Walking into my parent's house felt strange. Or maybe strange wasn't the right word, but since yesterday—when everyone had gathered to say their final goodbyes to Liam and Thea, and I'd watched their ashes be scattered into the water—my grief had been doing somersaults in the pit of my stomach.

It was as if something in my subconscious was trying to warn me about another hardship set to come my way. Another bout of news that would rock me to my core.

And that feeling seemed to intensify as I kicked my shoes off in my parent's entryway.

"Ryan? That you?" my dad called.

Next to me, Scout let loose a string of barks, answering for me before he bounded further into the house, more than likely on the search for Bowen.

Following him, I rounded the corner into the living room. "Yeah, and I come bearing gifts," I said, lifting the pie and the case of beer.

My dad's brow rose. "More food?"

I understood the questioning, as it hadn't just been me (staying at Liam's) who'd been a recipient of the generosity the townsfolk of Neptune's Bay had. My parents' fridge and freezer were both full to the brim with cheese platters, salads, casseroles, soups, and a variety of homemade meals neighbours had dropped off.

"Not just any food. Key lime pie from Wilma's," I declared, shaking the box enticingly at my mom, who sat next to my dad on the sofa looking fairly exhausted. As though her internal energy well was drying up. "I know it's your favorite."

"It is," my mom said, her lips softening into a smile. "Thank you for bringing it over."

I shrugged my shoulder as if it was no big deal—because in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't. "No problem. I figured we could dig in after dinner." Being that the bottom floor of their house was open-concept, I took a few steps toward the dining table and placed both things down before turning back to them. "Speaking of dinner, what were you guys thinking? I could look through the fridge and—"

"Uncle Ryan!" Bowen shouted happily as he rushed down the stairs, Scout hot on his heels. Not stopping, my nephew barrelled straight into my legs, wrapping his arms around them as he looked up at me with wide eyes. "Do you have a treat I can give to Scout?"

I glanced at my dog, who was now sitting patiently next to us, wagging his tail in anticipation. Clearly the two of them were conspiring, but I didn't have the heart to say no. However, as I opened my mouth to say yes, my dad interjected.

"Actually, Bowen, why don't you go play with Scout in the yard? Then once you come back in, he can have a treat with dinner."

While Bowen's eyes lit up, my attention turned back to my parents and a lick of dread seeped down my spine. I could tell from the way that both of them were avoiding my gaze that this was a ploy to get him out of hearing distance.

Fuck. Why did the bad feeling in my chest have to be right?

"Okay!" he said enthusiastically, taking a step back from me. "That's okay with you Uncle Ryan, right?"

Luckily, he was much too young to tell the difference between a real and a fake smile. "Go ahead," I said, ruffling his hair before him and Scout headed for the back door.

Circling back to my parents, I waited for them to start talking, but after moments ticked by without a word, the silence became too suffocating to not break myself.

"Did something happen within the last twenty-four hours?" I asked, voice low. I had to clench my hands at my sides to stop myself from fidgeting when they didn't immediately speak up. "Because if it did... you can tell me."

"Ryan," my mom started shakily, though couldn't seem to find the words to continue.

My entire body felt tense as I rounded the sofa and took a seat on the chair opposite them, rubbing my palms on my shorts. "Guys, what is it?" I asked once again, a roughness to the words as a sour taste of worry coated the back of my throat.

It was my dad who finally took the lead, clearing his throat. "The lawyer handling Liam and Thea's assets dropped by the house this morning."

"Here?" I flitted my eyes between them. "Why wouldn't he have stopped over at their house."

"It was Mr. Ferguson, so he likely figured we were all staying here."

I waited for him to elaborate, not-so-patiently tapping my foot in anticipation, and when he didn't, I was forced to push further. "And...? What did he have to say? I'm getting the feeling I clearly missed something, right?"

"Well," my dad said, looking over at my mom who was fidgeting nervously with her hands in her lap, "unbeknownst to us or Thea's family, it seems that Liam and Thea had put together a will after Bowen was born."

If I hadn't been wearing a hat, I would've driven my fingers through my hair, but I settled for gripping the brim of my hat tightly with both hands. "Okay," I said, letting that news sink in. "What does that mean? Shouldn't that suggest that things will be easier on us since they've already made the important decisions?"

"Theoretically, yes."

"What does that mean?" I asked, raising my voice slightly with frustration. "Sorry—" I shook my head. "—I just want to know what's going on and it's clear there's something more. So, what is it?"

Without saying anything, my mom reached out and grabbed my hand, lacing her fingers through mine. "It's Bowen."

Those two words had my heart sinking to my toes. Or at least it felt like it; the most disastrous free fall imaginable.

"What about Bowen?" I asked, my words thick with concern.

"You were listed as his legal guardian."

