Chapter 39: 14: An Unexpected Guest

SHAY

Ethan promised to bring the twins back in a few hours as they scampered off to his car. This was the first time he’d be spending time alone with them, and Shay trusted him enough to let it happen.

She believed he would treat them well and not try to take them away from her.

“Reach out if anything comes up, or even if it doesn’t. I’ll be home all day,” Shay told him, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort.

“Do you want to join us?” Ethan asked, pausing to look at her.

Shay glanced down and smiled.

“We’re going to the Lego store and the Hot Wheels place. I’ve arranged for a private session at both,” he added.

“No,” Shay declined, shaking her head. “This is your day with the boys. I have work to do.”

Ethan nodded in understanding before heading off.

Shay watched from her doorstep as Ethan drove his Range Rover out of her driveway. She waved at the car, catching sight of the twins’ excited grins. They were thrilled to be spending time with their dad.

She kept waving until the car was out of sight, then went back inside. Her gaze immediately landed on the baby mat where Nate was happily playing by himself. A smile tugged at her lips.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jo approaching Nate with a fresh diaper.

Shay walked past Nate and headed to her office, leaving Jo to tend to Nate. Today was going to be a breeze. She planned to get some work done and cook dinner for the family.

Settling at her desk, Shay switched on her laptop and quickly typed in her password. Her email inbox popped up, right where she’d left off. As the number of unread emails increased, she sighed, knowing she had a lot to deal with.

She opened an email and skimmed through it. She trusted her team to handle most things and not bother her with minor decisions, especially since she’d given Dario more control.

Dario was responsible for many things, but when it came to crucial matters, Shay had the final say. She trusted Dario—he’d proven himself a reliable ally, always looking out for her best interests. She was grateful they’d never dated, grateful she’d never given in to him.

He was dating other women now, focusing on them, knowing her heart wasn’t his to claim.

Shay spent the day juggling work and taking care of Nate. She managed to accomplish quite a bit. Jo had left a few hours earlier, and Shay had let her go, knowing she was tired and that she didn’t need extra help when the twins weren’t home.

She had things under control.

With Nate napping, Shay found herself in the kitchen, preparing dinner. She was getting more work done in less time than usual.

She was making a big batch of Vietnamese noodles, a favorite of the twins. She chopped the leeks and cleaned the beef bones, making sure everything was the right size. After prepping the ingredients, she put them in a large pot, added the rest of the ingredients, and poured in water.

She cleaned as she cooked, checking on Nate periodically to make sure he was still asleep. The kitchen filled with the delicious aroma of the broth and spices—it was perfect.

After adding a few more ingredients, Shay reduced the heat, letting the soup simmer. She stirred the fragrant broth before returning to the sink to wash the utensils she’d used.

“I’m home!” Adam’s voice echoed from the front door.

“In the kitchen!” Shay called back, washing her hands.

She heard his footsteps pause—he was probably in her office, checking on Nate. It was his usual routine.

She dried her hands and turned to prepare the noodles, glancing at the clock. The twins would be home soon. Even though she knew Ethan wouldn’t take them away from her, she couldn’t help but worry.

“My beautiful wife,” Adam murmured, wrapping his arms around her from behind and planting a soft kiss on her cheek.

She smiled in response.

“Hey, you,” she greeted him, enjoying the warmth of his embrace. Things were better between them now. Adam was coming home on time, and they were back to how they used to be—before Ethan entered the picture.

Everything seemed perfect.

“The food smells amazing,” he complimented, resting his chin on her shoulder.

“Thank you,” she replied, beaming.

“Where are the twins?” he asked, noticing the unusual quietness.

“They should be back any minute. They were with Ethan,” Shay said, a bit uneasy.

She wasn’t sure how Adam felt about Ethan spending so much time with the twins. She knew Adam wasn’t the jealous type, but she also knew the kids preferred Ethan over him. They bonded over toys, something Adam didn’t share an interest in, but he still played along.

“Mmmmm,” Adam hummed.

~Ding dong!~

The doorbell rang, startling them. Shay quickly dried her hands as Adam stepped back.

“I’ll get the door. You finish up here,” he offered.

“Thanks,” Shay responded, giving him a small smile.

As he disappeared, Shay continued with dinner, hearing the twins’ laughter from the living room. She smiled, knowing they’d had a good time with their dad.

She continued preparing dinner, almost done now. After stirring the pot one last time, she closed the lid and went back to the sink to wash her hands.

“Ethan is staying for dinner,” Adam announced, poking his head into the kitchen.

Shay looked at him, surprised. She hadn’t expected Ethan to stay for dinner—it hadn’t even crossed her mind.

“What?” Shay asked.

“Yeah, it looks like it’s going to rain, and it will be good for the boys to see everyone as a family,” he explained.

“All right then,” Shay responded, a hint of awkwardness in her voice.

