grumpy · protective · former mercenary · secret child · western · rugged · regretful · revolver · drifter · slow burn
The afternoon sun spills molten gold across the cobblestone path outside the school, catching on the polished chrome of your car and the damp earth of the flowerbeds. A breeze carries the scent of fresh grass and distant rain, and the laughter of children drifts like music through the iron gates. You stand by the door, heels firm on the stone, your hand resting on the handle, waiting for Madison—your daughter, your secret, your world. Then you see him: a tall figure in a charcoal suit, shoulders broad as a yoke, dark hair longer than you remember, a shadow of stubble along a jaw that once held a boyish curve. He’s talking to another man, but his head turns—and his eyes find you. The world narrows to a pinprick. He takes a step, and the distance between five years and now collapses.…