Page 30

Chapter twenty-nine

Go kick some ass, Captain Thunder

Jake

M orning light filters through the curtains as I stir, still caught between sleep and waking. It’s too early to be conscious, but it’s time for me to get going. I feel Charlotte’s hand reach out, pulling me back as I try to move.

“Charlie,” I whisper, my voice rough with sleep, “I’ve gotta get going or I’ll miss my flight.”

She mumbles something incoherent as she nuzzles into me, her warmth tethering me to the moment. I’m supposed to leave before the kids wake up, to slip out quietly and catch my flight, but the way she holds onto me makes it impossible to pull away.

“Just five more minutes,” she murmurs.

I groan softly. “You know I can’t say no to you.”

Just as I’m settling back, the soft click of the bedroom door handle catches my attention. I freeze, glancing up to see a small figure standing in the doorway.

“Mama?”

It’s Meadow, clutching her stuffed unicorn, her eyes wide and teary. She looks so small, so fragile, and every protective instinct in me flares.

“Meadow, honey, what’s wrong?” Charlie asks, her voice calm even though I can feel her pulse quicken under my hand on her arm.

“I had a bad dream,” Meadow whispers, her voice trembling.

Without a second thought, I sit up and hold out my arms. “Come here, Pr incess.”

For a second I think she’ll hesitate, but she doesn’t. Meadow climbs onto the bed and snuggles up between us like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I pull her close, feeling her small body relax against mine, and my heart swells in a way I didn’t know it could. I glance at Charlotte, who looks as surprised as I feel.

This wasn’t part of the plan. We were supposed to ease the kids into the idea of us being together, to protect them from any confusion. But as Meadow settles in, her eyes drifting shut, I realize this might be how it was meant to happen all along.

Charlie watches us, her eyes soft as she takes in the scene. She reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from Meadow’s face. “Jake was just about to leave for his trip.”

“Stay,” Meadow mumbles, her voice already heavy with sleep as she clings to me.

I drop a kiss to the top of her head, the weight of this unexpected moment hitting me hard. “I’m not going anywhere just yet.”

As Meadow drifts off, I glance at Charlie, our eyes meeting in the quiet morning light. This wasn’t how I imagined it, but holding Meadow here, trusting me to keep her safe, makes everything else seem unimportant.

“Charlie,” I whisper, careful not to wake Meadow, “when I get back, we’ll figure out how to tell them. Properly.”

She nods, her eyes soft with something that looks a lot like love. I feel it too—this need to protect, to cherish, to be the man both she and the kids can count on. I’ve never wanted anything more.

I listen to Meadow’s small, sleepy breaths as she falls back into a deep sleep. Charlie has drifted off too, her face peaceful, the gentle curve of her lips slightly parted. I let myself watch her for a few moments, taking in her beautiful face, her eyelashes soft against her cheeks.

I love you.

Finally, I slip out of bed as quietly as I can, careful not to wake them. The room is still d ark, just the faintest hint of dawn sweeping through the room. I press a kiss to Charlotte’s temple and let my lips linger on her skin for a moment, before heading downstairs.

The house is silent, the kind of stillness that only comes before the world wakes up. It’s way too early, but I’ve got a flight to catch, and leaving before the kids wake up was the plan. After Meadow’s appearance though, it feels like a step forward—unexpected, but somehow perfect.

After freshening up in the downstairs bathroom, I head to the kitchen, scrolling through my phone while I wait for the Uber. The only sound is the soft ticking of the clock on the wall.

It’s almost too peaceful, like the calm before the storm. I can feel the weight of the next week pressing down on me, the distance that’s about to stretch between us.

A creak of a floorboard pulls my attention up, and I see a small figure in the doorway. Noah’s wide eyes lock on mine, and I can tell he’s still half-asleep, piecing together what he’s seeing.

“Hey, Noah,” I say softly, careful not to startle him. “It’s just me.”

He blinks, rubbing his eyes. “Jake?” His voice is sleepy, a little confused, but there’s no fear.

“Yeah, buddy. Just waiting for my ride.”

Noah steps into the kitchen, holding a small cup. “I was getting some water.”

I nod, watching as he moves to the sink, filling his glass. He’s quiet, more observant than I would’ve expected. As he takes a sip, he glances at me, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. He’s sharp for his age, but instead of questioning, he just nods to himself, like this is all perfectly normal.

“You’re going?” he asks.

“Yeah, got a flight to catch. But I’ll be back soon.”

He nods again, taking another sip. “Okay.”

His matter-of-fact tone catches me off guard. He’s not surprised; not questioning why I’m here so early. It’s like he’s already accepted it, and that makes me feel a little more at ease.

Soft footsteps on the stairs make us both look up, and there ’s Charlie in mismatched pajamas, her hair tousled. She freezes when she sees us, her eyes flicking between me and Noah, a mix of surprise and something like relief crossing her face.

“Noah,” she says gently, moving toward him, “what are you doing up so early?”

“Just getting some water.” He holds up his glass as proof.

Charlotte glances at me, her eyes softening as she places a hand on Noah’s shoulder. “It’s still really early, bud. Why don’t you go back to bed for a little while longer?”

Noah nods, his eyes flicking to me again. “Bye, Jake,” he adds before heading back upstairs.

“Bye, buddy,” I reply.

Charlotte waits until Noah’s door clicks shut, then turns to me, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “He didn’t seem too surprised to see you.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “No, he didn’t. He’s a sharp kid.”