Adam had vanished once more, leaving her to process the unexpected turn of events. She hadn’t anticipated having dinner with him again, at least not so soon. Yet, she found herself grateful for his understanding nature, his ability to prioritize the twins’ feelings over his own.

“Hey, Shay,” Ethan’s voice broke her train of thought.

She turned her head slightly to acknowledge him, her back still facing him.

“Hey,” she responded, her voice barely above a whisper. Despite the improvement in their relationship, she was wary of spending too much time around him. She feared her own emotions, the possibility of falling for him again.

“Need a hand?” he offered.

“No, I’m good,” she replied, shaking her head for emphasis.

Aware that dinner time was fast approaching, Shay busied herself with preparing the noodles, making sure to cook extra portions for the boys.

“The boys had a blast,” Ethan commented, attempting to make small talk.

“Oh, what did you guys do?” Shay asked, playing along with the casual conversation.

She could hear the twins’ excited chatter from the living room. She was also acutely aware of Ethan’s presence in the kitchen, the sound of him pulling out a barstool a clear giveaway.

As she carefully lowered the noodles into the boiling broth, Ethan began to speak. “We hit up a toy store that sells a ton of Hot Wheels and the Lego store. I got them a few toys, hope that’s all right,” he said.

“Ouch!” Shay yelped as a splash of hot water hit her arm. She quickly inspected the affected area, her hand instinctively covering the spot.

“Are you okay?” Ethan rushed to her side, concern etched on his face. His hands were on her arm in an instant, examining the burn. His swift reaction left her momentarily stunned, the pain momentarily forgotten.

She swallowed hard, her gaze locked on him as he tended to her wound, a red mark slowly forming on her arm. “Does it hurt?” he asked softly.

“Uh… I’m okay,” she managed to respond. He gently guided her toward the sink, letting the cool water run over her burn. His focus was solely on her injury, making her feel oddly cherished.

She pushed away the surge of emotions, clearing her throat. “Thanks,” she muttered, her voice laced with awkwardness.

“Still a klutz, after all this time,” he teased lightly.

“Is dinner ready?” the twins’ question made her jump, pulling her away from Ethan. She turned to face them, pulling her hand away from the cooling water.

“Almost ready.” She paused. “Can you guys set the table? Make sure there’s a seat for Ethan,” she instructed. The twins nodded enthusiastically.

The boys sprang into action, knowing that their efforts would soon be rewarded with dinner. Ignoring the sting of her burn, Shay returned her attention to the noodles. Ethan assisted the boys in setting the table.

Shay quickly put the kitchen incident behind her, focusing on finishing dinner while the twins helped out where they could. They even guided Ethan, showing him where things were. She was proud of their helpfulness and good behavior.

“Look who’s awake,” Adam announced, entering the living room with baby Nate in his arms.

“Hey, my love,” Shay cooed, reaching out for the baby. She beamed as she took Nate into her arms. She loved this stage of infancy, when they were not yet walking, barely crawling, and cried less.

They laughed at everything and were perfect for cuddling. “Dinner smells amazing,” Adam complimented, watching as she bounced Nate in her arms.

“Yeah, you guys can dig in,” she instructed. Without a word, everyone began to eat. She smiled, pleased that they were enjoying her cooking.

She settled Nate in his high chair, soothing him when he fussed a bit. After ensuring Nate was content with the fruits she had prepared for him, she finally started eating. Adam and Ethan were engaged in conversation, while the twins were happily slurping up the noodle soup.

“So, have you found a place yet?” Adam asked Ethan, piquing Shay’s interest.

“I saw one yesterday, it’s quite similar to your current house. It’s not new like this one, needs some work, but it’s just four houses down and comes with an acre of land,” he explained. Shay nodded slightly, listening intently.

“Oh, the Andersons’ place?” Adam asked, recognizing the house Ethan was referring to. They drove past it often; it was a charming house with friendly owners.

“Yeah, I’m considering it. I’m tired of living in hotels,” Ethan replied. Shay smiled at Nate, who was happily playing with his food.

“You can stay here while you’re getting your house ready,” Adam suggested. Shay froze, her gaze shifting to her husband. His casual offer sent a chill down her spine.

“What?” Shay blurted out, taken aback.

“He can stay a few days a week, he’s not here often anyway, and it’ll be good for the boys,” Adam reasoned. Shay’s eyes met Ethan’s briefly before shifting to the twins. They were listening intently, their heads bobbing in agreement.

“Yeah,” Shay agreed, her appetite suddenly gone. She knew she should be okay with it if Adam was. “You can use my studio at the back, there’s a bed and I can tidy it up for you,” she offered.

She looked at Adam, a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes. He had extended the offer without discussing it with her first. Her mind was now filled with thoughts of Ethan.

The idea of living under the same roof with him again was overwhelming. She knew she still harbored feelings for him, and his presence would only make things more complicated. It was a clear sign that she needed to confront her emotions sooner rather than later.