“It’s none of their business if you did. You had a house. You had a successful career. In Manhattan. And you left that behind to live in Gresham for Vaughan. So he could see his kids more often. What anyone but you and Vaughan think about it isn’t relevant.”

“I just get wary about them. He’s so close to them. I don’t want to take him away from that. It’s good for my kids to have his entire family so nearby.”

“It’s all right, you know, not to want his whole family in your business. Or to at the very least be suspicious of their motives until you know them better. You’ve changed. Vaughan has changed. I’m going to hope they’ve all changed, too.”

“We were very young.”

“All of us.” Stacey winked.

They hung out for another half an hour before both women had to be on their way, Kelly to pick Kensey up and Stacey off to court.

* * *

VAUGHAN REALIZED, AS THE four of them ate dinner, passing around platters and bowls, laughing and sharing their day, he’d been missing so much wonderful, normal stuff with his family.

Guilt hung around his neck like a stone, equally useless. He needed to talk to Ezra or his dad. Someone he could trust to give him good advice. They’d just spent a really nice weekend at home with a movie-and-board-game marathon. He’d been all over the world, seen and done a lot of things, but the days had been the most fun he’d had in recent memory.

All of this in a period of a week.

Maddie was headed back to school the following day and he planned to drive to the ranch, pack more appropriately to live with Kelly and his girls long-term. Kelly had offered him the office space above the garage for a music/work space. He’d bring over some of his equipment from his studio at home. Hopefully he’d be able to connect with Ez when he stopped over.

“Are you excited to go back to school tomorrow, bug?” Kelly asked Maddie.

“I’m not excited for homework, but I want to see my friends.”

“I’m excited!” Kensey grinned. “I don’t have to sit next to anyone yucky on the bus when you’re there.”

Kelly laughed.

“I know you’ve already been here a week and you probably have to work, but would you stay through next weekend, too, Daddy?” Maddie’s eyes went wide and round and it tore at his heart. “We can see a movie at the theater now that I’m better!”

They hadn’t really discussed too much with their daughters. He got the feeling Kelly didn’t want to get their hopes up. But each day he’d been there he’d fit a little more. Got more confident at the basics. He already knew how to take out the trash and get the mail. He’d really dug walking with Kensey to the bus stop each day. One of the moms had been a little too friendly, but his daughter had gotten right between them as he’d stepped back and made it clear he didn’t want the attention.

She’d backed off and it had seemed to Vaughan as if he’d passed some sort of test for Kensey, who’d thrown herself at him happily each morning when he woke her up.

He liked it a whole lot that she’d stopped being surprised. Kensey knew he’d wake her up. Knew he’d be there to be hugged and kissed.

It had brought something to life, a deeper need to protect what he had because he was fast getting used to the love and connection he felt every night as he ate at the dinner table with them.

He looked to Kelly, letting her make the choice about how much to tell them.

“Your dad is going to be living with us for a while. Cool with you two?” Kelly asked.

They turned their attention to him, so pretty, faces so open, expressions trusting and full of hope. Resolve strengthened him. He needed to make this happen.

“I sure like being here to take care of you two. Your mom is nice enough to share the family you three have made with me. Do you think you could teach me all the stuff I need to do to be a better dad? I need your help.”

Both his daughters flung themselves at him, covering his face with kisses.

“I’m going to assume that’s a yes.” Kelly smiled at him briefly. An unguarded moment, maybe the first one since they’d laid things on the table a few nights before.

“I’m glad you two think it’s a good idea.” He wanted to tell them he was there for good, back with them where he should have been all along. But he knew better.

Not that he planned to fail; he didn’t. But he wanted to show them, not tell them.

“I bet Sierra’s mom will be happy, too. She likes to look at Daddy.” Kensey made a face at Kelly.

Vaughan didn’t want to hold his breath, or make it weird, but he was relieved when Kelly rolled her eyes, but didn’t seem overly bothered.

“He is nice to look at.”

Kensey shifted her attention back to Vaughan, who made a face and she laughed. “Yeah. He has a handsome face and nice eyes.”

“We have his eyes, too,” Maddie informed her little sister. “Everyone looks at Daddy. Sometimes it makes everything go faster, because they want to make him smile at them.”

Kelly smirked.

“Mostly, though, it makes everything take longer because, as Nana says, they lose their wits because he’s so pretty,” Kensey said.

Kelly’s surprised laughter made Vaughan relax.

“Your grandmother does have a point. Though she’s quite susceptible to your dad’s charms, too.”

Danger! He changed the subject. “Hush now.” Vaughan gestured at Kelly as he spoke to the girls. “Look at your mother. Talk about pretty.”