Herman was finally home, which meant Anastasia could finally ck off a bit-no more dragging herself to the office every single day.


    Emmie and Nancy were like clockwork: when Emmie woke up, Nancy was right behind her.


    Salma carried Nancy downstairs to make form. Right on cue, Herman came down too, Emmie perched on his hip. Salma mixed two bottles and grinned. "Emmie''s appetite is something else now-she can easily finish seven ounces." Herman took a bottle, and Emmie grabbed it right away, shoving it into her mouth and gulping it down like she hadn''t eaten in days.


    "Just look at Emmie''s chubby cheeks-you can tell she eats well," Hermanughed, watching his daughter slurp away, then nced at Nancy, who sipped daintily. "Nancy''s always the littledy when she eats."


    Nancy wasn''t as sturdy as Emmie. She got sick more often, cried the most, and needed the most attention.


    Sometimes Anastasia wondered how she''d ended up with a little boy as delicate as Nancy.


    Salma, still holding Nancy, suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Herman, Ana''s dad called a couple days ago. He wants toe visit the kids."


    With everything that happened with Sandy, and Herman''s memory loss, Salma worried he might resent Tavon for Sandy''s sake. Better to check first.


    Herman just nodded. "He''s wee whenever he wants."


    Salma smiled in relief. "Great, I''ll let him know."


    After feeding the kids, Salma went off to call Tavon and pass along the news.


    ***


    Willowbrook.


    Tavon could barely contain his excitement about seeing his grandkids in Riverdale. The minute Salma called, he started packing.


    Ashley walked past his room and caught him shoving clothes into a duffel. "Where do you think you''re going?"


    "Just heading out with some old friends. Gonna see a bit of the world," Tavon said, his voiceced with sarcasm. "I''m just decoration around here anyway."


    Ashley rolled her eyes. Tavon always pulled this stunt when they argued, and she never had a goodeback.


    "Don''t lie to me. You''re going to Riverdale to see Salma, aren''t you?" Ashley snapped, yanking the bag


    from his hand. "The not letting met


    go! That homewrecket is not


    stealing my husband. What is it with men and mistresses?"


    Clothes spilled everywhere. Tavon just snorted. "Ashley, get real. You were the one who stole me from Salma in the first ce. If anyone''s the homewrecker, it''s you. If I hadn''t left her for you, we wouldn''t even be married."


    Ashley was so mad she couldn''t speak.


    Tavon didn''t bother picking up his things. He just grabbed his ID and wallet. "Whatever. I can buy new clothes."


    Ashley chased after him, yelling, "Tavon, you stubborn old man! Are you really set on turning this house upside down?"


    Tavon stopped at the door, looking


    back at her with an icy stare-a look you''d never expect after decades together. "Ashley, we''re in our


    sixties. Stop the drama. Yelling won''t solve anything. You refuse divorce, fine. Legally, I''m still your husband. But you can''t control my life."


    With Ashley always nagging, Tavon just didn''t want to be home anymore.


    He walked out. Ashley slumped on the living room threshold, fuming. The housekeepers kept their heads down, afraid she''d snap at them.


    A whileter, Sean came home to find his mother sitting on the floor, looking lost. He rushed over. "Mom, what''s wrong? Why are you sitting here?"


    Ashley looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. "Your dad left again. Maybe you should just give thepany back to him—maybe then he''d stop running off to see that woman."


    She''d been sitting here, thinking about everything, wondering if she''d pushed Tavon away. She and the kids had taken over thepany, sidelined Tavon, and now he didn''t even want to be home.


    “Come on, Mom,


    let''s talk inside,"


    Sean said gently. He was worn out too. His health wasn''t great, so he''d been staying away from home to avoid the constant tension. Today he felt a bit better and came by, only to find chaos all over again.


    Ashley started to sob. “You''re never home, your sister''s always busy, and your dad''s about to leave for good. What am I supposed to do? Maybe if I give him thepany back, he''ll finally settle down."


    Just then, a cold voice cut through the hallway: "Men-unless they''re dead and nailed to the wall-will never really behave themselves."