Page 46 of A Stable Daddy

“So, it sounds like my job here is done,” Henry says, reminding me that he’s still on the line.

“Thank you so much,” I repeat my earlier gratitude. “Send me your invoice and I’ll pay it immediately.”

“Nah, it’s on me,” he says, and I frown.

“I’m not usually one to tell someone how to run their business, but the best way to keep having a business is to accept payment for your services.”

He laughs. “I’m doing well enough that I can afford to do a few phone calls for a friend for free.”

“Henry…” I try, and he blows a raspberry down the line.

“Convince your son to honour his bet,” he says, “and I’ll consider us even.”

“Oh, you’re playing dirty,” Trevor complains at the phone. However, he still sighs dramatically and adds, “I’ll make reservations and let you know.”

Oscar and Mak also thank Henry, and the call ends soon after. I can’t believe how easily fixed the issue was after how stressed and scared I felt when I opened that letter last week. It feels anti-climactic somehow, not that I’m complaining that Henry was able to resolve it so quickly.

Knowing that there’s still a criminal trial looming on the horizon still ties me up in knots, but the only impact that will really have on my life is knowing whether the bad Dom who assaulted me will face consequences or not. It’s not going to have any sort of effect on my business, or my private life, or my relationships with people moving forward. I’m not going to go through months of defending myself or justifying why I made the report to begin with. Yes, I might need to answer uncomfortable questions about the club and the kinks I enjoy, but the people involved in the trial won’t ever cross my path again. That’s assuming it even goes to trial: it might even settle out of court if this guy wants to try for a lighter sentence.

All I know is that I was right for reporting him all those months ago. I didn’t defame him, and he’s not getting away with what he did to me. What he’s probably done to other people, or what he might do again.

I have Oscar to thank for having my back then, and for continuing to support me now. He was the one who called Trevor and arranged Henry’s help as well. Without Oscar, this all could have been a much bigger, scarier mess for me. Daddy or not, he’s a good man. A good boyfriend. A good Dom.

“You okay?” he asks me softly, nuzzling his cheek against mine.

I close my eyes and breathe easily, feeling truly at peace for the first time in over a week, since the letter about the lawsuit first arrived.

“I’m better than okay,” I answer. “And you made that happen.”

“I mean—ow!” Trev rubs at his arm and glares at his sister who is rolling her eyes at him.

“Yes,” I chuckle in his direction, “you helped, too. But if Oscar hadn’t called you, I’d probably still be looking for the rightlawyer to help me, assuming I would have pulled my head out of the sand at all.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit, darlin’,” Oscar says, and he wraps his strong arms around me and kisses the back of my neck. “You’re stronger than you think.”

“What he said,” Mak seconds. “After Dad died, we all struggled. But you…you stayed strong for us.” She gestures between herself and Trev. “You dealt with arranging the funeral, with selling the clinic, with making sure the wishes in his will were all met…you did it all and you never asked us for help, or accepted it when we offered.”

“Because you’re our kids,” I fall back on the same argument I used over a year ago. “I was his husband. The adultier adult. It was my responsibility, not yours.”

“Still dumb logic,” she huffs, “but whatever, it’s done. The point I’m making is that you did all of that because you’re strong…only you’ve got a support system and it’s okay to let others take over sometimes, too.”

“Ah, fuck,” I look up at the ceiling, blinking back tears at the gut punch from her words. She looks and sounds so much like Maddy that hearing her be so logical is bitter-sweet. “You’re a pest,” I accuse.

“I learned from the best,” she teases back.

“Yeah,” I agree, “your dad was a pain sometimes.”

She picks up one of the cushions from the couch and lobs it at me. “I meant you, Papa.”

“I know.” And, because I’m mature, I poke my tongue out at her.

The serious mood starts to lift again.

“So, should we talk about what to expect when the police charge the guy?” Trevor asks, and I groan, shaking my head.

“Not today. I just want to enjoy this time with you guys before you fly back home. We haven’t had proper family time since…”

Since Maddy died.

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