Chapter 6: Luke

After his morning workout, Luke Ashton couldn't shake off the memory of Eleanor. Her carefree dance at the park, as if she were at a disco party, had left him inwardly chuckling. He had refrained from laughing out loud to spare her embarrassment, but the image lingered in his mind. Even with her morning ponytail and minimal makeup, she looked stunning, her golden hair framing her beautiful face. He had never really noticed her before, but now he couldn't deny her beauty.

As he focused on his kids, Cory was excitedly recounting the morning's events to his brother, who listened with an incredulous grin. "Dad, is that true? You saw Miss Elly at the park, and she was dancing?" he asked, seeking confirmation. Luke nodded, and Rory burst into giggles. "Oh, I wish I had followed you! I wanted to see Miss Elly!" he exclaimed, pouting.

It was clear that the kids adored their teacher, always eager to share stories of Miss Elly's fascinating classroom antics. They spoke about her with such enthusiasm, and Luke had witnessed their faces light up when she walked into the room. And now, he had to admit, Eleanor was slowly capturing his attention. She was not only pretty but also intelligent and kind, judging by the way his kids spoke about her. 

But he quickly chastised himself for the thought. What was he thinking?! He was a single father, focused on raising his kids, and Eleanor was their teacher. He shouldn't be noticing her in this way. Yet, he couldn't deny the spark of attraction he felt. 

Shaking his head to clear the distracting thoughts, he refocused on the breakfast he was preparing, only to find the bacon burnt to a crisp. "Silly Daddy!" Nora giggled from her seat on the island, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Dumping the pan in the sink, he reached for a box of cereal. That'd have to do. He wasn't exactly a skilled cook. Most of the time, they ordered meals or relied on their occasional housekeeper, Mrs. Jenkins, to prepare them. And on the rare days he tried to cook, it always ended in disaster - too salty, too sweet, or too spicy. Cereal was the one meal he couldn't mess up.

Filling four bowls to the brim with milk, he set Nora down so she could join her brothers at the table. After setting the table, they said a short prayer. An habit he'd learned from his grandma during his time with her. She'd raised him after he was orphaned at 11 years old, and her influence had shaped him into the person he was today. His grandma tried to fill the void left by his parents, but there was still a void that couldn't be filled. A void he vowed not to let his kids feel with the absence of their mother.

As they ate, Luke gazed lovingly at his triplets, mesmerized by their chatter and laughter. They were his world now, and he would move mountains to give them a happy life. Hopefully, he was doing a good job, he thought, feeling a surge of pride and responsibility. Luke's love for his kids knew no bounds, and he was determined to provide for their every need while being present in their lives. That's why he had taken the day off from work, despite the piles of paperwork waiting for him at the office.

Grabbing his laptop, he began reviewing the game proposals he had received during the week. As the founder of a successful gaming company, Luke was always on the lookout for innovative ideas and fresh talent. He dove into the proposals, his mind focused on finding the next big thing.

Luke savored the aroma of freshly brewed coffee as he poured himself a cup. He took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through his hands and into his chest. With a focused gaze, he scanned the lines of code and game proposals on his laptop screen. The triplets were engrossed in their toys and snacks, granting him a rare and precious moment of quiet to concentrate on work.

As he reviewed the proposals, Luke's brow furrowed in concentration. He was searching for something innovative, something that would set his company apart from the rest. His fingers flew across the keyboard, typing notes and comments as he went.

Suddenly, Nora climbed onto the chair beside him, her curious eyes fixed on the screen. "Daddy, what'cha doing?" she asked, her tiny hands reaching out to touch the keyboard.

Luke smiled, gently moving her hands away. "Daddy's working, sweetie. But I can show you something cool later, okay?"

Nora nodded, content to sit beside him, but soon grew bored and ran into her room to play with her brothers. The sound of giggles and playful shouts filled the air, but suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from the kids' room. Luke's heart skipped a beat as he bolted down the hallway and into their room, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

Nora ran to him, tears streaming down her face, and he scooped her up in his arms, trying to comfort her. "What happened, sweetie?" he asked, but she just sobbed, unable to speak.

Turning to his boys, he saw guilty looks on their faces, their eyes wide with fear. "What happened here?" he asked, struggling to control his temper while consoling his sobbing daughter. But both boys averted their eyes, refusing to answer.

"Cory, Rory, I asked you a question," he said in a controlled voice, still trying to calm Nora down. But they remained silent, their gazes fixed on the floor.

"Don't make me repeat myself," he warned, his patience wearing thin. He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, but his anger was simmering just below the surface.

Cory finally mustered up the courage to speak. "Well, Rory found a roach, and...I...I just wanted to play with Nora, so I threw...I threw it at her," he confessed, stuttering.

Rory jumped to his brother's defense. "I was the one who told him to throw it!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling.

Luke's anger flared, but he took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "That was not okay, boys. We don't throw things at each other, especially not something that could hurt someone."

Luke let out a sigh, gazing at his boys, who were staring at their feet in shame. He wondered what punishment to give them for their actions, the hardest part of parenting. Nora's sobs had subsided, but she still clung to his neck.

"We're very sorry," Rory apologized, his voice trembling.

"We didn't want to make you cry," Cory added, swiping at the tears springing in his eyes. His dad's disappointment was palpable, and he hated making him feel that way.

Nora ignored them, clinging harder to Luke. He gave his boys a firm stare. "You both were really naughty. As punishment, I'm taking away all your toys for the weekend. You need to reflect on your actions."

Their lips trembled. "We're sorry, Dad," they chorused, their voices shaky with emotion.

Luke's heart broke at their tears, but he needed to be firm. They were supposed to protect their sister, not provoke her to tears. He knew they meant no harm, but punishment was necessary to prevent future incidents.

The boys began piling their toys into the toy box, their faces etched with regret. Luke left them to it, returning to the living room placing Nora on his lap. He patted her back as she hiccuped.

"Nora, you know they didn't mean to make you cry," he consoled, as she sniffled.

"They love you just like I do," he offered, and she nodded, slowly calming down.

The boys emerged from their room with boxes, and Luke led them to the storage room, where they neatly placed their boxes down. They looked up at him again, their eyes still apologetic. "We're sorry, Dad," Cory said, his voice sincere.

"I know," Luke replied, ruffling their hair. "Now, go surprise Nora with a little something, and maybe she'll forgive you," he whispered, a hint of a smile on his face.

The boys grinned and ran to their room. A few minutes later, they approached Nora with an envelope. She examined it warily, making sure it wasn't another bug joke, before opening it. Her eyes widened as she gasped, and a small smile grew on her face.

Inside the envelope was a messy apology letter written on a pink card, decorated with glitter glue and cardboard cutouts. The boys had cut out the letters "we are sorry" and glued them to the card. Nora's face softened, and she looked up at her brothers.

"I'm sorry for crying and getting you in trouble," she apologized in a small voice.

The boys beamed with relief, and the three of them hugged, all forgiven. With the kids playing together again, Luke could finally return to work, feeling grateful for the moment of peace.