This is the second of a double update.

Hannah didn't go with him on the drive back to the airport. Gabby had an exam, so he was on his own. He regretted he hadn't asked Tessa. He would have enjoyed her company on the way home. As much as he wanted to run over to see Tessa, he had too much to do. On the top of his list was a long talk with his eldest child.

It didn't surprise him Hannah wasn't home when he returned with their weekly grocery order and his shirts from the dry cleaners. He normally exchanged dirty shirts for cleaned, pressed ones on Saturdays. He hadn't because of the party and had to wear his last least favorite shirt on Tuesday. If he added the errand to his Wednesday chores, he wouldn't need to wait in line on Saturdays. There was always someone he knew in the dry cleaner line. He didn't mind making small talk like he did with his patients. Most recently, he noticed smiles, which left him feeling uncomfortable. Did everyone in town know he was dating?

He thought about inviting Tessa for dinner, but he wanted to see how his conversation with Hannah went. He had already invited them for Friday.

Too much hadn't been done because of his company and graduation. Besides the regular laundry, there were extra sheets and towels from the four guests. Would four others live with them someday? He didn't want to think about how they would fit. There wasn't even a bedroom for the baby.

Gabby sat at the counter eating lunch when he returned. Dropping grocery bags, he looked around.

"Where's Hannah?"

"I dunno. She wasn't here when I came home. I had the car so..."

She was either at the beach or a friend picked her up. The girls shared Erica's car. It wasn't new, but it worked. The sharing part often caused conflict, but he did his best to stay out of it.

He glanced out the window. It was overcast and not warm. He doubted she would be at the beach. It wasn't beach weather, but it was surfing weather. Unfortunately, he had too much to do. He was too busy for Tessa and surfing.

He texted Hannah to ask where she was. While he waited for a response, he carried in more grocery bags. Gabby helped to unpack and put the food away.

His phone chimed while he was carrying his clean shirts to his room.

H: at the mall with Lexie. Work at 5.

P: Be home by 4

H: why?

P: because I want you to

H: why?

She frustrated him. Gabby would have responded okay, but Hannah tested him. He had fallen into her trap and argued with her over text too many times.

P: 4

He wouldn't reply to anymore of her texts. Meanwhile, he stripped the bed in Gabby's room where his parents stayed and the pull-out sofa in the bonus room where the girls had slept. Logan had slept on an air mattress in Kevin's room. He took those sheets and deflated the bed.

He was moving wet clothes to the dryer when he heard her voice. He lifted the basket of clean sheets and left the laundry room.

"Look at you. Dr. Domestic."

"If you came to tease me, you can help."

He lifted a flat sheet and handed an end to Kristi.

"Sorry. You're so easy to tease." He rolled his eyes. "Is everything fine with Tessa?"

He nodded. "What did you know?"

"I spent two days with your mother. Hannah was complaining, and her cousins told her what you were mad about."

"I still haven't talked to her. Our relationship is so shaky. What happened to my little girl?"

"Stay with Tessa and you'll have two more."

He groaned. "I don't mind them little, but can I skip the teen years?" Odd how a month ago, he wanted no part of raising small children again. "Seriously, what do I say to her? What she did wasn't okay."

"I'm not defending her, but she couldn't have known Tessa was going to be upstairs." Was he blushing? "Tell me you weren't planning to meet up there!"

"No. She was probably using my bathroom."

"You're so cute. Embarrassed because she's been in your room." He shot her daggers. "You need to let Hannah know you expect her to respect Tessa. I have a feeling she isn't going anywhere soon."

He was beet red. "This thing with Hannah." He shook his head.

Erica was in charge of the tough stuff. When he came home from work, his job was to distract the kids so Erica could have some peace. He was the entertainer, not the enforcer. After she got sick, there was no enforcement needed. No one acted out. In the hell they were living in, his kids were compliant. They didn't even fight with each other. After she passed the first squabble between the girls caught him off guard. He almost overreacted because it was so foreign. Instead, he cried because it meant they were acting normal.

