Connie

She put Ryleigh back in her bassinette and then slid back in bed. It was Saturday and Chip didn't have to work, so they hadn't had to get up so early. Except that she had, to feed Ryleigh. He had whispered to her as she got up to be sure and come back. She had looked at him, his hair mussed from sleep, his eyes half closed, and a lazy smile on his face, and smiled. She really wanted to just stay in bed, but she had kissed him and then reluctantly rolled out of bed to tend to their daughter.

It was still pretty early, the sun just barely starting to peak through the curtains. She slid back under the covers and scooted over closer to him. He rolled onto his side and kissed her. "Mornin', baby," he said, his voice still thick with sleep. He ran his hand over her bottom and then underneath the shirt she had on, resting his hand on her back. He tucked his head into her shoulder and breathed in. "You smell good," he murmured.

"I do?" she murmured, running her fingers through his hair. He'd had a long day, not getting home until after dinnertime, so she thought he might sleep in longer.

He nodded. "Um hm," he whispered. He lifted his head then, his hair flopping over his eyebrow. "Aren't you going out with my mom today?"

"I am. We're going to look for some cute baby clothes."

He frowned playfully. "Doesn't she already have more than she needs?"

She shrugged and smiled good-naturedly. "Probably. But who am I to deny your mom the chance to buy things for her granddaughter?" She held up her finger. "But remember, you're on dad duty while we're gone."

He smirked. "I guess you're right about that." he rolled onto his back. "Can we just lie here a little longer?" he turned his head to look at her. "I feel like we haven't seen enough of each other."

She snuggled up next to him, her head on his shoulder. She felt his arm around her. "I like that idea," she murmured. She closed her eyes and fell back asleep.

When she woke up again, the sun was shining brightly through the curtains. She sat up, then realized she was in bed alone. She threw back the covers and got up, stopping to check on a still sleeping Ryleigh. She knew it wouldn't be long before she was awake and hungry, so she didn't bother to wake her. She put on her glasses and headed out into the hall. Yoby's door was open and she could hear his voice, along with Chip's, downstairs, so she followed.

When she rounded the corner to the kitchen, she saw Yoby sitting at the kitchen table and Chip at the stove, flipping pancakes. Yoby saw her then and yelled, "Mama! Pancakes!"

She smiled. "I see that." She walked over to Chip and, putting a hand on his arm, leaned in for a kiss. "Pancakes, huh?" she smiled.

"Yep," he said, grinning back at her. "Want some?"

"Sure, why not?"

He pointed his spatula over towards the table. "Have a seat and I'll bring you some," he said.

She walked over and sat down next to Yoby, who had his pancakes all cut up and syrup all over the plate. And his face. She laughed. "You're kind of a mess, Yobes," she said.

He nodded his head and smiled. "I know!" She and Chip both laughed.

"Yoby, you finished those up yet?" Chip asked, looking over.

"Almost," he said, and turned his attention back to his plate. She watched as he picked up pancake bites with his fingers and popped them in his mouth.

She leaned towards him. "Honey, you're getting syrup all over your fingers," she said.

Yoby dropped the fork he'd been holding, apparently just for show, and looked at his hands. He looked at her with confusion and she reached for one of his hands. She put his fingers in her mouth one by one, licking off the syrup. Before she finished, he was doing the same with his other hand. Then he held up both hands to her, palms out. "All cwean!" he shouted out proudly.

"Well, they're still a little sticky." She got up and got a dish towel, running some water over it. She sat back down and wiped his hands, being sure to get the sticky syrup off each finger. When she finished, Chip was bringing her a plate. He set it down and took the dish towel from her, along with Yoby's plate, setting them in the sink. Then he came back and sat next to her. Yoby climbed down off the chair and she watched as he sprinted into the den, then hit the floor, sliding into his toy cars. She looked back at Chip and smiled.

"What time are you and Mom going out?"

She picked up the syrup and poured some on her pancakes. "About 10:30 or so. We'll have lunch too." She cut a bite of pancakes and put them in her mouth. "These are good, babe," she said, when she had swallowed.

