“I am so sorry. Deposition ran late. Some asshole fired his employee when he found out she was pregnant,” you said with a shake of your head. “You should have seen his face when I stood up and he saw this.” You pointed to your pregnant belly and raised an eyebrow.

“I can imagine,” Peter replied with a tight smile. His jaw was tense as he twirled the dark liquid in his glass. “As long as I’ve had this job there are still some things that knock the wind right out of me. Just when I think I’ve seen the worse one human can do to another, I get the rug pulled right out from under me.”

After you toed your shoes off you took a seat on the couch facing Peter. “That doesn’t sound good,” you said as you scooted closer to him. “What happened?”

Peter sighed. “It was the mother.”

“The mother?  Oh my God, Peter. The kids and father that were murdered,” you gasped.  “How did-I can’t even wrap my mind around that.”

“Yeah. Everyone is beside themselves. She admitted to killing all three of them. Said she did it because she didn’t want to see her kids suffer,” he informed you. “What kind of mother does that?”

The two of you sat in silence. Both lost in your own thoughts. Julian, Audra and now the twins were everything to you. A mother is supposed to protect her children, not hurt them. The thought made you sick to your stomach. And she killed her husband. Losing one of them was your worst nightmare.

The front door opening brought you out of your thoughts. Julian came bounding into the family room full of energy and excitement. “Mom! Dad!” He gave both of you a hug then settled in your lap. “We saw the tigers today and the polar bear made a big splash when he jumped into the water!”

Peter listened as Julian talked about the day at the zoo. He gave Julian a high five when he talked about petting a snake.

“Oh wow! I bet that was so cool!”, you joined in his enthusiasm. Your Dad followed behind carrying a sleeping Audra in his arms. “Thanks for taking them to the zoo today. Sounds like everyone had a good time. Where’s Mom?”

“It was our pleasure, darling,” your dad responded. “She’s waiting in the car. It wiped her out too.”

“Here. I’ll take her,” Peter said to your Dad as he stood from the couch.

Your Dad eyed the empty tumbler on the table then looked at you. The look you shot back told him not to start. He sighed and handed Audra over to Peter. “How have you been, Peter. Y/N said work has been keeping you on your toes,” he stated

“Fine. Thank you. Never a dull moment. Hope all is well with you.”. Peter’s response was terse.  He left the room to lay Audra down. You doubted him and your father would ever like one another. They were cordial to one another but you knew it was all for your benefit.

Your Dad shook his head. “Well better get going.” He hugged Julian and kissed your cheek. “Love ya bug. Take care of him. He looks…worried.”

At first, you were shocked. He seemed genuinely concerned about Peter. “I will. Love you too Dad.”

There was just enough light from the bathroom to make out your faces. Peter watched as you and the kids slept. Julian and Audra were snuggled up together with your arm over both of them. His whole world. His reason for living. The love he had for his family was insurmountable.

“You coming to bed or just going to stand there all night?” You asked drowsily not opening your eyes.

Peter smiled then shut off the bathroom light. He slid into bed and kissed your temple, then the kids before getting comfortable. He put an arm over the kids, his hand rested on your hip. “Good night. I love you so, so much,” he whispered into the dark.

“I know. We love you too babe.”