Chapter Fifty Three

Trinity

We’d just touched down in Barcelona. Mia, Felicity, the kids, and I were waiting for the guys to return with the cars.

The flight had been rough. The kids hadn’t taken to it well, especially Jayden. I could tell it was eating at Stephen, despite my reassurances that it wasn’t his fault.

Mia - Trinity?

Trinity - Yeah, babe?

Mia - The guys are back.

I glance up to see they’ve returned with the vehicles.

Stephen walks over to me, a look on his face I can’t quite decipher.

Trinity - What’s up?

Stephen - Nothing. I’m okay. You?

Trinity - I’m good. You sure you’re okay? You don’t look it.

Stephen - Yeah.

Strange. He’s usually not this curt with me. I know he’s not a big talker and needs time to open up, but his current demeanor is concerning.

We load the kids into the car, settle in ourselves, and follow the others to the house we’ve rented for our stay.

After ten minutes of driving in silence, with Stephen barely glancing my way, I reach over and place my hand in his lap. He tenses up, something he never does when I touch him.

Trinity - What’s wrong?

Stephen - What do you mean?

Trinity - You flinched when I touched you.

Stephen - I didn’t.

Trinity - Yes, you did, Stephen.

Stephen - Okay, I flinched then, if you say so.

Trinity - That’s not an answer.

Stephen - I don’t know what you want me to say.

Trinity - Whatever, Stephen. You’re clearly in a mood.

Stephen - If you say so, Trinity.

I decide to drop it. If he doesn’t want to talk, pushing him will only lead to a fight.

The rest of the drive is silent, but my mind is racing. I can’t figure out why he’s acting this way, and it’s starting to upset me.

The drive isn’t too long, especially compared to the flight, and we soon pull up to a beautiful house the guys had booked for us. Stephen parks and heads straight to the front door. It’s then I realize he didn’t even bother to open the door for me, something he always does.

I know it’s a small thing, but it stings. Before I know it, tears are welling up in my eyes. I get out and help our kids from the car as Stephen starts unloading our luggage.

I follow him inside and up to a room that must be ours, since he’s putting all our stuff in it. He hasn’t said anything, but I have to assume since he’s not talking.

Stephen - That door there connects to the kids’ room. We can keep it open for them at night.

Trinity - Okay.

That’s all I can manage to say as I fight back the tears threatening to spill. He must notice because he looks up at me, but I’ve left my glasses on to hide my eyes. Ignoring his gaze, I walk through to the kids’ room with the twins and Jayden. The twins jump onto their bed as I sit down with them.

Olivia - Biccie, momma.

Trinity - You hungry, baby girl?

I glance at my watch and realize it’s nearly six o’clock. No wonder they’re hungry. I pull some biscuits from my bag for the twins to share.

Trinity - Let momma get Jay’s bouncer out, okay, pea pods? Then we can go downstairs and order some dinner.

Nathaniel - Hug, momma.

Olivia - Momma crying, Na.

They’re trying to learn each other’s names, and Na is Livy’s way of saying her brother’s name right now.

Trinity - Momma’s okay, baby. She’s just tired.

I pull my kids into a hug, and the tears start to fall before I can stop them.

I hear Stephen come back into the next room, so I quickly wipe my tears away, get the kids up, and head downstairs to order some dinner.

When I get to the kitchen, I find the others already there.

Clint - You okay, hun?

Trinity - I’m fine, thanks, babe.

Clint - Come take a walk with me.

Trinity - Let me order some dinner first. The twins are hungry.

Felicity - We can handle that, babe. Don’t worry.

The twins head to the lounge with Willie and Dave, who are sitting there with Belle. I carry Jay outside with me as I follow Clint. We find some seats by the pool and sit down.

Clint - Talk to me, babe.

Trinity - I don’t know what to say, sorry, babe.

Clint - I can tell something’s wrong. Have you been crying?

Trinity - It’s nothing, babe. I’m just being silly.

Clint - If it’s bothering you, it’s not silly. You know that, right?

Trinity - He’s just being so short with me and closed off. I don’t know what’s wrong, and he won’t talk to me.

Clint - Remember what I told you before? You need to keep knocking on those walls, babe. He gets like this when he feels he’s let people down.

Trinity - He’s being such an asshole this time, though, Clint. I don’t know how much of it I’m supposed to put up with.

Clint laughs at the asshole reference.

Clint - You don’t put up with it, babe. You make him see he’s in the wrong and he can’t shut you out. He’ll learn eventually that he doesn’t get to push away the people who love him.

I think about what Clint is saying and realize he’s right. My husband has always taken a while to open up and feel comfortable, but I’ve never let him push me away, and I’m not going to start now.

We head back inside, and as Clint and I make our way back into the lounge, everyone is sitting there. I see Stephen on the couch with Livy curled up in his lap.

Dave - Dinner’s on the way. Shouldn’t be too long.

Trinity - Thanks, hun. I might go bathe the kids while we wait so I can get them to bed afterwards.

Stephen - I’ll help.

Trinity - It’s fine. I can do it. If you can just look after Jayden, that would help.

I pass Jayden to Stephen and get the twins, much to their protest.

Olivia - No, momma.

Nathaniel - Willie and Belle here.

Felicity - Belle is going to have a bath too, sweetie. Then you can all lay down and watch a movie after dinner, okay?

Mia - Come on, you guys. I’ll bring Willie up, and he can have a bath too.

Stephen - Let me help since they’re acting up.

Trinity - Stephen, it’s fine. They’re just tired. I can handle it.

Stephen - Right.

I shoot him a lethal glare at his last remark.

Right!! Right? That's when I decide I'm going to tear down those walls quicker than he can blink tonight.