Chapter 14
Matthew
Closing the door on his relationship with his parents was weird.
But also liberating.
You’d have thought they would’ve fought to keep him in their lives.
But no.
Standing now in his empty kitchen, staring at dirty cups, was oddly grounding. Putting his parents out of his mind—and out of his life—was as simple as placing the mugs in the washer and closing the door.
The oppressive cloud he’d been living under was finally gone.
“Daddy, have they gone?” Toby’s sweet voice called out.
“Yes, baby bear. They’re gone. And they won’t be coming back.”
“Not ever?”
“No, cubby. Not ever.”
“Yay!”
Seeing the joy on his son’s face was bittersweet.
How had he not noticed that Toby hadn’t liked his grandparents coming around?
Seeing him now, beaming as he ran around the house with Barney, was like a ray of sunshine breaking through a storm.
His life—once a battleground of unspoken tensions—was now filled only with the happy chaos of barks and squeals.
And with Daniel, it would be even better.
“What do you want for lunch, champ?”
Toby giggled and pointed toward the fridge. “Mac and cheese!”
The simple request. The simple answer. The simple act of preparing a meal together—it felt like a victory.
Matthew settled in for an afternoon of play. Laughter echoed through the house. Crayon drawings piled up on the table. Barney barked at shadows and tail-wagged through every room.
Later, the sound of Daniel’s key turning in the door was the perfect end to the day.
“Papa’s home!” Toby scrambled down the hall, Barney close on his heels.
Daniel kneeled, scooping Toby into his arms, burying his face in the boy’s soft golden curls, breathing him in.
“Yes, little bear. Papa’s home.”
Matthew watched from the kitchen doorway, heart full.
This—this was what home was supposed to feel like.
Not approval. Not performance.
Just love.