Gabby waited outside his door. He had showered and dressed after he woke all three kids.

She pouted. "Why do I have to go?"

"Because it's important to me."

"I already know you're going to tell us you're getting married. I'm not blind. I know you want to."

She was right, but not until Tessa was ready. Hannah was the key.

"Not until your sister feels better about it. I need your help. I hope you'll always be on my side."

"Dad, you know I love you."

"I know, Gabs." He hoped his news didn't change her feelings.

Kevin dragged his feet. "Do it for me. I love you, son."

No one spoke in the car. When he parked, Hannah said, "I think it's good you two finally have to come."

She led the way. "Sit here and wait."

Patrick saw Gabby roll her eyes. They could read the sign. When the door opened, a teen boy with a face full of acne left. Gabby looked at her hands. Did she know him?

Deb stood in the doorway. "Come in."

Hannah said, "This is Gabby and Kevin. You know my Dad."

Deb nodded. "Nice to meet you two. I know you've been through a lot of changes lately. How do you feel?"

Kevin studied his Nikes. Gabby looked at Patrick, and he nodded to encourage her.

"It's different. Especially now they are staying with us because of the cast."

"Cast?" Deb looked surprised.

Patrick said, "Tessa broke her ankle. She and her girls are staying with us." It surprised him she didn't know. Rita did.

"So how is that going, Hannah?"

"How do you think? The only ones who are happy are him and his new family."

Patrick didn't react.

Deb said, "Gabby and Kevin, is that how you feel?"

Gabby said, "Not really. At least Dad is happy. He pretended, but I knew he was lonely."

Kevin said, "He's still my Dad. We surf even when they're over."

Deb nodded. "How do you feel about Tessa?"

Kevin said, "She's okay. She's not mean or anything, but I don't want a mother."

"I didn't want a mother either when I was your age. After my mother died, my father found a woman he cared about. I accepted her as my friend."

Gabby asked, "Did they get married?"

"They did."

Kevin asked, "Dad, are you going to get married?"

"We haven't talked about it yet. Mostly because Tessa is concerned about Hannah." He looked at his oldest daughter. "You lash out at her and her hurt is for you. She cares about you."

Hannah crinkled her nose. "No, she doesn't."

"She does. I know you're not nice to her, but she refuses to tell me. She doesn't want to cause you and I to be at odds."

Deb shifted the focus. "It can't be easy with younger children in the house."

Kevin surprised Patrick. "They aren't so bad. At least, I'm not the youngest."

Gabby said, "They love Kevin."

Patrick said, "Gabs, they love you too. They started off leary of Hannah, but they are warming up to her."

Hannah smiled. "You pay me to be nice to them."

"Only when you babysit." He didn't want Deb to think he was bribing her.

"So it sounds like things aren't horrible. Do any of you have questions for your Dad?"

Kevin asked, "Do you really love her?" He nodded. "Like Mom."

"I love all three of you a like, but different. Definitely equal. I think it's the same. I love Tessa, but she's different from Mom. I will never stop loving your Mom."

Deb added, "My Dad's been married for twenty-three years and we just spent a quiet evening together remembering my mother's birthday."

Gabby asked, "I still don't know why we're here. Only Hannah hates Tessa."

Patrick took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The sweat had pooled under his arms and on his lower back. Deb looked comfortable, so the air conditioning was working. He stood to get a drink of water. Deb nodded at him.

"You're here, because I need to tell you something." Six eyes all the shape of Erica's stared at him. He had rehearsed the three words in his mind. "Tessa is pregnant."

"What!" Hannah exploded. "You've been on me all summer about not getting pregnant and you did!"

Patrick said, "I'm not eighteen."

"All the more reason!"

He tried again. "We're excited about it. Gabs, Kev, I know it's a shock."

Kevin said, "A shock alright!"

Gabby's eyes were wide. "A baby. Dad, no offense, but aren't you too old?"

"Gabs, I'm not ancient."

Gabby's face softened. "You're really happy?"

"I am. I know it's weird, but I want you to love your baby brother."

Kevin looked at him. "What? A boy! Not another girl?" Patrick nodded. "Thank God. There are enough girls."

Hannah said, "I think it's disgusting."

"There's something you don't understand. This is our second chance for happiness. Tessa wasn't looking when I found her. She focused on being a mother after her husband died. She knows the same pain. Maybe more because we said goodbye to Mom. Our baby is a new beginning. Because of him, we are looking forward, not backwards."

Hannah said, "So you can forget about Mom."

"Hannah, I promise you I never want to forget about mom. I will always love her, just like I'll always love you. We'll still look back, but not constantly. Tessa is slowly looking back less often, but she still does. She didn't pursue me or trap me. It was me who chased her. Luckily, I'm so irresistible."

He tried to break the tension. Hannah rolled her eyes, but Gabby looked at him as if she agreed. Kevin just looked bored.

Deb said, "If Gabby and Kevin don't have questions, I'd like to talk to Hannah alone."

Patrick nodded. "Hannah, meet us in the parking lot. We'll get the groceries."

He needed to pick up his food order and his shirts from the dry cleaner. When he came back to the car with the plastic covered starched shirts, they both looked at him. It was obvious they were talking about him.

"Guys, it's okay. Just tell me what you think. I know it's big news. It took me a little while to wrap my head around it."