She steps closer, wrapping her arms around my middle as she rests her head into my chest. “Guess we might have underestimated how much they’re aware of.”

“Yeah,” I murmur, resting my lips to her hairline. “But I think that’s a good thing.”

Charlie tilts her head to look up at me, then leans in to press a soft kiss to my jaw. “I’m gonna miss you like crazy.”

“Same, but I’ll be back before you know it…" I brush my lips slowly against the tender skin where her neck meets her jaw. “And I’m not leaving you alone, remember? You’ve got the world’s best friends upstairs to keep you company.”

She groans softly, playfully smacking my shoulder. “Seriously, Jake, let it go.”

I chuckle, the sound rumbling in my chest. “We’ll talk to them properly when I get back, okay? Make sure they know what’s going on.”

She nods, her fingers tightening slightly on my shirt. “Okay.”

We stand there a moment, holding each other, neither wanting to let go. But then the app for my ride pings, shattering the quiet. I want to throw my phone across the room and crawl back into bed with her, but I have to go.

I pull back and tilt her chin up to kiss her thoroughly, like I’m trying to make it last the whole week.

When we finally pull apart, I rest my forehead against hers. “I’ll call you when I land.”

“Safe travels,” she whispers.

I grab my bag and head for the door, but stop and turn back to look at her one last time. She’s standing there, watching me with a soft smile, and I know on the spot this week apart is going to be harder than I thought.

“I’ll see you soon,” I say, forcing a smile, hoping it hides the unease gnawing at me.

“See you soon,” she echoes.

Opening the door, I pause and glance back one more time. “Remember, I’m just a call away. If you need anything, you know I’ve got you.”

Her smile widens as she leans against the doorframe. “I know. Now go kick some ass, Captain Thunder.”

“You got it, Lady Lightning.” I flash her a grin before heading out into the early morning.

As I walk down the driveway, the chill in the air biting at my skin, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m leaving a part of myself behind, right there in that house with Charlie and the kids.

***

Charlie

After Jake leaves, I linger in bed a while longer, watching Meadow sleep. Her little face is so peaceful, her breaths soft and even. I brush a hand over her hair, marveling at how angelic she looks like this. The room feels quiet—almost too q uiet without Jake beside me.

But the quiet doesn’t last long. I hear the familiar creak of Noah’s door, and soon enough, his sleepy figure appears in the doorway, rubbing his eyes. “Mum? Is Jake gone?”

I nod, giving him a soft smile. “Yeah, sweetie. He had to catch his flight.”

Noah shuffles over and climbs into bed, settling himself on the other side of me. He’s quieter than usual, and I can tell something’s on his mind. I wrap my arm around his shoulders, pulling him close. “You okay, buddy?”

He shrugs, looking down at his hands. “I just... I like having him around. It feels nice.”

I swallow the immediate lump rising in my throat, pulling him even closer. “It is nice, isn’t it? Jake loves being here with us, too.”

He nods, leaning into me. “I hope he’s not gone for too long.”

“He won’t be,” I assure him. “He’ll be back before you know it.”

The three of us stay like that for a while, huddled together under the covers, soaking up the warmth of the morning. Meadow eventually shifts, waking up and blinking her sleepy eyes at us.

“Morning, honey bee,” I whisper, brushing a hand over her hair.

“Hi Mama,” she murmurs, snuggling closer. “Where’s Jake?”

“He’s gone to work, but he’ll be back soon.” I tell her, and she nods slowly, not fully awake yet.

As we lie there, I think about how seamlessly Jake has woven himself into our lives, how natural it feels to have him here, to talk about where he is and when he’ll be back. Noah’s calm acceptance, even after seeing Jake here early this morning, surprises me in the best way. Maybe this isn’t as complicated as I’ve been making it out to be.

A thought crosses my mind, and I reach for my phone on the nightstand. “Hey, how about we send Jake a picture to say goodbye?”

Meadow’s eyes light up, and she immediately pulls a silly face. “Like this, Mama?”

“Exactly like that,” I laugh, adjusting the camera to capture all three of us. “Come on , Noah, let’s make Jake smile.”

Noah breaks into a grin, before the three of us pull our most ridiculous faces: Noah sticking out his tongue, Meadow with her bunny ears, and me puckering up with an exaggerated kissy face. We look ridiculous with hair mussed, still in pajamas, and completely unfiltered.

But we also look happy. Really happy.

I send the picture to Jake with a quick message.

Me: Good luck, Captain Thunder! We’re thinking of you ??

As soon as I hit send, a pang hits me, missing him already. But the thought of him seeing that picture, knowing we’re thinking of him, brings a smile to my face.

It doesn’t take long for my phone to buzz. I open the message to see a photo of Jake on the plane, sticking his tongue out and his eyes twinkling with mischief. He’s holding the phone close, his expression playful, but there’s something tender in the way he’s looking at the camera.

Jake: You three just made my whole damn morning ?? Missing you like crazy already. And now I get to flash my new screensaver at anyone who tries to sit next to me.

I laugh, imagining him with our silly picture as his screensaver. I show the kids the photo, and they both giggle at Jake’s silly face. It’s so Jake, and even with miles between us, it makes me feel close to him.

As the kids and I get ready to head out for the day, I take one last look at the picture on my phone. The three of us, messy and carefree, captured in a moment of pure joy. It’s a reminder that no matter how far away Jake is, no matter how complicated things might get, we’re building something special together.

Something worth holding on to.