He shook his head and continued. "I'm not good at parenting. It was never my job."

"You're a great parent. Don't sell yourself short."

"I can feed'em and love'em, but the discipline is too hard."

"Because you're a softie. Just tell her what you expect."

Patrick frowned. "She'll push back."

"Maybe you should talk to Jack about a grief counselor."

"I don't need a counselor." He made it two years without professional help.

"For Hannah, not you. I know Rory saw someone when they first came."

"I doubt she'd agree."

"Talk to her."

Together they folded the basket full of sheets into neat little squares that looked nothing like when he did them alone. Kristi even made folding the fitted sheets look easy.

"I will. Thanks."

"No problem. I guess I should head home before the bus."

Glancing at the clock, he confirmed Kevin would be home soon. He went to get the clothes out of the dryer. He had towels to dry.

Kevin wanted to surf. Unfortunately, he needed to talk to Hannah. He listened to Gabby talk to Kevin while he ate a snack. It was nice to hear them excited for summer. Why had they adjusted so well?

"Are you guys okay?"

They looked at each other. "Yeah. Why?" Kevin said.

"I don't know. Just something Kristi said about Rory seeing a grief counselor."

"Dad, we have each other. Rory's sister was too little to talk to."

"Do you talk to your sister?"

Gabby rolled her eyes. "We would if she wanted to."

"She doesn't care about us." Kevin looked younger. He loved his sister.

The door slammed as they were still in the kitchen.

"Dad, why was it so important I come home!"

He expected the other two to scatter. He didn't know if the audience would be a help or a hindrance.

"Come sit." She was loaded with bags. "Where did you get the money to shop?"

"Graduation."

He hadn't paid attention to her gifts, except her reaction to Tessa's.

"We've been discussing my relationship with Tessa. Your sister and brother have agreed to give her a chance."

Hannah hissed. "Traitors!"

Gabby glared. "Hannah, you're so selfish. If you'd open your eyes, you'd see she makes Dad happy. Which is something you haven't done lately. He had that huge party for you. And what did you do? Thank him? No, you upset him!"

"Gabs, it's okay. Thanks." He squeezed her hand.

"Why does no one care about Mom? Am I the only one?" Hannah's voice cracked.

Gabby's voice lost some steam. "Mom. Mom taught us to be kind. You haven't been kind."

Patrick put up his hand to stop the girls' verbal sparring.

"Hannah, we all miss Mom. It hurt that she missed graduation. I know she would be so proud of you. It hurts me you're so sad. We all are sometimes, but you're sad and angry."

"Only because you're in a hurry to replace Mom."

He sighed. "No one will replace your mother, but that doesn't mean I have to live my life lonely and alone."

"You have us."

"I do, but you're leaving and adults need other adults. I want to help you. Do you think having someone to talk to would help?"

Gabby said, "I'd go. I miss Mom."

He smiled at her. If only Hannah was a little more like Gabby.

Hannah glared. "I'm not crazy."

"Come on, Han. Rory went, and it helped her."

When Rory moved to The Point, the girls were too worried about Erica to be interested in the sad girl without a mother. It didn't help that she was friends with another girl who Hannah didn't like. She and Cassie were like oil and water. Recently, Gabby had become friends with Rory's friend Anna.

Hannah rolled her eyes. "She needed help, but I bet kissing Sam Keller on the beach did it."

"Is kissing Ryder on the beach helping you?" Six eyes turned to Kevin, who had been quietly listening.

Hannah glared. "What do you know about kissing, Kev? Don't tell me you've kissed Sophie!"

Patrick put his hand up. "Stop! Kev's too young to be kissing girls. We were talking about trying to feel better... happier."

"Does kissing your woman make you happier, Dad?" Hannah posed a question that sounded like an accusation.

He sighed. "Yes. Kissing Tessa makes me happy, and you might as well get used to it."

Hannah screamed. "Why do you hate my mother?" She ran out of the room.

Patrick went to follow her, but she ran out the door with her work shirt in her hand.

He raked his hands through his hair. "Hey, Kev! You want to surf now?"