Ethan pushed open the heavy door of their usual bar, the comforting hum of low chatter and the clink of glasses welcoming him. Victor was already seated at their regular booth, nursing a drink, his expression both concerned and expectant. Ethan slid into the seat across from him, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled deeply.
Victor studied him for a moment before speaking. “You look like hell, man. What’s going on?”
Ethan gave a faint smile, signaling the bartender for a whiskey. “Where do I even start?” he said, his voice heavy with weariness.
“You better start somewhere,” Victor replied, leaning forward. “You’ve been dodging my calls for days. I figured something was up.”
Ethan took a sip of his drink when it arrived, letting the warmth steady him. Then, with a steadying breath, he began to recount the harrowing events of the past weeks. He told Victor about Tania’s unthinkable act of kidnapping Leo and Liam, the frantic search, the confrontation, and the bittersweet relief of getting the boys back.
Victor listened intently, his expression shifting from disbelief to anger and finally to something softer as Ethan detailed the aftermath. “The boys were shaken, of course,” Ethan said. “Grace hasn’t left their side since we brought them home. She’s scared, clinging to them like she’s afraid they’ll vanish again.”
Victor sighed, shaking his head. “I had a bad feeling when Tania disappeared from sight. It was too quiet, too suspicious. But when I couldn’t find anything concrete… I don’t know, man. I guess I didn’t push hard enough.”
Ethan waved him off. “It’s not on you, Vic. None of us saw this coming.”
Victor’s jaw tightened. “How are the kids now?”
Ethan leaned back, rubbing his temples. “They’re… managing, I guess. Grace is scared, but she’s got Ella and the boys. That seems to help. As for Leo and Liam, they’re quiet-too quiet. They barely speak, just cuddle up with Ella, Grace, or me when they can. It’s like they’re trying to feel safe again, but they’re not there yet.”
Victor frowned deeply. “That’s rough. What about school? Are they going back anytime soon?”
“I don’t think so,” Ethan said, shaking his head. “I’m considering changing their school altogether. I don’t want them going back to a place where something like this happened. They need a fresh start.”
Victor nodded slowly. “Makes sense. A clean slate might be good for all of you.”
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything hanging heavy between them. Finally, Victor broke the quiet. “So… Tania. What’s happening with her?”
Ethan’s expression darkened slightly. “She’s been deemed mentally unstable after all the evaluations. They’re sending her to a high-end, highly secured mental facility.”
Victor raised his eyebrows, his voice low with disbelief. “Wow. That’s a lot to process.” He took a long sip of his drink before adding, “But maybe it’s for the best. If she’s that far gone, at least she’s somewhere she can’t hurt anyone anymore.”
Ethan nodded, though his jaw tightened. “It doesn’t make it easier to explain to the kids, though. How do you tell them someone who tried to hurt them is just… sick?”
Victor reached across the table, clinking his glass against Ethan’s. “You’ll figure it out. You’ve already been through the worst of it. Now it’s about rebuilding.”
Ethan chuckled lightly, though the sound lacked true humor. “Rebuilding. Right.” He took another sip of his drink, the alcohol burning away the lingering frustration. “Here’s to that, I guess.”
Victor smiled faintly. “Cheers to a new chapter in life. A better one.”
They raised their glasses, the gesture simple but significant.
As the conversation eased into lighter topics, Victor steered it toward their friendship. “You know, Ethan, we’ve been through some crazy stuff, but this tops it all. I’m just glad you’ve got Ella back. She’s good for you and the kids.”
Ethan’s face softened at the mention of Ella. “Yeah, she is. She’s been my rock through this. Even after everything, she still has this strength. I don’t know how she does it.”
“Maybe you should ask her,” Victor said with a smirk.
Ethan chuckled, finishing his drink. “Maybe I will.”
They fell into a comfortable silence, the tension of the earlier conversation gradually melting away. The bar’s ambient noise became a soothing backdrop as they sat there, two old friends finding solace in each other’s company.
When Ethan returned home later that night, the house was quiet. The nanny had already gone to bed, and Ella was sitting on the couch with a book in her hands. She looked up as he entered, her face lighting up with a smile.
“Hey,” she said softly. “How was Victor?”
Ethan shrugged off his jacket and sat beside her, pulling her into a loose embrace. “Same old Vic. He sends his best, by the way.”
Ella chuckled. “That’s sweet.”
Ethan sighed, resting his forehead against hers. “I told him about Tania. About everything. He was as shocked as you’d expect.”
Ella nodded, her arms wrapping around him. “It’s still hard to wrap my head around it too.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Ethan spoke again. “I told him I don’t want the kids going back to their old school. I think they need a fresh start.”
Ella pulled back slightly, meeting his gaze. “I agree. We’ll find a place where they can feel safe again.”
Ethan smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “What would I do without you?”
Ella grinned. “Let’s hope you never have to find out.”
As they sat there, holding each other in the quiet of the night, Ethan felt a flicker of hope. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but with Ella by his side, he knew they could face whatever came their way.
This was their new chapter-a chance to heal, to grow, and to build the life they and their children deserved. And for the first time in a long while, Ethan felt ready to embrace it.