Page 301 of Fame & Chaos

Caleb groans while Aria and Coda burst into giggles.

He carefully inches his hand toward the green circle. For a second, I think he’s going to topple over, but somehow he manages to keep his balance.

“Ha! Made it. Suck that, kids!”

Both children laugh.

“Okay, Mummy, my turn,” six-year-old Aria calls.

“Okay, sweetheart.”

I spin the dial. “Left foot red.”

She twists herself around her little brother before planting her foot directly in front of Caleb’s face. “Smell my feet, Daddy.”

I burst out laughing as Caleb screws up his nose dramatically. “Phew! Aria, have you had a shower in… like, ever?”

“Silly Daddy.”

Coda laughs so hard his whole body shakes.

Watching Caleb with our children still melts my heart. He’s a better father than I ever dreamed he would be.

Patient.

Playful.

Completely devoted.

Totally present.

Our children absolutely adore him, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better husband or father.

“Coda… right foot blue.”

He somehow manages to twist himself between Caleb and Aria before planting his foot squarely on the blue circle.

“How is that even possible?” Caleb asks.

I shrug.

“I think Coda’s an alien,” Aria declares.

“I think you’re right.” Caleb laughs.

“My turn?” Caleb asks.

I spin again. “Left foot red.”

He groans dramatically before attempting the impossible, and halfway there, he wobbles… tries to recover… and collapses, taking both children down with him. Thankfully, he lands on the bottom of the pile.

I tense, waiting for tears.

Instead… I am greeted with a room full of laughter. Thank goodness.

“I’m getting too old for this shit.” Caleb sits up while the kids immediately climb all over him.

“Again, Daddy?” three-year-old Coda begs.