Hannah wouldn't share any information with Patrick about her visits to Dr. Deb, but she agreed to go back every week. Other than harping on at her to write the thank-you notes for her graduation gifts, his relationship with his eldest had calmed down. It was not serene because Hannah ignored Tessa and the girls.

Patrick thought about Tessa when they weren't together. They had settled into a routine as June gave way to July. Tuesday evenings he spent at Tessa's and she and the girl spent Wednesday afternoons with him. Saturdays were date nights and Sundays they went to the beach and had dinner together at his house. On Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, they spoke on the phone.

Gabby and Kevin were good sports. They were nice to Tessa and her girls. Even Maya was more comfortable with him, but not as affectionate as Chloe.

On the last Sunday in June, they were walking back from the beach. Everyone but Chloe was walking. She had manipulated him to give her a piggyback ride. Her excuse was her feet were too sandy for her flip-flops.

Maya wasn't buying it. "Chloe, you always walk."

Tessa smiled at him. He didn't mind carrying her.

"Doc. Abbie's going to fireworks."

Tessa said, "Fireworks are past your bedtime."

An idea popped into his head as he looked at her and smiled. "I think you should stay over. The Fourth of July is worth bending the rules. The girls could be asleep before the traffic lets up on the causeway." The Point was always mobbed on the Fourth of July.

"What about Hannah and the other two?"

"I'll change her curfew to midnight. She sleeps until noon. Honestly, she won't even know you're there."

"I don't know."

"Think about it. Kevin will probably sleep at Probst's, and Gabby, I'm not sure she'd be that bothered by it."

"Wouldn't she tell Hannah?"

He shrugged. "She's on team Dad, not team Hannah."

"There shouldn't be teams." Tessa frowned.

"I was kidding." He really wasn't. Family dynamics could be messy. Tessa knew from her own sisters. Patrick lied because he didn't want to give her a reason to run. If she ran again, it would hurt more than before.

Chloe said, "I wanna have a sleepover at Doc's house and see the fireworks!"

Maya said, "Me too! Please, Mommy!"

Patrick felt the excitement grow. Tessa could say no to him a lot easier than she could her daughters. He dropped Chloe from his back at the edge of his yard. "Go run in back and clean off in the shower."

Like many other houses, he had an outside shower. The girls had been over enough to know what to do on their own. He took Tessa's hand as they ambled toward the backyard.

"I really want you to stay over. It may be a mistake, but we won't know until we try."

"The three of you are ganging up on me."

He leaned in and whispered, "I want to hold you all night." He smiled at the blush painted across her tanned cheeks.

He had been sleeping in an empty bed for a long time. Eventually they would have to discuss their future. He was getting a clear vision of what he wanted, and it involved more than just sleepovers.

With the sand washed off, the girls changed back into their clothes and played in the yard as he and Tessa prepared dinner. He missed the sound of their laughter when they weren't visiting. They brought life back to his house and his life. He loved working in the kitchen with Tessa. He was never a perfect husband and rarely helped in the kitchen. It wasn't until Erica became too sick that he took over meals. He was proud of the way all three of them stepped up and created a routine. He felt it shifting, but it wasn't just Tessa and the girls. It was his daughter's work schedule and the boyfriend and Hannah with one foot out the door. When he visualized him and Kevin eating alone in a few years, Tessa and the girls filled his mind. Did he want Tessa to be a part of his life because he was lonely or because she was his new one and only?

Just as Patrick was carrying a platter of steak tips in from the grill, the front screen door slammed.

Hannah appeared with Ryder at her heels. Tessa was sauteing summer vegetables on the stove. Hannah sighed and glared at him.

Ignoring her, he said, "Hi, sweetie. Dinner's almost ready."

Ryder said, "Thanks, Dr. Bennett. We're hungry."

Hannah turned around. "I'm not hungry."

"Hannah, sit and eat with us for me."

She sighed. "Where's my brother and sister?"

"Gabby's working until six and Kev should be here. I'll text him." Before he had a chance, he heard the girls screeching in the yard.

"Those kids are wild animals!"

Tessa left the stove to check on her daughters. She stepped out onto the deck and turned back, smiling. "Kevin's home. They were just excited to see him."

Patrick laughed, but Hannah scowled. Patrick said, "I'll go outside and check on things."

He stepped onto the deck and called out to the girls. "Come on in. It's almost dinner."

"Kevin's here!" He smiled because Maya was excited.

"I know, but he needs to eat too." His son needed to rinse his sand off and change his clothes.

He turned and stepped back into the kitchen. Hannah said, "I returned it to buy what I wanted at the mall."

He looked from Hannah to Tessa. Hanna had a smile, but Tessa shrugged and turned back to the stove.

Patrick's voice was stern. "Did I understand you correctly? Did you return the gift Tessa bought you?"

Tessa said, "Patrick, it's fine from now on I'll stick to gift cards for any future gifts. I took a chance she would like it."

He stepped behind her and whispered in her ear. "Are you really okay?"

"Yes. I tried too hard. I knew it was a risk. Don't be mad at her."

He sighed and turned to his daughter. "You need to thank Tessa. She just talked me out of grounding you."

"You can't ground me. I'm going to be eighteen in a week."

The little girls walked into the kitchen and froze. They weren't fond of Hannah.

"You're still under my roof and my rules."

"Whatever." She turned and left the room, and Ryder followed her.

Patrick was concerned for Tessa. He turned her to face him and kissed her forehead. "Did she upset you?"

"Honestly, I should have known better. My niece only likes gift cards."

"You were too generous with her."

"I was trying to buy my way in."

"Tessa." He kissed her lips.

"Doc!" He turned, and both girls were looking at them.

"Go wash your hands." Tessa pointed to the bathroom.

