"Are you sure?"
He shoots her a questioning look, "Why do you ask?"
She breaks eye contact, and looks out at the playground at the girls. She watches as they race each other across the jungle gym. She feels eyes staring back at her. She looks at Fin.
She sighs heavily, "There is something that I need to tell you."
He shakes his head, "Look Amanda I don't want to talk about the case again."
"While we were attending her funeral he escaped."
He grits his teeth, "I remember. I don't want to rehash this again. Amanda his trail went cold, and we never found him. Every time I come to the playground I am reminded of that fact. Every single time I wonder if he is lurking somewhere, waiting for me to turn my back. Each time I visit her grave I wonder how it ended so badly. I ask myself what we could have done differently."
"Fin we found him."
"What?" His eyes widen.
"I didn't want to tell you until we were sure that it was him."
"You found him?"
"He was picked up on a moving violation. The officer recognized him, and detained him."
"How did the officer fair?"
"I believe that the City is considering giving him a medal."
"I…"
"He is in custody. We have him locked up tight. He's not going anywhere. His trial starts tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Amanda how long has he been in custody?"
"A while."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Because I didn't know how to tell you."
"You should have told me sooner."
"I am telling you now."
"Their birthday is in two days…"
"Just focus on their birthday. Don't worry about the rest. Okay?"
"Yeah," he nods.
Amanda turns away from him, "Girls, come on," she waves them in.
The run towards her. She looks up at the grey, gloomy sky.
"It looks like it's about to rain, what do you say we call it a day?" Fin questions.
"Daddy!"
"I think that Aunt Amanda said that she would buy you burgers for lunch."
Their faces light up, "Daddy can we go?"
"Yeah," he nods in agreement.
She reaches out, and grabs a pair of hands. He watches them as they leave the park. He heads to the curb, and climbs into his car. He glances in the rearview mirror as he puts the key into the ignition. He finds himself staring at a pair of booster seats. One is bright pink, and the other is purple leopard print. He turns the car on, and pulls out of his parking spot.
Hours later he manages to make it home. He carries half a dozen bags into the house. He closes the door behind him, with his foot, and drops the bags on the kitchen table. He exhales, feeling defeated.
"Do you think that we have to have a bouncy castle again?" He questions his son, who stands next to him emptying the contents of the bags.
"You know that we do."
"How many kids are coming?"
"Twenty, no twenty three."
"Right, because I'm not the only one with twins," he recalls.
"Dad, I would really like to stay, and help, but I've got to go."
"Ken, come on."
"I'll pick the cake up on my way over here on party day?"
"What time are you going to get here?"
"One."
"Their party is at two."
"Dad, I've got other things to do."
"Their birthday only comes once a year, and you are one of their favorite people."
"You will do fine. You are getting better with each passing year."
"I am getting older with each passing year."
"So am I."
"Please…"
"Dad, you've got this."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because you have successfully kept two twin girls alive this long. I think that you can handle one little birthday party."
"You think?"
"You took care of Jovie when she had jaundice."
"My little lemonhead," he grins.
"You kept your sanity when Jaren had colic."
"Barely. I had help with that one," he recalls.
"I don't know how you do it with twin terrors, but you do."
"They aren't terrorists, that's just what I tell the neighbors."
"They're crazy, and sweet all at once."
"You know I don't remember you having as many opinions as they do when you were three."
"You weren't around much."
"I will always regret that," he admits.
"You have a second chance now, and you're making up for it two fold."
"I just wish that their mom could see them."
"I know."
"She sacrificed everything for them. She gave up everything so that they would be okay. All she ever wanted was to be a mom, and she never really got the chance."
"She would be proud. You're doing a good job. I really have to go."
"Okay," he nods in agreement.
That night he's up late working on party preparations. He settles onto the couch with a glass of bourbon, and photo album. He can't seem to recall when he became so sentimental. He thumbs through the pages of the girls' baby book. The first page is a picture of Olivia. He can't seem to turn past the first page.
The house is so quiet without them there. Their presence lingers everywhere, even in the silence. A toy horse lays in the middle of the living room floor. A tiara, and princess gown, and slippers are strewn across the floor leading to the bathroom. He shifts positions on the couch, and finds something jabbing him in the leg. He reaches into the cushion and finds a marker. He tosses it onto the table, and takes a deep breath. He listens as the rain falls outside. Eventually it lulls him to sleep.