He smiled. "I'm the pancake king," he said proudly.

She laughed. "Indeed you are." She ate a few more bites, then pushed the plate back. "I don't need to eat anymore, since your mom and I are going to lunch." Just then the downstairs baby monitor was filled with Ryleigh's cries. "Well, I guess I'm done anyway. Your daughter is hungry." She smirked at him.

He raised an eyebrow. "Lucky girl," he said. She swatted his arm and stood up, leaning down for a kiss before she hurried upstairs.

She and Cynthia were seated on the patio of a small café in Hillsboro Village. The server had just taken their order and they sat back in their seats, enjoying the unexpectedly pleasant August day. She reached down and touched the handles of one of the bags next to her. "You were so sweet to buy these little outfits for Ryleigh, Cynthia," she said. "They're so adorable. And the books. I can't believe we forgot all about books."

Cynthia smiled. "it was my pleasure. A grandmother is supposed to spoil her grandchildren, even when they're teeny tiny. And it's so hard to resist all the cute little girl clothes and shoes. You'll learn that quickly." She took a sip of her tea. "When do you go back to work?"

She made a face. "In two weeks." She sighed. "I wish I had more time at home with Ryleigh. When I go back she'll be at the point where she really should just have been born. I had no idea that it would be so hard to even think about going back to work."

Cynthia frowned. "They can't go on without you?"

She shrugged. "The real problem is that they can't start the season without me. They're running out of time to edit my scenes in. I guess they could have written Rayna out of the first few episodes, but they just weren't going to do that. They are at least compressing my shooting schedule for a while."

"You'll take Ryleigh with you, right?"

She nodded. "And Yoby. And a nanny. Chip will be there too, on days we shoot together."

"I'm sure you'll work it out." Cynthia smiled at her encouragingly. Just then the server came with their food, setting it down in front of them. After she left, Cynthia seemed a little pensive. "So Chip told me he decided he's going to go pick up the kids at the airport tomorrow."

She nodded. "Yeah."

"I think the plan is for them just to come to the Airbnb so they can rest up and then they'll come over Monday, since Chip isn't working that day."

"Right." She felt her stomach turn over and set down her fork. "I'm nervous about how this is going to go. I'm so afraid Chip has these unrealistic ideas about everything. I think he's counting on Ryleigh to somehow be like a fairy, waving her magic wand over everyone to make it all right."

Cynthia sighed. "I'm worried about him. You're right, he goes through life with rose colored glasses on. Cathy and I have always said that. He's positive that the force of his personality is going to bring people together. And the truth is, he often does. He's that kind of man. He sees the good and tries his hardest to keep the energy up and all that." She took a sip of tea. "I hate to say it, but I think he's going to be very disappointed. They're still working through their feelings right now. Especially about him."

She breathed in. "I hate that I'm the cause of all this."

Cynthia shook her head. "It's not all on you, Connie. He's their father. They had him on a pedestal and now he's toppled off. And it's all very confusing and it's still new in many ways. And now there's a baby sister, which complicates it more." She smiled a little sadly. "I don't mean to sound like all doom and gloom. I know they really want to meet Ryleigh. No matter what else, she's their sister. And I know Taylor and Chase are looking forward to seeing Yoby, and I think Addie's going to love him too. But you need to be prepared. They could act out, especially Addie. This has really been tougher on her. Maybe it's her age, maybe it's that she and Chip were so close. I haven't really talked to her about it, so I'm not sure of everything she feels. What I do know is that you'll need to be there for Chip." She paused. "And I think it's going to be tough on you too."

She nodded. "I think you're right. But I can deal with it. It's Chip I worry about."

Chip

He lay in bed, waiting for her to come back. He had woken up every time she had during the night. He was already anxious about picking the kids up at the airport. He wanted the visit to go well, wanted them to love Ryleigh and wanted that to start changing things. At times he felt like he was being optimistic all alone. But they were his kids. And he loved them. He wanted to show them that nothing had to change. Just then Connie walked back in the room, placing Ryleigh back in her bassinette. Then she turned towards the bed and crawled under the sheets.