He was about to kiss her again. "Dad, what's for dinner?" Kevin stopped and looked at them. "Oh good. Tessa cooks better than you."

"I won't argue with that. I cooked the steak. Now go get changed."

He stood in the kitchen in his swimsuit. Gabby walked in and caused a commotion with the girls. The house was loud and chaotic, but Patrick loved it - most of it.

Hannah was silent through dinner. She glared at her siblings as they interacted with Tessa and her daughters. When she finally spoke, she said, "We need to plan my birthday. Since it's my day, I get to pick who comes."

"Hannah, we can talk about it later."

"Fine. I'm done. We're going to meet our friends on the beach."

She stood up and left the table. Ryder stood and followed her out the door.

Maya broke the silence left in their wake. "They didn't put their plate in the dishwasher."

Gabby laughed first, and soon everyone joined in except Patrick. Tessa squeezed his hand. He was counting on Dr. Deb to help.

Chloe announced to his other two children. "We want to see the fireworks and have a sleepover."

Gabby said, "You should. You can sleep in the bonus room. That's where we always had sleepovers."

Maya said, "Can we, Mom?"

"I'm not sure." She looked at Patrick. He encouraged her with a smile.

Chloe said, "Mommy, you can sleep with us."

Gabby said, "Your mom should have a sleepover with her friend."

"Who?" Chloe giggled.

"My dad, Doc." Gabby smiled. Patrick didn't know if he should kiss or scold his middle child. "Right, Kev. When you sleep over Ben's you sleep in the same room."

"Yeah, but what do I know? I'm still a kid."

Patrick smiled at his son. "I'm glad we have your support, Gabs, but let's give Tessa time to decide. Your sister will not be as agreeable. Who wants ice cream before the Simons need to go?"

A chorus of me filled the room.

Patrick stood and lifted his plate and the meat plate. "Gabby and Kevin will walk you up while Tessa and I clean the kitchen."

The girls jumped up and took care of their plates, and his kids followed. He handed Gabby money. "Thanks, Gabs."

The door slammed, and the house was quiet. He pulled Tessa to him. "Sorry once again we had a hell of a dinner."

She released a nervous laugh. "It wasn't horrible. I love Gabby and Kevin."

"I think we should do it, but I think I'll call Dr. Deb."

"Maybe I can sleep with the girls."

"Can you sneak into my room?"

She smiled and put her lips on his. He kissed her back. Their bodies fit together like a jigsaw, and he wished he could carry her upstairs to slip the last piece in.

He pulled away. "The kitchen."

She smiled. "I know, but you're hard to resist."

"Then spend the night with me."

"Maybe." She smiled.

He turned to the sink. He wanted Tessa and a crazy family. He just wasn't ready to ask what she wanted.

On Wednesday, the third of July, he and Hannah went to meet with Dr. Deb together.

When they entered her office, Patrick felt the same fear she would tell him he was selfish.

"So I've met with Hannah twice. She's concerned about your choices."

He nodded. That was no surprise.

"Why can't you love my mother?" Hannah interrupted the doctor.

"I love Mom. I always will, Hannah. We had a great life and family. You kids meant everything to her. You still do to me. I love you."

"Then why?"

He looked at the doctor who nodded so he answered her. "She was your mother, but she was my wife. We shared things that were private and I made promises to her. I promised I would never let Kev be reckless on his board. I promised I would let you choose what you wanted to study. I promised a lot of things. I spent three years promising. The most important ones were about how I would let her go when it was time and how she would let me go to find love again."

"Let her go?"

He nodded. "I promised not to hold on to her to extend her suffering."

Dr. Deb said, "Hannah, when people are dying they need to be assured by those they love that it's okay to let go. I think your father is saying he agreed to do that."

Patrick nodded as Deb handed him a tissue. He imagined she purchased them in bulk.

"Hannah, your mother didn't want the man she loved to live his life alone."

"But why her?" She sounded as if she had a foul taste in her mouth.

"Because she's a beautiful person, inside and out. Just the fact that she cares about you proves it. Tessa could hate you for the crap you pulled, but she doesn't."

He noticed Deb's eyes widen slightly at the mention of Tessa's name. She hadn't known.

"I don't care what she thinks of me."

"I do. What you feel for each other matters to me."

Hannah looked appalled. "Don't tell me you love her!"

"I could, but I haven't told her. I love her girls."

"Kevin told me they're gonna sleepover."

He felt slightly disappointed, but the only reason to keep it secret was if it didn't happen.

"We talked about it. She hasn't said yes, because of you." He hated they had given their control to his daughter.

"Hannah." She looked at Deb. "Being unhappy doesn't mean you miss your mother more. The mother you described would want you to be happy. She would want you to embrace happiness and let those she loved do the same."

"I'm happy."

"Can you be angry and happy at the same time?" Hannah shrugged. "Why aren't your brother and sister here?"

"Because they're traitors."

Deb smiled. "Or because they want your Dad to be happy."

"Kevin told me it's weird."

Deb nodded. "Seeing your father with a woman who isn't your mom is weird. They might even touch and kiss."

"I know they do a lot more than that!"

"How do you know?"

"Because he didn't deny it." She pointed at Patrick. He was sitting quietly because he was happy with how it was playing out.

"Okay. You're almost an adult. Do you think it's weird for your dad to see you, his daughter with a boyfriend?"

"I'm not having sex with my boyfriend!"

He wanted to smile but bit his lip. "That tells me you are a responsible, smart girl."

By the time they left, Patrick felt emotionally exhausted. There wasn't a major breakthrough or epiphany.

On the drive home, he said, "Hannah, I love you. Even if I love Tessa, I'll never love you or your Mom less." She didn't reply. "If Tessa agrees, they'll be spending the night tomorrow night."

"Can I stay out until midnight?"

"Yes, but only because it's a holiday."