Chapter 43 She Quelled the Fire in His Heart
The elevator doors had barely closed behind Ambrose when his phone buzzed. He fished it from his pocket, glanced at the caller ID, and pressed accept.
"Talk."
Clipped. Impatient.
"Mr. Boleyn, drinks tonight at Midnight Oasis Bar." Ruben's voice came through cheerful as ever.
"Not happening." His eyes tracked the floor numbers as they climbed. The rejection was absolute.
"Come on, Mr. Boleyn. I've been busting my ass on Ms. Mellon's situation all week. If you won't do it for me, at least do it for her?"
Ambrose went quiet for a beat. When he spoke again, his tone had shifted. "Is it handled?"
"Brielle's coming in tomorrow to finalize everything. Just confirmed the meeting time with Ms. Mellon."
"I'll swing by later."
"I'll wait all night if I have to."
The line went dead just as the elevator chimed his arrival.
Ambrose stepped out and headed straight for Scarlett's unit.
Rhea answered the door. Her smile was polite, practiced. "Please, come in."
"Where's Scarlett?" Ambrose toed off his shoes and scanned the space. No sign of her.
"She's taking a call in her room. The kids are in the bath." Rhea's expression remained pleasantly neutral.
"Don't let me interrupt. I'll just drop this off for Hayden." He kept his tone courteous.
With a small nod, Rhea disappeared. Ambrose carried the bag straight to Hayden's room. The boy had already finished his bath and was toweling his hair. At the sound of the door, he glanced over. His hands paused for half a second before resuming their work, deliberately casual.
Ambrose set the bag by the closet and closed the distance between them. "Settling in okay?"
Hayden nodded. Kept drying his hair.
It had been a day and a night since they'd seen each other, but the gap hadn't made Hayden any warmer toward him. Then again, Ambrose disappearing for days at a time used to be the norm. The kid was used to it.
When Hayden didn't elaborate, Ambrose pushed forward. "You're going back to school tomorrow."
The towel dropped. Hayden stared at him like he'd suggested jumping off a bridge. He shook his head.
"You've had a day off. That's generous. Unless you're planning to drop out permanently?"
Silence.
That stubborn silence made something twist in Ambrose's chest. His voice came out sharper than intended. "Use your words."
The harshness cut through the air—loud enough to reach Scarlett's ears. Her door flew open. She rushed toward them, taking in the scene.
"What's going on?"
Hayden immediately ducked behind her, seeking shelter. And Scarlett gave it to him without hesitation, turning on Ambrose with narrowed eyes.
"Why are you yelling at him?"
Meeting her gaze—those eyes drilling straight into him—drained every ounce of anger from his system. After a long moment, he managed, "He won't talk."
"He's been like this for months. You can't bully him into speaking." Her tone was patient but firm, like she was explaining basic math to a particularly slow student. "You need to be gentle. Guide him. Not shout at him."
She turned away before he could respond, pulling Hayden to her side. Her entire demeanor softened instantly.
"Come on, sweetie. Let's dry your hair properly."
She led Hayden to the other side of the room, completely ignoring Ambrose.
Hayden went docilely, but not before shooting Ambrose a look that was pure smug triumph.
Ambrose kept his expression blank. Let the kid have his moment.
"Ambrose! You're here!"
A bright, chirpy voice announced Yara's entrance. She bounded into the room, wrapped in an oversized white bathrobe, making a beeline for him.
Ambrose crouched just in time to catch her. "Fresh from the tub?"
She nodded, grinning, and thrust her little arm under his nose. "Do I smell good?"
A sweet, clean scent—something milky and innocent—filled his senses. Despite everything, he smiled. "Best smell in the world."
Yara's face lit up. Then she launched into her favorite topic: the candy. When was he bringing it over?
Ambrose glanced toward Scarlett, who was focused on Hayden's hair, the blow dryer drowning out their conversation.
"That's your mom's call. She says yes, I deliver."
Yara's eyes did a calculating little roll. "Mommy already said yes."
"I'll confirm with her."
Yara sighed dramatically but accepted defeat. She chattered on about her day while Ambrose listened with half an ear, his attention drifting back to Scarlett.
She handled Hayden with such care. Like he was her own child.
He looked down at Yara—Scarlett's mirror image—nestled contentedly in his arms.
For a moment, everything felt... still. Peaceful.
The corner of his mouth lifted.
---
Once Hayden's hair was dry, Scarlett called Yara over for her turn. The girl's hair was longer, took more time. Ambrose stayed put for every minute of it.
When both kids were finally settled, Scarlett headed for the door. Yara trailed after her like a devoted puppy.
"Mommy, can I sleep with you tonight?"
They'd recently started the whole separate-bedrooms transition, but Scarlett figured a gradual approach made sense. "Sure, baby."
Yara squealed and dashed back to Hayden's room.
The father-son staring contest was apparently still ongoing.
"Hayden! I'm sleeping with Mommy tonight. Want to join us?" Yara's invitation was magnanimous.
Hayden had always slept alone. The idea of the company sounded... nice. But he worried Ambrose would disapprove. He looked over uncertainly.
Ambrose deliberately studied the wall.
Hayden's shoulders slumped.
Yara caught it immediately. She tugged on Ambrose's sleeve, her voice dripping with sugary innocence.
"Ambrose, it's super late. Shouldn't you be heading home?"
Ambrose could only shake his head.
Already kicking him out. And here he thought she was the sweet one.
"I need to talk to your mother." He stood and headed for the door.
The second he was gone, Yara scrambled over to Hayden and whispered conspiratorially, "Tonight, after he leaves, you can totally sleep with us. He won't even know."
Hayden looked at her gratefully.
Yara beamed. Then something seemed to occur to her. She grabbed his hand, expression turning earnest.
"Hayden... that time in the car, you talked to help me. Will you talk to me again? Please?"
Scarlett had told her to encourage Hayden. And she wanted to help—he'd defended her, taught her sudoku. He was her friend.
"Okay." The word came out quiet but clear.
Yara's eyes went wide as dinner plates. He'd spoken. To her. Actually spoken!
Emboldened, she pushed her luck. "And you'll keep talking? Not just once?"
"Okay."
Pure joy exploded across her face. She took off running toward the hallway, bursting to tell Scarlett.
Ambrose leaned against Scarlett's doorframe. She wouldn't let him in, so he made do with the threshold.
"You can't rush him." Her voice floated out from inside, where she was rummaging through drawers. "Hayden can talk—he just chooses not to. Something you did hurt him. The more you push, the more he'll shut down."
Ambrose lounged against the frame, all lazy nonchalance, but his eyes tracked her every movement.
"You wanted him back in school, right? Let me talk to him first."
Before she could continue, Yara came flying down the hall.
"Mommy! Ambrose! Hayden talked to me! He said he'll talk to me from now on. He promised!"