Gabby said, "You mean you didn't plan it."

He sighed. "No, but I never want your little brother to think he was an oops. It happens."

Gabby said, "Dad, shouldn't you be smarter than that."

"Shouldn't they make condoms that don't break?"

Gabby said, "Oh! Gross! TMI! Dad!"

"Only because I'm your Dad. It's how you got here less the mishap."

Gabby asked, "Dad, are they moving in for good?"

He sighed. "Probably. I hope so. Whether you like it, we're a family now. A big family."

She said, "We don't have the room."

"I know. We need to figure something out. We can live without the bonus room."

Kevin said, "Where are we going to hang out with our friends?"

He said, "Downstairs."

Once the baby arrived, he didn't think they'd want to bring their friends over. Gabby never brought her friends over, and Kevin preferred going to Kristi's.

Hannah was silent when she climbed into the car. He smiled at her, but she ignored him. He expected her to be mad. No one spoke until they were driving across the causeway.

Gabby asked, "When is this baby coming."

He could lie, but he told her the truth.

"January!" Hannah said, "That's like five months."

It was less. "Something like that. It's getting hard to hide."

He pulled into his garage and the car doors slammed as the kids disappeared.

He found Tessa sitting on the sofa reading a book. "So?"

He sank down next to her. "I don't know how it went. I think two will adjust."

Neither spoke as Hannah went into the garage. She didn't even tell him where she was going. Kevin appeared in his swimsuit and walked out the front door without a word.

Tessa squeezed his hand. "Where are the little girls?"

"Megan has them."

Gabby came downstairs and called out. "I'm going to the beach."

"Have fun!" The door shut before he finished speaking. "Well, we're alone. I have a car full of groceries."

"I can help put them away."

He stood. "I've got it."

He was tired and deflated. He should feel glad to have the secret out. Why did his happiness have to hurt his children?

Tessa was in the kitchen putting food in the fridge. Determined, she hopped around the kitchen.

"Thanks for helping, but I wish you would sit."

"All I do is sit. I feel pampered and bored."

"Bored. I can think of something once I put away the frozen food. The rest can wait."

"It's not even noon!"

"Oh, right. Our Wednesday dates always started with lunch." He nipped behind her ear.

She laughed. "Maybe Hannah was right all along. You only want one thing."

"She was wrong because I love you and I want you." He lifted her onto a stool and kissed her. "You know right here might work."

She slapped his butt. "One of the kids could walk in at any minute."

"You're right, but it's tempting."

He kissed her, hoping she'd beg him to carry her upstairs.

"You should get a room!"

He dragged his lips off Tessa's. "You should learn to knock."

Tessa giggled as a blush covered her cheeks.

Kristi said, "Kevin told me some big news!"

Patrick groaned. "The Point knows by now. What did he say?"

"He announced his father got his girlfriend pregnant. The girls were hanging around and Sophie said she loved babies. She took the wind out of his sail. I want to know what Hannah said."

"That I'm a stupid idiot."

Kristi said, "Look on the bright side, she'll be gone in a week and a half."

"That's why I think I should go home. My mother is coming home tomorrow. I can get around enough."

"No!" Kristi said, full of passion. "Don't give in to her!"

"But it's her last week home."

"She'll be busy. I already promised to take her shopping." Kristi turned to Patrick. "You might need to raise the limit on your credit card."

Patrick looked at Kristi like she was crazy. "For what sheets and a bedspread!"

"There is so much you need to learn about girls."

Tessa nodded. "It's more than that."

He waved his hand. "Get her what she needs, but I'm only making one trip so it has to fit in the car. Tess, you're staying here. We're in this together."

Kristi said, "Really! That wasn't very romantic."

Kristi was teasing him, but he wasn't in the mood. "Don't start, woman."

Kristi ignored him and turned to Tessa. "I hope he's sweeter than that." She embarrassed Tessa. Kristi smiled. "Is he lovey dovey?"

"Kristi, I have a door!"

Tessa laughed. "Patrick, relax. She's teasing. What's bothering you? That I offered to go home or Hannah?"

Her face was full of compassion. He wished she had said she loved him. "Both."

"I'll stay, but I'll give you and Hannah space. She's your priority."

He loved her for caring about his daughter.

Kristi groaned. "Oh, God! Are those his bedroom eyes? You're back to where you were when I walked in!"

"Kristi!"

"I'm leaving before I see something I can't unsee."

"The only thing happening here is me making lunch."

"Romantic. I'm sure I'll be feeding your son. I'll let you know if I learn anything new."

Patrick called out. "Hey Kristi. What happened with Dan and the job interview?"

She smiled. "He got it!"

"Good for him! Thanks for your help."

"You know I may annoy you, but I'll always be here for you."

Tessa watched her walk away. "And I used to be jealous of her."

"Tess, you never need to be jealous of anyone. You're the only one I want. I love you." Damn! He made her cry again. "Tell me those are happy tears." She nodded. "Tell me they're because you love me too." She nodded. "Oh, thank God! I was so afraid, you didn't."

"I didn't want to. I couldn't control it."

"Tess, you can love David as much as you need. I won't be jealous. As long as you aren't jealous. You have some competition." He winked. "Two girls wiggled into my heart first."

As he kissed her, he thought, to hell with anyone who walks in.