I was speechless as those words replayed in my head. Over and over again. Legal guardian. I was Bowen's legal guardian. My disbelief was consuming me, and I continued to stare at my parents with a dazed look on my face until I felt my mother squeeze my hand in support.

"W-what?" I muttered, trying to shake off the shock. "Me?"

My dad nodded slowly. "According to the will, both Liam and Thea had signed off that in the event that something happened to the both of them—" He gulped down the pain attached to those words. "—you would become Bowen's legal guardian. He's yours."

***

It was a miracle I was able to function through dinner. My dad ended up heating up a lasagna one of the neighbours had brought over a few days back, and while I managed to appear as though I was functioning normally for Bowen's sake, inside, I was spiralling.

What was truly throwing me was the fact that Liam had never told me he'd done this. Like my parents, I'd had no idea he'd drafted up a will and I couldn't fathom how, out of all the possibilities, Liam and Thea had agreed that I was the best choice to act as Bowen's guardian. Me—their single, professional hockey playing brother.

There was no question as to whether or not I loved the kid, because of course I did, but the nature of my job had me hopping across the country at least two-thirds of the year. And while I was comfortable staying in Neptune Bay over the summer, my time here had an expiration date. Training camp would come around in about ten weeks, and what then? Was I supposed to take Bowen with me back to Boston? How did that seem like a smart plan?

Though I presumed they hadn't thought this situation would ever truly come about. And certainly not so soon. Because, yeah, if I'd been a few years older and bordering on retirement, I could see them thinking I'd be the right person to take care of Bowen. But now? I couldn't wrap my head around it.

Which my parents understood. They'd agreed to keep Bowen for the night, as well as stay quiet about this latest turn of events while I took the night to myself. To let things sink in.

Also, to read over the will myself.

When I returned home, I sunk down into the sofa, tossing my hat aside and combing one hand through my hair as the other held open a copy of the will. The print was small and the words complicated, and when I came to the end, I blinked several times, shell-shocked as I digested what I'd read.

No matter how many times I reread it, the words didn't change.

Not only had they left me in charge of Bowen, but they'd left me the house.

"Guys... what the hell were you thinking?" I mumbled to myself, clenching my eyes shut as I looked upward, wondering if the two of them were watching over me now. If they thought their decisions were still the right ones.

With some much coursing through my head, I knew there was no way I could be alone in the moment. At the least, I needed the company of a hard drink.

Folding the papers back up, I left them on the coffee table, said a quick goodbye to Scout, and headed out the door.

Destination—The Watering Hole. A bar run by my friend, Hollis, who I hoped would also be open to acting as a sounding board while I talked through my thoughts on top of serving me some much-needed alcohol.

Luckily, the night air was warm and Liam lived no more than a mile away from the local spot, so I made my way on foot. No less than twenty minutes later, I had my ass planted in the wooden stool at the end of the bar, paying no mind to the other handful of folks gathered on a Monday night.

And suddenly, a tumbler of whiskey appeared in front of me.

Hollis wiped his hands on the towel that hung from his back pocket and nodded to me in greeting. "Looks like you need this."

I sighed and dragged a hand over my face. "You have no idea."

Lifting the glass to my lips, I downed the drink in one go, and Hollis was quick to reach for the bottle and pour me a refill.

"Maybe take this one a little slower and tell me what's up," he suggested, and with nobody else waiting for a drink, he rested his forearms on the bar top. "Is it Liam?"

While Hollis hadn't been as close to Liam, despite residing in the same town, he'd had a front row seat to how close we'd been as brothers. "No? Yes... I don't know. Kind of," I replied, bumbling over the words I tried to get straight in my head. "He had a will."

He lifted a brow. "And I'm guessing you didn't know about it."

"Nobody did. Him and Thea didn't tell anyone."

"Okay, well how bad is it? Did they leave you out of it for some reason?"

I shook my head. "No. Quite the opposite actually. They left me the house and listed me as Bowen's legal guardian."

Hollis's eyes widened at my admission and he left out a low whistle of surprise. "Damn... that's a lot, man."

"You're telling me."

"Do you know what you're going to do?"

A crease formed on my forehead. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I know there's a lot of things probably bouncing around in that head of yours, but are you going to do it? You know, raise Bowen."

That question was all it took for things to clear. Even though I figured there was likely a way to pass off the responsibility, even thinking of doing so felt wrong. I didn't want to put this on my parents—or Thea's. They'd already done the whole 'raising kids' thing. And at the core of it, I didn't think I had it in me to go against my brother's wish.

The adjustment would be a whirlwind, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't completely freaked out by the idea of suddenly being a dad—or at least stepping into the shoes of dad for Bowen—but I knew there was no other choice. Liam had thought, somehow, I had what it took, and I didn't want to let him down.

early update because I'm moving this weekend! hope you enjoyed, and remember to vote and leave your thoughts in the comments below :)