Chapter Thirty-Five - James
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
James
The house was dark and still when James unlocked the front door and stepped inside, the faint creak of the hinges breaking the silence. He slipped off his shoes, careful not to make a sound, and set his bag down by the entryway.
The drive back had been grueling—four hours on the highway after back-to-back meetings. His shoulders ached from being hunched over his steering wheel, and the exhaustion weighed heavy in his bones. But he was home, and that made the long day worth it.
James moved quietly through the house, checking the locks on the front and back doors, his hand pausing briefly on each bolt. Habit. Routine. A small act of ensuring his family was safe, even while they slept.
The soft sound of Lily’s steady breathing drew him toward her room. He eased the door open just enough to peek inside. She was curled under her blanket, one arm draped over her stuffed unicorn, her hair splayed across the pillow like a halo.
He smiled faintly, his heart aching with the love he felt for her.
The same routine took him to Noah’s room. The door was slightly ajar, and the glow of a charging phone cast a dim light over the room. Noah was sprawled on his bed, one arm dangling off the side, his breathing deep and even. James watched for a moment, wondering how his son had grown so fast, and how he’d managed to keep some of that teenage anger softened these past few weeks.
He stepped back into the hallway, his feet instinctively carrying him to the door of the nursery.
The partially finished room was quiet, bathed in the faint light of the moon spilling through the open curtains.
James leaned against the doorframe, letting his tired eyes roam over the room. He imagined it as it would be—the soft light, the baby sleeping peacefully, Kate sitting in the rocking chair he was planning to buy her.
The ache in his chest tightened. He had hurt her. Hurt them. And yet, they were building something new together, piece by fragile piece.
He stayed there for a long moment, letting the quiet of the house settle around him before he turned and made his way to the master bedroom.
The door creaked softly as he opened it, and he was met with the faint scent of Kate’s lotion. She was lying on her side, her back to the door, her breathing soft and rhythmic.
James undressed quietly, folding his shirt over the back of the chair in the corner and slipping under the covers beside her. The bed dipped slightly as he settled in, careful not to disturb her.
But then she stirred, her body shifting slightly toward him.
“You’re late,” she murmured, her voice groggy but warm.
“I know,” he whispered, moving closer until his chest brushed her back. “Long day.”
Kate hummed in acknowledgment, her hand reaching back to lightly brush his thigh.
James pressed a soft kiss to the back of her head, the weight of the day melting away as the warmth of her body settled against his.
“I’m home,” he whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room.