I leaned against the worn wooden bar, fingers wrapped tightly around a glass of whiskey as I stared into the amber depths, my thoughts scattered yet heavy. The past few weeks had blurred together, a chaotic storm finally beginning to settle into something resembling calm. Shay was safe, her attacker permanently dealt with, and the relief should’ve felt complete. Instead, a lingering melancholy persisted, an undercurrent pulling at the edges of every moment.
The baby's arrival loomed close—just one week away—and everything was about to change forever. Excitement warred with an anxiety that left me sleepless most nights. Parenthood was a responsibility unlike any other I'd faced, and I wasn't sure I was fully prepared for it, despite everyone’s assurances.
Tonight, the boys insisted on one
