You slapped Joel again, harder this time, your palm stinging on contact with his scruffy cheek. He barely flinched—just blinked once and clenched his jaw tighter.

“Get away from me,” you spat, breathing hard, “you don’t get to talk to me like that, you don’t get to touch me, and you sure as hell don’t get to act like this isn’t your kid. I’m the one carrying it, but it’s yours too, Joel.”

You pushed him back, your hands shaking. “You’re acting like a coward. And you know what? Maybe you are one. Just like Tommy said you were when you left Sarah’s mom. Just like people say you were after Boston. You run when it gets hard. You always have.”

Joel’s eyes darkened at that. Don’t bring up Sarah. That’s what his face said, but his lips stayed pressed in a thin, bitter line. He didn’t deny it, didn’t defend himself.

The barn was quiet except for the soft mewling of Peanut Butter’s newborn kittens. The scent of hay, dust, and animals mixed in the summer night air, thick with the weight of unspoken things.

“You think this is easy for me?” he growled at last, voice low. “You think I don’t wake up every goddamn night thinkin’ about you? About that night? About that baby?” He jabbed a finger toward your belly, his voice rising. “You think I don’t want to be in their life?”

“Then why aren’t you?” you yelled. “Why aren’t you at the appointments? Why are you hiding? Why do I have to face everyone alone, carry all this shame alone, while you get to sit there in your nice house with your reputation intact?”

Before Joel could respond, before he could even breathe right, heavy boots echoed on the barn’s wooden floor.

“Everything okay in here?”

Both your heads snapped toward the door, where Isaac Dixon stood tall and cold as stone, arms crossed over his chest, dark eyes flickering between the two of you. He looked like he’d been standing there long enough to hear plenty.

You stepped back from Joel instinctively, pulling your flannel tighter around yourself. Joel straightened, rubbing at his jaw, but didn’t say a word.

Isaac’s eyes locked on Joel. “Didn’t sound okay from outside.”

Joel stiffened. “It’s none of your business.”

Isaac took one slow step forward. “It is when someone I care about’s gettin’ yelled at. Threatened. You wanna tell me what’s going on here, or should I take it to Tommy?”

Joel’s mouth twitched at that. Of course Isaac would name-drop Tommy, like it was some kind of threat. But Joel didn’t speak.

You opened your mouth, but Isaac raised a hand gently, his gaze softening as it shifted to you. “You alright?”

You nodded, but your eyes were glassy, throat tight. “Yeah. I just—he showed up, and we were talking, and then it turned into this.”

Joel’s scoff was low and bitter, but he didn’t interrupt.

Isaac didn’t even look at him. “Go home,” he said to Joel, calm but firm. “You had your chance. You blew it.”

Joel bristled. “And you think you know better? You think you know what’s best for her?”

“I don’t have to know everything,” Isaac replied. “I just know I’d never treat her like that.”

Silence. Thick and tense.

Isaac moved toward you then, placing a hand on your lower back protectively. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get you outta here. You’ve been up too long. And I know the doc said you’re supposed to rest.”

You hesitated, glancing one last time at Joel, who looked at you like he wanted to say something—anything—but the words never came. He just stood there, fists at his sides, watching as Isaac gently guided you out of the barn.

The cool air outside hit your face like a balm. Isaac walked beside you, slow and steady, matching your pace, keeping you close.

“I don’t need you to protect me,” you said quietly, even though your voice betrayed the crack forming in your armor.

“I know,” Isaac replied just as softly. “But I want to.”

You swallowed the lump in your throat. “You heard all of it?”

“I heard enough.”

He was quiet for a beat, then added, “You deserved better than that. You still do.”

Tears welled up in your eyes, but you blinked them away. You weren’t weak. You weren’t.

“Thank you,”