Chapter 29
The boys turned thirteen.
Teenagers.
Ethan couldn't believe it.
James was taller than Claire now. He was quiet and serious and spent most of his time in his room, reading or studying or doing experiments that sometimes made strange smells.
William was still the charmer. He had discovered girls. And they had discovered him. Ethan found himself having many uncomfortable conversations about respect and responsibility and safe choices.
Michael was still the athlete. He played every sport he could. He was captain of the football team. He was popular. But he was still protective. Especially of Olivia.
Olivia, now eight, was still the knight princess. She had started taking martial arts classes. She was small but fierce. She could take down boys twice her size. She loved it.
Ethan watched them navigate the challenges of growing up.
The good days. The bad days. The days when they hated each other and the days when they would do anything for each other.
He and Claire tried to be the best parents they could be.
They listened. They guided. They loved.
They made mistakes. But they learned from them.
One evening, Ethan found James sitting on the back porch, looking at the oak tree.
James had been quiet lately. Distant.
Ethan sat beside him.
“Everything okay, buddy?”
James shrugged.
“Sometimes I wonder... what it would have been like. If Grandma Margaret hadn't been... bad. If Grandpa Richard hadn't tried to kill you. If we had a normal family.”
Ethan put his arm around his son.
“I wonder about that too sometimes. But you know what? Normal is overrated. Our family has been through things that most families never have to face. And we came out stronger. We came out closer. We appreciate each other more because we know how easily we could have lost everything.”
He looked at James.
“Your grandmother and your biological grandfather made terrible choices. But those choices don't define you. You define you. And you are one of the best people I know. Kind. Smart. Good. That's not because of them. That's because of you. Because of your mother. Because of the family we built together.”
James was quiet for a moment.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For fighting for us. For coming back.”
Ethan pulled his son closer.
“Always, buddy. Always.”
A week later, Olivia came home from school upset.
Some boys had been making fun of her for taking martial arts. For being a girl who wanted to be a knight.
Ethan found her in the backyard, hitting a punching bag.
She was angry. Tears streaming down her face.
Ethan stood and watched her for a moment.
Then he walked over.
“Want to talk about it?”
Olivia stopped hitting the bag. She turned to him, her chin trembling.
“They said girls can't be knights. They said I should play with dolls instead.”
Ethan knelt down so he was eye level with her.
“Olivia Rose Parker, you listen to me. Those boys don't know anything. Girls can be anything they want to be. Knights. Doctors. Presidents. Bakers. Whatever. The only thing that matters is what's in here.”
He tapped her chest, over her heart.
“You have a brave heart. A strong heart. A kind heart. That's what makes a knight. Not being a boy. Not being strong. Having a good heart and the courage to do what's right.”
Olivia wiped her tears.
“Really?”
“Really. And anyone who says differently is wrong. And if they bother you again, you just remember who your family is. You have three big brothers who would do anything for you. And a mother who built an empire from nothing. And a father who will always, always have your back.”
Olivia threw her arms around his neck.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you too, knight princess.”
Ethan held his daughter.
He would spend the rest of his life making sure she knew she could be anything she wanted to be.
May you like
That she was loved.
That she was strong.