"Are you awake again?" she asked.

"Yes," he said. "Waiting for you." He reached for her, pulling her in close. She rested her head on his shoulder and he felt her hand on his chest. She put her toes on his leg and moved them up and down. He was getting aroused by it and he breathed in deeply. Her hand moved down his abdomen and he swallowed, waiting. She slid her hand under the waistband of his shorts. When she touched him, he groaned deep in his chest.

Her fingers were just slightly cool and gentle at first, as she slid them up his length. He sucked in his breath. He loved having her touch him, although he knew he wouldn't let it go on for long. As much as he enjoyed this, he preferred being inside her. She wrapped her hand around him and began stroking him. He choked on a groan, trying to be quiet. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her in for a deep kiss. Her grip got a little tighter and her strokes picked up speed. He was getting closer to the edge, so he reached for her hand and moved it aside, then slowly slid his finger inside her, checking to see how ready she was. She moaned into his mouth as he pushed all the way inside her. She was slick and warm, definitely ready.

He moved his hand as he rolled her onto her back, his mouth not leaving hers. She wasn't wearing panties, which made things easier. He moved into her gently, taking it slow, being mindful that she could still sometimes have a little discomfort. She was arching her back, pressing her pelvis against him, and let her legs fall open, opening herself more to him. Finally he was fully inside her, not an inch of space between the two of them. He heard her deeply satisfied moan and felt it against his chest. He released her mouth, looking down into her eyes. He smiled. "You good?" he whispered.

She nodded. "I'm good," she whispered back, lifting her arms and wrapping them around his neck. She drew him back down to kiss her. She shifted against him, letting him know she was ready. He started with a gentle rhythm, keeping an eye on her face to make sure she was okay. Things had gotten a little rough several days earlier and he knew she'd suffered some discomfort that had lingered. He didn't want to do that again until she was ready for it.

He leaned into her ear. "You feel amazing," he said softly. She did. She still fit tight around him and, as usual, it escalated his pleasure. Her eyes were fluttering and her lips slightly parted and he knew she was right on edge. He slid one hand under her bottom, tipping her closer against him. She drew in a quick breath and he pushed against her, suddenly letting go. He pressed his mouth against her shoulder, aware of the strangled noises he was making as she stiffened for a second and then rocked her hips again and again, squeezing him inside her as she came. He followed almost immediately behind her.

He collapsed on top of her, breathing hard. She kept her arms around his neck, breathing hard herself. He held her close for a few minutes, then kissed her forehead and moved over, lying on his side facing her. he let his fingers trail down her arm and she turned her head to look at him. "I love you," she murmured.

He smiled. "I love you too."

She smiled back. "Go back to sleep." He nodded. He was definitely exhausted. She rolled onto her side, her back facing him and tucked in against him. He wrapped his arm around her and closed his eyes.

When he woke up later, the sun was shining brightly in the room through the curtains. Connie was gone. He felt a little disoriented at first as he tried to remember what day it was. He'd been working a lot and having a newborn in the house, and in their bedroom, was exhausting. Ryleigh was a good baby overall but, after all, she was still a baby. He smiled when he thought about her. She still had those bright blue eyes and the barely there tufts of dark hair. She was gaining weight but she was still tiny. She was starting to be able to focus on whoever was speaking and was even beginning to develop some of her own personality traits. Connie was happier having her home and he loved watching her with their daughter. When he remembered his mom was in town, that's when he remembered what day of the week it was.

It was the day Taylor, Chase, and Addie were coming to Nashville.

They had been to Nashville once before. It had been in October, when there had been a long weekend because of teacher workdays. Patty and the kids had flown out to take a look around and get the lay of the land. His relationship with Connie was still new and it had created a rift between the two of them. It had been one of those occasions where she had pushed him away, telling him she couldn't be involved with him. They had bickered about it and had both said things they later regretted. As much as he'd tried to focus on his family and not her, he knew he would need to make it up to her. He'd shown up on her front porch after he'd dropped the family off at the airport and they had made up until the early morning hours.

