I've loved her since the first moment I laid eyes on her. Not with the burning passion I now feel, as we both get older. Back then in the beginning what I felt for her was softer, gentler, like a flower blooming under the full rays of the sun for the first time and coming into its own. I can still remember the feeling, that rush of excitement, the sense of knowing, as my eyes followed her across the schoolyard that first day. Still remember like it was yesterday, how it felt to fall head over heels in love for the first and what has now turned out to be the last time. I was fifteen and she a mere thirteen when I first became aware of her. That spring day when I went looking for her to see what all the fuss was about, I never expected to find my heart. I thought she'd just be more of the same, but as it turned out, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen and still is to this day so many years later. It was like being struck by lightning as clichéd as that

I'm still not sure what made him change his mind about us seeing each other, I suspect one of her brothers might have told him what happened at school, not sure, she never said, but whatever the case may be, I'm forever grateful. And though she was the only girl I'd gone through that much trouble for and couldn't even hold her hand without her dad shooting daggers at me with his eyes, I didn't mind hanging out on her couch watching TV, whispering silly shit to each other, until her dad kicked me out when it was getting late. I guess he knows what he's doing as a father, because his attitude changed things. I was much calmer, less rushed; there was none of the usual trying to score bullshit. Until her that's all I knew, though my fifteen-year old self never got any farther than copping a feel here and there, at least it was something. Not with Colton Lyon's daughter though. There was nothing even remotely sexual about my feelings for her back then, which let's fa

Home at last! We'd been back for a day after making the run out to Law's place and things were only now getting back to normal. Damn kids act like refugees every time we leave and come back even though we never leave them for any real significant amount of time. Their grandparents didn't want to give them up, which I'm starting to think might be a good idea, let them stay with them a little longer so I can have some peace and quiet. Except my babies, Cody and the trips still need their daddy to protect them. Especially from their crazy ass sister. Speaking of which, I haven't seen her little ass sneaking around corners for a good hour, probably in my basement doing some illegal shit. "You okay babe?" My wife came sniffing around my office, not sure what the hell she's after but it can't be good. Before we left Law's place she and the ladies had their heads together concocting some shit that was sure to put my ass in traction. I can barely keep up with her shit s

I sighed from my soul when I stopped in the doorway of my bedroom and watched my wife."Kat." She was moving around the room folding shit and putting it away. I know that look."Did you kill them?" She didn't look up at me."No.""This is all your fault Colton Lyon." Here we go. "How the fuck do you figure? Mengele, I'm not gonna tell you again." I saw her shadow move along the wall. With any luck that nut will do me in soon with one of her concoctions. Just then the three little ones came barreling into the room on their hands and knees making a racket. They'd just learned to crawl and my house was now hell central. I reached down and grabbed the first two and headed over to the bed with the third wrapped around my ankle chortling like a lunatic. "Where's Cody?""Caitlin has him in her room, don't change the subject." She folded the same shirt for the third or fourth time and I knew what kind of mood she was in. A houseful of kids meant I coul

But then I got the news that my hard work had paid off and I could graduate early. I thought all my troubles were at an end. I could be with Todd again, and away from daddy's prying eyes and stern looks. But of course that was a short lived dream and my poor heart was thrown into turmoil once again when daddy said no way. Mom understood my pain. She'd come into my room and lay with me some nights, trying to get me to understand where daddy was coming from. I didn't get it and still don't truth be told, but it doesn't matter because there's no getting around Colton Lyon's dictates. What he says goes and there's no point in trying to get mom to side with me because that would only put her in the line of fire as well. When daddy refused to bend even for her I knew it was a lost cause. Daddy never denies mommy anything, so for him to stick to his guns like that said a lot. Sometimes I want to scream my head off and throw a wild hair-raising tantrum, but the thought