"No, Avery, stay there. I'll be all right." That kicked Kane into gear. Avery had just settled in. They'd found a house on one of Kane's weekend trips to Washington, and Avery had the house furnished.
As a freshman senator, Avery had hit the ground running, taking Washington by storm and already making a name for himself. He needed to stay and continue the foundation he was building, not drop everything and run home to him because of his callous family.
"I hate I wasn't there for you tonight. I'll catch a flight out as soon as I can." Avery sounded distracted, but determined to move forward with his plan.
"Avery, no. Listen to me. I'm all right. Don't rush home, it's a waste of your time. Besides, I need to go check on Robert and Autumn," Kane said, already rising. On a last thought, he blurted out an unfiltered, "Honey, are you sure we should move them from here?"
"I can give this up, and I will if you think it's best, but what does that teach Autumn and Robert when our first real hint of adversity has us packing it in? We're doing something, Kane. Something bigger than politics. We're functioning happy people, living normal lives, working for the greater good of our country. We need to be together. We belong together. It doesn't work if we're apart, honey." Avery had repeated the same speech about fifteen times since he'd won the office.
"Avery," Kane started. He got the 'greater good' concept, and he even believed in it, but not at the price of Robert and Autumn's well-balanced life.
"Dammit, Kane! You know I love you more than anything. I hate to see you hurt. I hate they still have the power to hurt you, but that doesn't change who we are or what we're doing," Avery said, clearly frustrated. "If you were here, we could have dealt with this together. But now I'm a million miles from you. I should come home."
"Daddy," Autumn said. Kane lifted his eyes to see both Robert and Autumn standing in front of him. His children were growing so big. Autumn wrapped an arm around him, Robert followed her lead and Kane smiled at each of them.
"Is that the kids?" Avery asked.
"They just came in the kitchen. They're worried about me," Kane said. Talking to Avery, having Autumn and Robert with him, he was starting to feel better.
"Is my mom in there, too?" Avery asked.
"Yes, she's hovering close by," Kane said, looking up to see Kennedy taking the seat across from where he stood at the table.
"Good. Let them give you love until I can get home. We'll finish this conversation then," Avery said.
"No, stay there. I'll be fine. I promise," Kane said, his voice strong now.
"Then let's get you guys moved here, now. We shouldn't be apart when these things hit," Avery said.
"We need to stick to the plan. We'll be there when school's out," Kane said firmly.
"Dad's coming home for my first game, remember?" Robert added excitedly, referring to Avery's promise to attend his son's home game three weeks from then.
"Avery, they're waiting for you downstairs," Kane heard Janice saying in the background.
"Babe, I need to go. Tell Robert I'll be there. Are you sure you don't want me home tonight? Everything I have can be rearranged," Avery asked.
"I'm certain, Avery! Go to work. Thank you for calling. You made things better." Kane looked up at his anxious children. He needed to pull his thoughts together, focus on them, and move them all past this moment. This was just another extension of the day his father kicked him out of the house. Just like then, he had to pull himself up and focus on the future. All his dad had were words and those should have stopped hurting a long time ago.
"I love you, Kane. I wouldn't be here without you," Avery said, his voice husky with emotion.
"I love you too," Kane whispered quietly.
"I love you, Dad," Autumn called out, breaking their moment.
"Me too," Robert yelled. Kane took the moment, handing Autumn the phone.
"I'll take care of Daddy, I promise. I love you," Autumn said, and handed the phone to Robert as she wrapped an arm around Kane again.
Kane could hear Avery on the phone. Every word helped heal his heart like nothing else ever before. He could hear Avery's words to Robert. "Son, call me if anything happens, okay? And keep an eye on your sister and father for me. I love you."
"Yes, sir. I love you, too," Robert said a little sedately. Robert's eyes were trained on his as he handed Kane the phone. Kane hid the small smile forming, easing his heart even more. Robert was their serious one, and he could see that his son just gave his oath. Nothing would stand in his way. His children were absolutely precious.
"Honey, I'm going to arrange to have security on the kids as a precaution. I want someone on you too, but I know you won't let me," Avery stated. "I'll have them start right away."
"Avery, I already know you have people on us. They don't have to hide anymore," Kane said.
"Dad, we know. They aren't very good at hiding. They wait right out front of the restaurant every day," Autumn called out. "Granddaddy Paulie thought they were reporters and yelled at them real good."
There was silence for several moments before Avery responded. "I knew you were against bodyguards, Kane. I wasn't keeping secrets. You're just too important to me to take chances with, and this world's too hard a place. Besides, it'll just be easier if they don't have to hide."
"Stay safe. I love you," Kane responded, and he could hear Avery's sigh of relief on the other end.
"Kane-baby, I'll always love you. Thank you," Avery said, and the husky tone was back.
"It's all right. We know we're good, that's all that matters," Kane said. Avery made a kissing noise on the other end of the phone—it was his standard goodbye to Kane—and Kane ended the call.