"I really don't know if I have the strength for this, Chip," she said, as he held her close in his arms. "I feel like what I should do is the right thing, the correct thing, not the selfish thing. I feel completely selfish and like I don't know right from wrong."

He kissed her forehead. "Are you saying we're wrong? That we shouldn't love each other?"

She looked into his eyes. "Yes, that's what I'm saying. I shouldn't want you, I shouldn't be doing this right now with you. I shouldn't have let you in my house tonight."

It hurt him to his core to hear her like this, although he knew why she said it and he also knew why he should listen. It wasn't as though he didn't feel incredible guilt. It wasn't that he didn't understand the consequences. "But we love each other, Connie," he said. "Or at least I love you. Are you saying you don't love me?"

She breathed in. "No, you know that's not what I'm saying. But we should be able to control those feelings." She sighed. "I feel terrible."

He knew he shouldn't do it, but he also knew the words were words she felt she had to say. So he slid his hand between them and touched her between her legs. She moaned, but she didn't pull away. He gently pushed the tip of his finger inside her and she moaned again and then arched herself against him. "I don't think you feel terrible," he murmured into her ear.

"Chip," she whispered, a lightness to her voice, and then he felt her relax. He thrust his finger all the way inside her and she squirmed. "Oh, Chip," she groaned. He rolled her onto her back and she then took him in again enthusiastically.

It had always been like that for them, but that night had seemed to be the turning point, when she gave up trying to push him away and went all in. And somehow he had forgotten what the consequences could be until he was faced with her pregnancy. He'd had to make a decision then and he had followed his heart. He knew he wouldn't have changed that decision. But now he wanted his kids to accept them. All of them. He was determined to figure that out.

He was early. Way early. But he was looking forward to seeing them and he hadn't wanted to wait. Plus he had that nervous anxiety. So he was standing just outside the security checkpoint, watching every group of people who walked through. Finally he saw them and he couldn't help but smile. Taylor was the first and she came up and hugged him.

"Hey, Dad," she said, with a big smile.

He hugged her back, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Hey, Tay," he said, feeling emotional. "I'm so glad you're here. How was the flight?"

"Long, but fine. Tiring."

"Well, y'all are staying with Nana and she's got a pretty nice place." He then grabbed Chase for a hug and finally turned to Addie, who was hanging back with a sullen look on her face.

He ignored the look, just happy to see her. Since she hadn't come to the beach, he hadn't seen her since he'd left LA. "Hey, baby," he said as he hugged her close. "You doing okay?"

She pulled away and crossed her arms over her chest, shrugging. "I guess," she said, not really looking directly at him. He felt like his heart was being ripped out. She turned and started to head for the baggage claim.

He hurried to catch up with her, putting his arm around her shoulders. After a second, she shrugged it off and stepped away from him. "Addie," he said. She kept walking. "Addie," he said again, his voice a little more firm.

She looked back at him, an angry look on her face. "What?"

He frowned. "It's been a while since I've seen you, Addie. Can you drop the attitude for at least a little while?" She didn't respond, just walked over to the steps and jogged down them quickly, leaving the rest of them behind. He decided to let it go for the time being, not really wanting to get into it in a public area. Once they picked up their bags, they headed for the exit and the parking lot beyond.

"How's the baby doing, Dad?" Taylor asked as they walked across to the lot.

He smiled, glad to have something pleasant to talk about. "She's good. Gaining weight." He grinned. "I think she smiled at me the other day, so clearly she's pretty smart and ahead of the curve."

"Well, we're looking forward to meeting her." She smiled. "The pictures of her are so adorable. I think she looks like you."

He laughed. "That's what Connie says, but I think she looks more like her." Addie suddenly seemed to bristle and she fast walked ahead of them. She was about to walk past the row he was parked on, so he called out to her. "Sweetie, you're going too far." She looked back with a glare, then turned left. He felt a pit in his stomach. This was not going well, at least with Addie, and it worried him.

