Lily lay flat on her back on the rug, wearing her pale blue uniform… and bright yellow cleaning gloves.
On top of her stood his one-year-old twins.
Ethan balanced on her stomach. Caleb stood wobbling on her chest, gripping her shoulders.
“Watch out for the earthquake!” Lily shouted playfully, shaking just enough to challenge their balance.
Caleb—the fragile one, the child doctors said might struggle to walk—stood upright, trembling but laughing.
Natural sunlight filled the room. Dust sparkled in the air.
To an outsider, it would have looked like joy.
To Harrison, it looked reckless.
His voice cracked like thunder.
“Lily.”
The harmony shattered.
She flinched. Caleb lost balance.
Harrison stepped forward too late—
But Lily wasn’t late.
With lightning reflexes, she caught Caleb mid-fall and pulled Ethan safely against her.
In seconds, both boys were secure in her arms.
They began crying—startled, frightened.
Harrison stormed forward.
“Let go of my children.”
He pulled Ethan away roughly. The boy reached back toward Lily, sobbing, “Nana.”
That word hit Harrison like a slap.
“You call that exercise?” he demanded. “You’re lying on the floor like a circus act.”