I took Sam home early and promised he could come over tomorrow to make cupcakes. Kohl was upset that I did and Knox, well, I'm not sure. If he was, he didn't show it. I have a feeling he knew something was up with me. Like I was about to tell them something important.

We arrive at the house and Kohl gets out first and slams the backseat door. Rushing to the front door and slams that one too once he's inside.

I sigh, knowing he's going to be difficult to deal with the rest of the night.

Knox and I calmly get out of the car and go inside. I spot Kohl sitting on the couch and surfing the channels for something to watch.

"Can you turn that off, please? There's something I would like to talk to you both about." I sit down on the coffee table in front of the couch, so I'm facing him.

The whole ride home I've been debating on the best way to tell them. I figured sitting them down now and telling them was the best way.

Knox grabs the remote out of Kohl's hand and turns the TV off. That earns him a glare from his brother, but he ignores it and focuses his complete attention on me.

"Thank you. I wanted to talk to you about your father."

That caught Kohl's attention. He uncrosses his arms and sits up from his slouched position.

"What about him?" Kohl asks.

"I know you boys never asked me about him cause you were afraid it would be painful for me to talk about. The truth is, it wouldn't have been. I barely even knew your father. I was seventeen when I found out I was pregnant with the both of you. By the time I found out, your father was already away at college." I look between both of them and find them listening intently.

"So you never told him about us?" Knox asks this time.

"No, I was scared about what he would say. I was afraid he would tell me to get rid of you both. I couldn't bear the thought of doing that." I glance away, lost in thought. "So I just never told him, but he's in town and very much would like to get to know you both if that's what you want."

"Really?" They both speak at the same time.

"Yes really. You know, the man you boys saw earlier. Cage? He's your father."

"No way! Cage Trevor is our dad? I wonder if he would teach us how to pitch like him. That would be so cool!" Kohl rambles on in excitement.

I look over to Knox and see he looks excited too, but also wary. Out of both the boys, he's going to be the more cautious one. It will probably take a bit for him to open to the idea of Cage being his father.

While Kohl takes everything in stride, Knox likes to sit back and observe and figure out all outcomes of every situation.

"How do you feel about all this, Knox? It is completely up to you boys when you want to meet your father." I place my hand on Knox's cheek and give him a motherly smile.

Just like that, all doubts that were swimming through Knox's mind go away. The only emotion in his eyes now is excitement.

"I'm excited. When do we get to meet him? Well, again, since we technically already met him," Knox says.

"Yeah, when do we, Mom?" Kohl was bouncing in his seat with excitement.

I know out of both the boys, Kohl was the one more curious about who their father was. I think it was because he's not like me the way Knox is, so he was curious if he was more like his father. Breaking the news didn't go as bad as I thought. If I'm being honest, I kind of thought they would get mad at me for not telling Cage about them. The boys are the most important people in my life. Their opinion of me is one I hold in high regard. Their opinion will always be the only one that matters to me. My parent's opinion coming in a close second. Knox and Kohl will always be my number one.

"I don't know yet. Probably sometime after Thanksgiving, when things aren't so hectic. I'll call your father tonight and figure it out with him, okay?" I say, pulling them both into a hug.

They hug me back and nod in agreement. I kiss them on their heads before letting them go and standing up. I look at the clock hanging on one of the living room walls and see that it's almost six o'clock.

"Now who's hungry?"

I get to work in the kitchen making quesadillas.

Placing down tomatoes, onions, avocado, a bit of taco seasoning, and —of course cheese on a tortilla starting to sizzle on a hot pan. One thing I love about my sons is that they are not that picky. They will eat basically anything, except for salmon. That they can't stand to eat.

Knox and Kohl both love helping me cook and bake. They love the excitement of trying something new. I'm not naïve enough to know that will last forever. When the boys get older, their interests will change, so for now I just enjoy each moment that the boys help me cook and bake. I start to get emotional when I think about the fact that Knox and Kohl are growing up so fast. I feel a few tears slide down my cheeks. Luckily for me, I'm cutting onions right now, so I will have a good excuse for why I am crying if the boys wander into the kitchen.