He pulled into the driveway of the Airbnb. Taylor and Chase had been talkative on the way over and had caught him up on things that were happening in their lives since they'd all left the beach. Addie sat silently in the front passenger seat, with her arms crossed, looking out of the side window. He had tried to pull her into the conversation in the car, but she refused and he decided to let it be. Taylor and Chase got out of the car and then he popped the trunk. His mom came out of the front door and he was getting ready to get out and grab the suitcases when Addie finally spoke.

"I don't want to see her," she said, her voice tight and angry.

"What?" he asked. "But you came all this way..."

She turned to look at him, her eyes blazing and her face red. "I'm not talking about the baby. I'm talking about her. I won't come over if she's going to be around. And I'm not speaking to her. I don't want her anywhere around." Her voice was loud and cutting. It was loud enough that Taylor and Chase had turned to look and his mom had a worried look on her face.

He was a little stunned, but then he frowned. "I'm sorry, Addie, but that's just not going to happen."

"I can't believe you would let her be in the house while we're there. She ruined everything. I'll go home if you make me even see her."

He glanced at his mom and she seemed to give him a warning look. He looked back at Addie. "Addie, she's Ryleigh's mother. And Ryleigh is a newborn and needs her mother. That's just not negotiable."

Addie was silent at first, but she was shaking with anger. Finally she looked at him. "I hate her and I hate you. Everything is wrong. I wish I'd never come out here." She then jumped out of the car and ran towards the house, pulling away even when his mom tried to reach out for her. She opened the front door and ran in, slamming the door behind her.

He just stood there, looking in the direction his daughter had gone. He couldn't decide whether to go after her or to just let it go for the time being. He wanted to cry, but he also wanted to tell her how rude she'd been. He saw, out of the corner of his eye, his mom gesture towards Taylor and Chase to go inside. Then she walked over to him. "I'm sorry, Chip," she said.

He shook his head. "No. That's unacceptable. She can't just demand Connie leave while they're here. it's rude."

She put a hand on his arm. "Chip, this is hard for her."

He looked at her. "I don't care, Mom. She's not going to tell me what to do."

"I understand how you feel," she said.

He raised his eyebrows. "Do you? Connie's my...well, she's Ryleigh's mama. She deserves to be treated more respectfully than that."

"Chip, Connie is the one who took you away from them. That's how they see it. Their lives are turned upside down because of what happened between the two of you. I think you need to consider whether fighting Addie is worth losing her altogether." He just stared at her. "Look, it was a long flight. It's an emotional situation they're walking into. Let them get some sleep and maybe things will look a little different in the morning." She paused. "I think you should go home and prepare Connie. Let me take care of them tonight. Please."

He hesitated. He didn't want to leave things as they were, but he also knew it might be easier if it was his mom who tried to reason with Addie. Finally he nodded. "Okay." She hugged him.

"Go home. Get some sleep. Talk to Connie." She gave him an encouraging smile. "We'll get through this."

He hesitated again, but he finally, reluctantly, got back in the car and headed for home.

Connie

She could see it on his face, the minute he walked in the door. His jaw was set, his eyes smoldering with anger. She had a lump in the pit of her stomach as she watched him. He slammed his keys down on the counter. He didn't say anything, just paced around the kitchen at first. Finally he headed for the den, stopping to pour a glass of whiskey before he came and sat on the couch. He took a long swallow and then breathed out. She could tell it hadn't gone well and that, in fact, something had really pissed him off. She waited, but he just kept taking hits from his glass and not looking at her. When he'd drained the glass, he leaned forward and slammed it down on the coffee table, making her jump.

"What happened?" she asked. He looked at her and the mix of anger and hurt in his eyes nearly took her breath away. "Chip, please tell me." Suddenly it was as though he had just crumbled right there in front of her. Tears streaked down his face, his lips seemed to tremble, and the fire just went out of him. She got up from her end of the couch and went to sit in his lap, wrapping her arms around him. He leaned into her, his body shaking with tears, putting his arms around her. She let him cry, just holding him and making soothing noises. She could wait until he was ready.

