uprooted or destroyed all at once and I'm sorry for it."
She swallowed because she didn't want to cry. She'd cried enough in the past few days and she was hella proud she hadn't broken down in front of everyone. But now that she and Axel were alone and his compassion and tenderness were directed at her, she was about to lose it. Again.
"I..." Swallowing and breathing in and out a few times, she tried again. "I'll figure it out."
"Well, we have an opportunity, if you will, to make some changes in our lives. I want to be with Aidyn. Close to him, not a weekend dad. I want to be involved. All the time." He seemed frustrated and the elevator doors opened and Sophie and Tate were standing at the doors to get on the elevator.
"Hi, you two."
"Hi, Soph." She looked at Tate's little face, so innocent and pure. "He's just adorable."
Sophie giggled. "Thank you. Of course, we think so. I only hope we can do as good of a job as you've done with Aidyn. He sure is a sweet little guy. He just loves everyone and is so happy all the time."
"Thank you. You'll do a fantastic job as parents. I have no doubt."
She and Axel stepped away from the elevator as the doors closed. She looked up at Axel to see which direction they were going when she noticed his jaw clenched tightly.
"Are you alright?"
His eyes landed on hers. "I'll get used to it, not being part of Aidyn's early life. But it bugs the shit out of me now."
"Oh, I'm sor..."
He held his hand up to stop what she was going to say and shook his head. Apparently he didn't want to hear it.
He walked to the door she and Aidyn and her mom were staying in. Unsure how to proceed he looked down at her. "You want to check and see if he's in there?"
She waved the key card she was given in front of the door and it opened. Quietly peeking inside she looked around and saw her mom and Aidyn coloring at the coffee table in front of the sofa.
Looking back at Axel, she smiled and opened the door wider. Axel stepped in and she was taken by the way he filled the room. Remembering all those years ago why she was so enthralled by him, his movements, his quiet yet commanding presence, goose bumps formed on her arms.
Aidyn looked up and said, "I'm coloring a picture. Wanna see?"
"Sure, honey." Bridget and Axel said at the same time.
A nervous giggle escaped from her and he chuckled. They both walked to the coffee table and sat on the floor across from Aidyn.
Axel smiled at Aidyn, listened to his rambling about his picture and how this purple guy is fighting the orange guy and is going to win. Then his story quickly changed to running somewhere with his red guys right behind and then the story changed again. He had a fantastic imagination. Axel listened to every word. He engaged and asked Aidyn questions while chuckling at his very animated explanation.
It didn't take Aidyn long and he walked around the coffee table and sat on Axel's lap with his coloring book and started showing him his art. Axel gave him his undivided attention and she watched with such pride in her little boy. He really was a sweet happy young man.
Watching Axel interact with him made her heart beat faster. He seemed genuinely interested in everything Aidyn had to say and not just a shallow sort of interest. He wanted to be Aidyn's dad in every sense.
After a little while though he said to Aidyn, "Hey, Bud, we stopped up here to let you know that mom and I have to go downstairs and work for a little while. We're still here in the house, but we'll be downstairs. If you need us, you ask Grandma to text one of us and we'll come and get you for a bit. Okay?"
"Okay. Grandma said we could go outside and play."
"Um..." He looked at her then at her mom. "I don't think that's a great idea, right now. We're in the middle of something but for the time being can you please stay inside?"
Her mom hesitated; her brows furrowed then she looked at her. "Is everything alright?"
"Sure mom, it's all okay. Would you mind taking a walk with me for a minute?"
She glanced at Axel, Aidyn still on his lap, and he nodded at her. She stood