Page 17 of The One that Got Away

"Look at us," she whispered, more to herself than the others. "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

Oliver caught her eye, his gaze shimmering with unspoken emotion. "Yeah, we are," he confirmed, squeezing her hand gently. "And it's just the beginning."

The golden hues of the setting sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the makeshift fort under the dining table. Giggles and hushed whispers escaped the blanket-draped sanctuary as Lisa playfully searched for the hidden occupants, her heart swelling with affection for this impromptu game of hide-and-seek that had captivated them all afternoon.

"Gotcha!" she exclaimed as she peeked beneath the drapes. She found Oliver and Daniel entwined in an embrace of laughter, the boy's face alight with delight. The simple act of joyous discovery felt like a treasure, and each shared smile between them was a gem to be cherished.

Their play was interrupted by the front door swinging open, the familiar sound of school bags hitting the floor announcing Ethan and Abigail's return. The children burst into the room, and their youthful curiosity was immediately piqued by the presence of the little stranger amidst their family tableau.

"Mom, why is he here?" Ethan asked, his green eyes wide with intrigue as he took in the sight of Daniel still nestled close to Oliver.

"Because he is Oliver’s son," Lisa said warmly, watching her children's reactions closely. Abigail, ever the embodiment of her mother's warmth, approached Daniel with a welcoming grin while Ethan hung back slightly, protective instincts flaring gently.

The arrival of another visitor soon overshadowed their inquiries. The door opened again to reveal Lyle, cradling baby Julia in his arms, her tiny fingers wrapped around his finger—a silent testament to the trust they placed in him. His gentle smile offered solace, and his arrival seemed to fill the space with a comforting familiarity.

"I’m sad to have to let go of this little one. We had fun today, but I think she’s hungry," Lyle said, his gaze lingering on Lisa just a moment too long before he handed over the cooing bundle.

"Would you stay for dinner?" Lisa asked, her voice laden with gratitude. His assistance was a balm to the frenetic energy that now enveloped the house.

"Wouldn't miss it," Lyle replied, the corners of his eyes crinkling with genuine pleasure.

“Ava will be here soon, too,” Oliver said. “To pick up Daniel. Maybe she can stay for dinner as well? Like one big happy family?”

Lisa cleared her throat, waited for a beat to answer, and made sure her voice was steady. Once it was, she said:

“Of course. That would be delightful.”

As they gathered around the kitchen table, the scent of pot roast mingled with the hearty aroma of baked potatoes filled the air. Plates clinked, and glasses chimed in a symphony of domesticity. But beneath the mundane, a thread of tension wove itself into the fabric of the evening.

Lyle, seated too close to Lisa for Oliver's comfort, cast knowing looks and gentle jibes that danced dangerously close to revealing his unspoken desires.

"Quite the catch, isn't she?" he teased Oliver, nodding toward Ava, whose presence was filled with unspoken words and lingering glances from Oliver.

Oliver's laugh felt forced, his hand instinctively reaching for Lisa's, seeking reassurance. The moment held a spark of suspense as if Lyle's words were the flint threatening to ignite a fire of jealousy and doubt.

Lisa felt the air thicken, her pulse quickening with the awareness of Lyle's intentions and the precarious balance they now navigated. Yet amid the discomfort, her resolve hardened. She would not let this meal—this day of newfound connections—be marred by the complexities of adult emotions.

"Let's toast," Lisa suggested, raising her glass to cut through the growing unease. "To family, old and new, and to the memories we're creating together."

Glasses clinked in agreement, a clear chime in the silence that had begun to settle. For a fleeting moment, as they drank to her words, the tension dissipated, and the promise of heartwarming unity shone brighter than any challenge ahead. But the moment was only fleeting.

The clatter of dishes being cleared echoed in the dining room as twilight cast its subtle glow through the windows. Ava's silhouette appeared at the kitchen door, a soft halo of evening light framing her figure, and Lisa felt an inexplicable tightness grip her chest. She watched from across the room as Oliver stepped forward, his movements careful and deliberate, to hand Daniel his jacket.

"Thanks for letting me stay for dinner," Ava chirped. “That was really nice of you. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Of course,” Lisa said, her voice strained. “We’re family now.”

"See you soon, buddy," Oliver said, ruffling the boy's messy hair, a fatherly gesture that pulled at Lisa's heart.

Ava's smile was a mix of gratitude and something deeper, leaving an uncomfortable prickle under Lisa's skin. She caught Oliver's gaze lingering a moment too long on Ava's face as he walked her out, and although he turned away, the image seared into Lisa's mind, stoking embers of jealousy she wished didn't exist.

Lyle, ever observant, edged closer to Lisa, his presence a steady warmth at her side. "You see that, don't you?" he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "The way he looks at her… It's like you're not even in the room."

Lisa's throat tightened, the words hitting too close to home. She wanted to dismiss them, to believe in the trust she and Oliver had built, but doubt crept in like wisps of fog on a clear night.

"Maybe I'm imagining things," she whispered back, more to convince herself than to confide in Lyle.

"Or maybe you're seeing things clearly for the first time," Lyle said, his tone gentle yet laced with an edge that suggested he knew far more than he let on.

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