Finally his body stopped shaking and he let out a long breath, and he seemed to relax. Or maybe just give in. She started to move off his lap, but he held her tight. She laid her cheek against the top of his head, rubbing his back. "I'm so sorry," she murmured. She had no idea exactly what had happened, but she knew instinctively that he'd been devastatingly disappointed with the reunion with his kids.

When he finally looked up at her, his eyes were red with tears and he looked defeated. "I don't know what to do," he said, his voice broken.

"Tell me what happened," she said soothingly. He let her go then and she moved off his lap. She put her hands on his face, making him look at her, as she searched his face for clues.

He took a deep breath. "I don't even know how to say it," he said.

"Do they not want to see Ryleigh after all?" she asked. It was what she'd been afraid of, that it would be too much. No matter how adorable Ryleigh was or how innocent she was of the circumstances that had resulted in her being born, she sensed it would be hard for Chip's kids to reconcile that at the end of the day.

He shook his head and she saw the hurt in his eyes again. "They don't want to see you." She felt like she'd been kicked in the gut. "At least Addie doesn't." He reached up and took her hands, holding them tight. He leaned in and kissed her. "I told her that wasn't possible and that it wasn't right and it wasn't gonna happen.

She breathed in deeply. Truthfully, she wasn't all that surprised. Especially about Addie. She had refused to come to the beach, after all. She knew Addie was the one who had taken it all the hardest and had been the angriest, according to Chip. She squeezed his hands. "It's okay," she said, even though her heart hurt. More for Chip than for herself, but she had hoped maybe there would be a crack.

He frowned. "No, actually it's not okay, Connie. She's gonna have to figure out how to accept this."

She sighed. "It's really not her responsibility to do that, Chip. She obviously sees herself as the injured party and she's not wrong." As much as it devastated her, she had to be fair. She had to step outside herself, for her own sake as well as Chip's. "Remember, we need to take it slow. You're trying to jump in the deep end right away."

"It's not fair to you, though. And Ryleigh needs her mama."

She smiled. "Ryleigh will have her daddy," she said, leaning in for a kiss. "And she'll be meeting her other brother and her sisters for the first time. I think that's a lot for a little baby. You're familiar to her and that's all that really matters."

She came downstairs with Ryleigh and handed her over to Chip. "Here's your sweet girl, Daddy," she said, with a sad smile. Ryleigh was dressed in a pink cotton onesie, with a tiny pink cap. She kissed the baby gently on the cheek and Ryleigh made a soft little cooing noise. "Will you be a good girl for your daddy?" she asked. She glanced up at Chip and smiled, then looked back at her baby, who was reaching for her nose. She rubbed her nose against Ryleigh's chest and she kicked her feet and her eyes lit up and she made another little noise. "I love you, sweet girl. Be good." She straightened up and looked at Chip. He looked sad and she reached up and cupped his jaw, scratching his cheek with her thumb. "Just text me, okay?"

He nodded, his face solemn. He put a hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. "You shouldn't have to do this," he said.

She shrugged. "It's fine, babe. Try not to let it get under your skin." She walked over to get her keys and purse. "Yoby!" she called out.

He ran in from the den. "Here I am!" he cried.

She held her hand out. "Come here," she said. He ran over and took her hand. She looked back up at Chip. "I'll see you later?' He nodded, shifting Ryleigh so she was propped up on against his chest.

He put his hand on the small of her back and gave her a kiss. "I wish you didn't have to do this," he said, looking morose.

"I know. I do too. But it's okay. Yoby and I can have a mother-son afternoon at the park. We'll be fine." She kissed him again and headed for the door with Yoby. When she got to the door, she turned back to look at him. He looked so brokenhearted and, for just a moment, she felt anger towards Addie for putting him in this position. But she pushed it down, reminding herself that she didn't want to stand in the way of them being able to mend the hurt between them.

She walked out into the garage and got Yoby situated in the back of her convertible, then got into the front seat. She put on her sunglasses and started the car, raising the garage door. She backed out and then headed down the driveway. She and Yoby were going to spend the afternoon at Radnor Lake and then maybe go for ice cream. She felt tears in her eyes as they headed towards the main road, but she was doing what was needed. She wouldn't always give in like this, but she didn't want to start off by being a bitch. As she drove, the sun felt warm against her skin and it started to lift her spirits.

