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With Elizabeth away for a week-long sleepover, the house felt emptier than usual. William wasn’t one for family outings, but the stillness had been getting to him. So, he decided to take Michael and Evan on a day trip—nothing fancy, just some fresh air by the lake.
“Let’s go,” William called out, his voice carrying that familiar edge. Michael, leaning against the doorway, shot his father a look before heading toward the car, dragging his feet. He didn’t argue—this time—but the tension was there.
Evan darted past his brother, excitement buzzing through him. “I’m ready, Dad!” he shouted, clutching a backpack that looked like it weighed more than he did.
William grunted, glancing at the overstuffed bag. “You’re not moving out, Evan. Leave half of that behind.”
Evan hesitated for a second but quickly slung the bag into the back seat anyway. Michael smirked at him, shaking his head as he slid into the seat next to his little brother.
William glanced back from the driver’s seat. “Michael, keep an eye on him.”
Michael sighed, slumping back into the seat. “Yeah, yeah.”
The drive to the lake was quiet. Evan hummed to himself, tapping his fingers against the window, while Michael stared out, his thoughts far away. William, eyes fixed on the road, said little.
---
Once they arrived, Evan bolted toward the water, nearly tripping over himself in his excitement. Michael lingered behind, watching his brother with a mix of amusement and mild annoyance. William grabbed their bags, glancing at Michael.
“Help your brother, Michael. Don’t just stand there.”
Michael sighed again, trudging after Evan. "Yeah, I got him."
Not even ten minutes into their time at the lake, trouble struck. Michael, bored and restless, tossed a small pebble toward Evan, meaning no harm. But it startled his little brother, and Evan slipped on the wet rocks, tumbling into the shallow water with a splash.
William’s head whipped around. “Evan!” His voice was sharp, filled with both anger and concern. He stormed toward them, his eyes narrowed at Michael.
“Dad, I didn’t—” Michael started, guilt written on his face. “I didn’t mean for him to fall.”
Evan struggled to stand, his clothes soaked and his knee scraped. “I’m okay,” he mumbled, though his lip trembled. The tears he was trying to hold back were starting to well up.
William knelt next to Evan, his rough hands surprisingly gentle as he inspected the scrape. His voice softened, though his frustration still lingered. “You’ve gotta be more careful, Evan.”
Evan sniffled, nodding as he wiped at his wet face. Michael stood awkwardly to the side, shifting on his feet.
William’s eyes flicked to Michael. “And you, stop acting like a brat.”
Michael flinched at the harshness, looking down at the ground. “I wasn’t trying to hurt him, okay?”
William sighed, his expression hard but less angry. “I know. Just...think next time.”
Michael glanced at Evan, who was rubbing his scraped knee with a pout. Guilt gnawed at him as he knelt down beside his brother. “Hey, you good?”
Evan nodded, his small voice wavering. “It just stings.”
Without a word, Michael took off his jacket and draped it around Evan’s shoulders. Evan blinked in surprise, then offered a small smile. “Thanks, Mike.”
William, watching from the side, didn’t say anything, but his face softened for a brief moment. It was rare, but there—beneath the layers of his gruff exterior—was a father who cared.
---
They settled under a tree by the lake, Evan eventually falling asleep with his head on Michael’s lap. His tiny legs stretched out, resting on William’s, as his chest rose and fell in a soft, steady rhythm. Michael absentmindedly played with Evan’s hair, keeping an eye on him as his brother snuggled closer in his sleep.
William sat nearby, his gaze on the water, though every so often, he glanced over at his boys. “He looks up to you, you know,” he said quietly, breaking the silence.
Michael, caught off guard, looked over at his father. “Yeah, well... I’m not exactly a great role model.”
“You’re not perfect,” William admitted, his voice rough but less biting. “But you’re not as bad as you think, either.”
Michael didn’t know how to respond to that, so he just stayed quiet, focusing on the steady rise and fall of Evan’s chest.
As the afternoon turned into evening, William pulled out a few flat stones and started skipping them across the lake’s surface. “Wanna try?” he asked, tossing one to Michael without waiting for an answer.
Michael caught it, inspecting the smooth surface. “I always suck at this,” he muttered, but he gave it a shot anyway. The rock skipped twice before sinking.
“Better than last time,” William said with a small smirk.
Evan, stirring from his nap, giggled sleepily. “Michael, that was bad.”
Michael rolled his eyes but smiled. “Shut up, shrimp.”
By the time they headed back to the car, the sun was setting. Evan was too tired to walk, so Michael hoisted him up onto his shoulders, carrying him the rest of the way. William carried the bags, keeping pace with his sons, his usual distant demeanor softened by the fading light of the day.
---
When they got home, Evan, still full of energy despite the long day, begged Michael to play a board game. “Come on, just one game, please?”
Michael groaned but agreed, sitting on the floor as Evan pulled out an old board game from the closet. William, after dropping the bags, leaned against the doorway, watching them for a moment before heading to the kitchen.
Later, after a quick dinner, they all settled on the couch for a movie. Evan curled up against Michael, his small body pressed close, while William sat on the other end, a rare moment of peace between them. The silence between father and sons wasn’t heavy like usual. It felt... lighter.
As the movie ended, Evan drifted off to sleep, his soft snores filling the room. Michael glanced at his father, who looked more relaxed than he had in a long time.
“Night, Dad,” Michael mumbled as he carefully lifted Evan and carried him to bed.
William didn’t reply, but the small nod and fleeting warmth in his eyes were enough.