Page 4 of Thresholds

He collected the mug I'd left for him and carried it to the coffee pot. He must've turned it on before he went out with the dogs. Cold brew wasn't his preference, definitely not in the winter. My father was devout when it came to the hot drinks during cold weather, cold drinks during hot weatherparadigm.

"The singing competition? Or the headboard banging?" He choked on his coffee, and nearly upended it as he coughed. I relieved him of the mug and gave him a firm smack on the back to clear his airway. "Are you gonna make it, or are you gonna let some fair-trade coffee take youdown?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said, waving me off. "I wasn't expecting that comment, that'sall."

"I wasn't expecting the headboardbanging."

"Don't think you can take that tone of voice with me," he snapped. "I don't care how old you are, you don't talk about your motherthat—"

"Believe me," I said, cutting him off, "I'm just as unhappy about this conversation as you are." I shook my head to banish all thoughts of my parents having sex. In my house. Multiple times. Loudly. "And don't correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you had a role in last evening'sactivities."

We stared at each other for the longest, most physically uncomfortable moment of my life. Then my father nodded once and turned his attention back to his breakfast. He stood there, one hand in his pocket, the other on his coffee, gazing out the window at the choppy blue-gray waters of the AtlanticOcean.

Determining that the discussion portion of this confrontation was complete, I grabbed a loaf of bread and set a few slices to toast. I didn't understand pregnancy cravings beyond my basic obligation to fulfill them, but it was curious how they varied with each baby. This time around, Shannon was obsessed with hot, spicy foods…and toast. She couldn't function without two pieces first thing in themorning.

Early on, around her third or fourth month, she left for the office with the plan of grabbing something to eat at the bakery café near Walsh Associates. She didn't even make it out of the driveway before deciding she needed some toast for theride.

Now I fired up the oven right after looking over the night's situation reports and delivered her first breakfast straight to thebedroom.

"Rise and shine, mama," I said, jogging in place beside the bed. "There are five miles of sand with your name on them. Up and at 'em."

Shannon stretched her arms over her head, and the bedsheets fell away, revealing her round belly and tiny sleep shorts. It didn't matter whether she wore a close-fitting camisole or baggy t-shirt, she always woke up with her tummy exposed. "Do I look like I'm interested in running five miles withyou?"

"You'd rather hit a spin class? What about some barre? I can dig my leotard out of the closet," I replied, still jogging. "Come on, girl.Rally."

I stopped when she beckoned me closer, and I dropped my hands to either side of her hips. She was warm and drowsy, her hair spread over the pillow like a sunrise. I adored this unpolished version of her, the one that existed only inside the four walls of our bedroom. The one reserved forme.

"Listen carefully, Commando." She closed her fingers around my shirt and tugged me down. She smiled, but it was one of herI hope you enjoy the torture I'm about to inflictsmiles. "I've figured out what you can get me forChristmas."

"And what would thatbe?"

"A vasectomy," she replied. "For you, of course. But mostly forme."

I barked out a laugh. "You don't mean that," Isaid.

"Oh, but I do," she said, coasting her hands up my back. "You did this tome."

"I did," I said, dragging my fingers along her waist and over her belly. "Though I recall you enjoyed it at thetime."

"Lies," she murmured. "All lies." She sucked in a breath then let out a low groan. "Someone'sawake."

Based on the movement under my hand, this kid was doing jumping jacks in there. "I want you to stay heretoday."

She sighed, shaking her head. "I have a fullday."

"I want you to stay here today," I repeated. "Anything you need to do, you can do from home." I tipped my chin toward her. "Save the eye rolling. That shit doesn't work onme."

"Will, I'm fine, and I need to do this. I'mgoing to be annoyed if I can't get everything done before theholiday."

"Then Abby can stay with my parents, and I'll go in withyou."

"That's not going to work. I have meetingsand—"

"And I have a responsibility to take care of you," I said, cutting her off. "I'll sit through your meetings. I'll do whatever you need and go wherever you need togo."

"Yeah, Will. Sure. You won't last ten minutes in a meeting with mybrothers."

"I'll be fine," I replied. "They might end up hog-tied but that can't behelped."

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