Chip

He hated that Connie had left. He hated the whole situation. They had just laid in each other's arms all night. There had been little conversation, but there hadn't been much to say. He only hoped that somehow Addie would come around before they went back to LA. He looked down at Ryleigh, who was wriggling in his arms. He kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad you're too young to know anything about this," he whispered. He turned and set her in her baby seat and went to the fridge for a bottle. After he had warmed the bottle, he picked her up and carried her upstairs to the nursery.

He settled into the chair and put the bottle to her mouth. As she fed, her eyes focused on his and he smiled. "So your nana is coming over soon," he said to her. "And she's bringing over some new faces. Your sisters and your other brother. They came all the way from California to meet you. I know they're gonna love you, sweet girl." He sighed. "Taylor's the oldest. Then Chase, your brother, and Addie. I think Addie's gonna maybe be the hardest to win over, but I know you will." He felt a lump in his throat. "I want us all to be a family. Including your mama. You're so lucky to have her. I know someday everyone will know how amazing she is and be glad she's here."

He closed his eyes for a second and then opened them again, feeling the hint of tears. He thought back to her question on the beach. What will we tell her about us? There were painful parts to the story and they weren't things he wanted Ryleigh to hear, although he knew they wouldn't have complete control of that part of the story. But the story was more than that. and that was what he hoped one day would be what his older kids would understand. It wasn't that he'd never loved Patty, because he had, but it just wasn't the end of his story. And while he acknowledged it was, and would be, hard for the kids, he wanted to be inclusive. He wanted them to be part of his life, to be part of Ryleigh's life and Yoby's. but most of all he wanted Connie to be part of theirs one day.

He put Ryleigh on his shoulder and rubbed her back. He loved these times with her. After she burped, he held her up in front of him. "Hey, sweet girl," he said with a smile. "Are you Daddy's girl?' She waved her arms and then made a tiny noise. He grinned. "That's right. You are." Just then the doorbell rang and she twitched at the sound. He pulled her in close and stood up. "They're here," he said and he walked out of the room and down the stairs.

He stood over to the side as he watched his mom hold Ryleigh. Taylor and Chase were sitting close, but Addie was sitting in one of the chairs, a bored look on her face. He walked over and leaned down. "You think you could go sit with Taylor and Chase?" he said quietly.

She frowned and looked at him. "I saw her. Isn't that what you wanted?"

He paused for a second. "Yes, I do want that. But I'd also like for you to seem interested. You know, I get that you're mad at me, but you don't have to be mad at Ryleigh. She's a baby. She's done nothing to you." Addie looked like she was going to say something, but he gave her a warning look. "Don't put all your mad on an innocent baby. That's not fair, to her or to whatever relationship you could have with her."

Addie just glared at him and then suddenly she pushed up from the chair and stormed out the back door onto the deck, slamming it behind her. His mom looked up, along with Taylor and Chase. Ryleigh started to cry, startled by the noise, and it infuriated him. He was going to follow Addie, but his mom gave him a look. Then she turned to Taylor, with a smile. "Would you like to hold her?" she asked.

Taylor beamed. "Yes," she said, eagerly taking the baby and settling her in her arms. Ryleigh's cries started to fade. She looked up at him then. "She's adorable, Dad."

He gave her a tight smile. His mom got up and came over to him. She put a hand on his arm. "Let me talk to her," she murmured. He breathed in and then nodded, then watched as she headed for the back door and the deck.

He could feel the tension in his body. He wanted to know what was going on outside, but seeing Taylor and Chase hovering over Ryleigh warmed his heart. He was torn, but finally he sat on the coffee table in front of Taylor. She was talking and smiling at Ryleigh and the baby kicked her feet and waved her arms. He couldn't help but smile. This was what he was hoping for, although he'd wanted it to be all three of them.

Taylor looked up. "She's so good, Dad. Is she always this way?"

