. Alex started to get up but Zach stopped him.

“I’ll get it, Dad.”

Zach stepped away and grabbed the potholders off the counter. After slipping them on his hands, he opened the oven and pulled the casserole out then set it on the glass stove top. Removing the mitts, he closed the door and pressed the button to turn off the oven. Opening an upper cabinet, Zach pulled down a stack of plates and placed them on the counter.

“Let it set for a few minutes, Zach,” his dad said, holding Taylor on his knee.

The mood lightened during dinner and continued long after as the conversation drifted over happier topics, such as Chloe nearing completion of her Master’s degree in art history, Gramm’s successful recovery from the back surgery and subsequent stroke she’d had several months ago, and Taylor’s most recent accomplishments, including the latest additions to her vocabulary.

“Fortunately,” Cael said, the corner of his mouth lifting, “Taylor hasn’t repeated any of Zach’s colorful words as of yet.”

“Hey, I’m getting better.”

“You are, but I swear, one of these days, she’ll do it, and I’m gonna bust up laughing when she does.”

“Zaa,” Taylor said, her adorable smile stretched wide across her cheeks as she smacked her palm on the high chair’s plastic tray.