When There Is Nothing Left But Love

My prompt registered immediately. Ashton stood up and proffered a hand, suave and refined. However, his gaze lingered on Summer and Michael when he noticed them.

Michael seemed to be a late bloomer, at least in comparison to Summer. Both of them were five years old, but Michael appeared a year younger.

Ashton’s expression darkened, but I waved it off. “What would you like to eat?” I directed my question to the children.

Summer seemed to be in a foul mood. While her eyes were still on Ashton, she replied, “Anything you make is fine, Mommy.”

Michael caught sight of my injured ankle and suggested, “Let Daddy cook for us tonight.”

This was nothing out of the norm, but Michael’s words were piercing to Ashton’s ears.

I offered no clarification. Instead, I looked at Colin and teased lightly, “Looks like it’s your turn to show off your cooking skills tonight.”

Colin could be rather tactless at times, and his ability to read the room was failing him at the moment. Though he was taken aback by Ashton’s presence, he invited graciously, “Mr. Fuller, please stay for dinner with us. We cook with homegrown produce. You should try some.”

Ashton masked his emotions and nodded, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

I glanced at the children and instructed them as usual, “Both of you pick some vegetables from the back garden. Summer, don’t bully Michael, understand?”

obediently. “You’re so unfair, Mommy.

accusation, I explained, “Michael is already shorter than you. If you continue to bully him, he’ll

bully him!” Summer picked up both baskets and told Michael indignantly, “Mommy says that I can’t bully you, so I’ll

that I’m a strong man, and strong men should

children walked toward the back garden, bickering all the

worried that Summer would feel lonely, but seeing how Summer and

me back to reality. I turned to find Ashton burning holes in me with his scorching

intensity of his gaze, I blurted, “Please make yourself at home

around my wrist, pulling me back. His voice seemed to rumble in his chest as he asked, “Have you been

replied with conviction, “I’ve been good. These four years have been

as he chuckled ruefully. “Yeah,

slightly. “Make yourself at home while I help out in the kitchen,”

in the past four years, but my mind has been cruel to

had the right words to console him. I turned to look Ashton in the eye. “Mr. Fuller, you’ll have to move on someday. I’m doing great here. Staying by your side only filled me with hate and resentment. It would break me. Perhaps it might have seemed like I had plenty of friends and family in J City and K City,

loud silence fell upon us. Seconds ticked by before he finally spoke.

I exhaled heavily as I watched his retreating back.

entered the kitchen to find Colin preparing the ingredients. He stilled when he saw me. “I can handle this myself. Go and