He smiled. "Most of the time. So far, anyway. She's hasn't been around that long yet. Things could change." Taylor grinned. "You know, she reminds me a lot of you when you were a baby." Taylor looked surprised. He nodded. "She does. She's happy. She doesn't cry a lot. And she's beautiful." She smiled.

"Were you scared when she was in the hospital?" Chase asked.

"Yeah, even though I was sure she'd be okay. But she was really little. I'd never seen a baby that tiny before. She didn't even weigh 5 pounds." He paused. "It's a lot to deal with, when they're in the NICU though. There were other babies in there who were really sick. We were just grateful she wasn't one of them." He could sense it then. It was like the air went out of the room for a second and he started to wonder how long it might take for them all to somehow accept Connie. He glanced towards the back door, wondering what was happening there.

"I would guess, if your baby was in the hospital for all that time, it would be hard to leave her there," Taylor said. "That has to be really sad."

He nodded. "It was. Although it wasn't the same, in some ways it reminded me of when Addie would be in the hospital. Leaving your child is never easy." The double meaning of that hovered in the room. He hoped they understood leaving them hadn't been any easier.

When his mom came back in the house, she was alone. She walked up, a frustrated look on her face. "So I'm going to take Addie back to the house," she said.

He frowned. "Mom..."

She shook her head. "She's not her best self right now. I think it would be best." She looked at Taylor and Chase. "Are y'all ready?"

Taylor shook her head. "No, I'm not. Just because Addie has to be such a drama queen, it doesn't mean I have to go." Normally he would have chided her for calling Addie a drama queen, but he decided to leave it alone this time.

Chase hesitated for a second. "I'll come with you," he said to his grandmother.

Taylor looked annoyed and she gave him a pleading look. He knew it meant she wasn't ready to leave. "I'll take you back when you're ready," he said and she gave him a smile. He stood up then. "I don't know that we should give in," he said to his mother.

His mom gave him an understanding smile. "I don't think we're doing that. We're just giving her a little space so she can adjust her thinking." She put her hand on his arm. "She'll come back."

He wasn't sure he believed her, but he also knew his mom could be very persuasive and wasn't above using some gentle pressure. He kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks, Mom," he said. She smiled and then headed for the front door.

Chase followed. He stopped at the door and turned back. "See you tomorrow, Dad," he said. He reached out to hug his son and kissed him on the cheek. Then he watched his son walk out of the house behind his grandmother.

He stood facing the door after it had closed. His heart felt heavy. He wished he knew what to say to Addie to make it all better, but he felt like she'd put a wall up and he wasn't exactly sure what the magic formula was to change that. Then Ryleigh started crying and he turned back to Taylor. He smiled. "I think she needs to be changed. You want to give it a try?" She looked a little horrified and he laughed. "I'm kidding. I'll handle it." He took Ryleigh from her. "I'll be back." Taylor nodded and he carried his crying daughter upstairs.

He was sitting on the couch next to Taylor, who was holding Ryleigh, fascinated by her. She had fed her baby sister and then he'd shown her how to burp a baby. When Ryleigh had obliged, Taylor looked at him with a smile. "She even burps cute," she said.

He laughed. "I guess you're right," he said. "Very ladylike, for sure."

The door from the garage opened then and he looked over his shoulder. He was surprised to see Connie and Yoby walk in. He stood up. "Hey," he said. "I wasn't expecting you yet."

She looked frustrated, and tired. She nodded her head towards her son. "He was getting cranky. And a little too smarty pants for me, so I really needed to bring him home." Yoby looked stubborn and sullen, pulling his hand from Connie's.

He glanced down at Taylor. She was holding Ryleigh against her shoulder, her head bowed down slightly. He wasn't sure what to do. He didn't want there to be a scene. He walked around to where Connie stood. "Let me take him upstairs. I'm sure he needs a nap, " he said, his voice low.

She shook her head. "I can do it."

"Let me," he said, knowing he sounded insistent.

She shrugged. "Okay." He mouthed the words 'go talk to her' and then headed upstairs with Yoby.