I get myself together and check and dry my tears on my shoulder, then get back to work cooking.

After dinner, I'm in my bedroom, pacing, and debating on whether I should text Cage before calling or just call him.

I'm about to make a decision when it's made for me. Reading the caller ID when my phone starts to ring, I spot Cage's name. I answer the phone with a questioning hello.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Rory. I hope I didn't wake you up."

"Oh no, you didn't," I tell him while sitting in my bed, leaning my back against the headboard.

"Good. Did you talk to the boys yet? Sorry, I'm not trying to seem pushy. I just can't wait to get to know them, you know? I missed out on seven years of their life already. I don't want to miss out on any more time." He sighs, sounding frustrated.

I feel that familiar friend called guilt and my heart hurts. I rub where my heart is, hoping to soothe the ache.

He could have had a chance to be in their lives if I just told him I got pregnant. He would be able to know his kids' personalities. Their favorite food. Their favorite movie. What foods they are allergic to and what foods they just can not stand. I took all those years he could have had with Kohl and Knox. I took the first time they crawled, walked, and the first day of school memories away from him. Many more memories other than those as well.

I feel my eyes starting to tear up and I quickly blink, hoping to keep them at bay.

"Rory? Are you still there?" Cage snaps me out of my thoughts and brings me back to the present.

"Yeah, sorry," I speak with sadness in my tone, wiping away a few tears that managed to fall. "I did tell them and they would like to meet you. I was thinking sometime after Thanksgiving? It's always so hectic and stressful Thanksgiving week. I feel like it would be better to arrange for after."

"You all could just have Thanksgiving with me. There's always way too much food during ours."

He sounds hopeful.

Yet I couldn't even think of anything worse than having Thanksgiving with his family. I mean, Mrs. Trevor already glares at me whenever she's near me in public. No need to be subjected to that over dinner. Plus, I don't want Knox and Kohl to be subjected to that, either. I know I have to find some kind of compromise. Since I am in the wrong here about never telling him about the twins.

"Hell no."

Shit.

I was going to politely decline, but the words slipped out before I could stop them.

"What do you mean, hell no?"

Okay, now he sounds mad.

I was wondering when he would get angry. I think he's more so angry with how quickly I declined the invitation.

"Sorry that was rude, but your mother hates me and hates the boys. No offense, but I don't want them around her. I don't want her to ruin Thanksgiving for Knox and Kohl."

"She's met them before? How the fuck did she meet them when you never even told me they existed?" Cage sounds like he's taking a deep breath to calm down. "She never even called me that I was a father, either. She normally tells me everything I need to know."

"Look, I don't know why she wouldn't tell you. The first time she met them, the boys accidentally started a cake fight at the bakery. Got some on her expensive purse, I guess. Since then, she hasn't stopped glaring at me or the boys and looks at us like we're gum on the bottom of her shoe." I'm starting to feel five years older than I am.

I'm fine if Cage wants to introduce the boys to his family. Just not his mother. I don't know if I'll ever be comfortable with them around her. Maybe if she stopped with the gossiping, the glaring, and, well, pretty much everything she does when we're in her presence. But that is a huge maybe. That kind of behavior would be toxic for the boys to be around. I have to protect them from everything that I can. Anything that could cause them harm can't be in their lives. The twin's happiness and well-being are very important to me. More important than Quinn, my bakery, and my parents. Combined. When I first looked into the boys' eyes, I vowed to be the best mother I could be.

"She's really like that?" He asks hesitantly.

"Yeah."

"Okay, we'll arrange something for after Thanksgiving, then."

"Okay, goodnight Cage," I say, laying down and getting comfy under my blankets.

"Goodnight Rory."

He hangs up the phone and I sigh. I really hope the first meeting between father and sons goes well.

With that thought, I feel myself start to drift off.

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