For five long years, Daniel Crusher had lived as a widower. Not long after their son came into the world, his wife lost her life to a heart condition. Since then, he had been left to care for three children, and the house they once shared now carried a silence that pressed in on him.
The idea of marrying again never crossed his mind. People still sought him out, and a few brief relationships came and went, but none of it stayed. He convinced himself that raising his children alone was enough. At least, that was what he chose to believe.
Everything shifted when his younger brother showed up with a request that made no sense at all. Once Daniel learned the reason behind it, his temper snapped without warning.
"Have you completely lost your sense of responsibility?"
Even with his anger, Daniel couldn't bring himself to walk away from his brother and Laura. The thought of leaving them, especially with a child on the way, didn't sit right with him. No matter how distant he tried to be, a part of him still cared more than he wanted to admit.
"Tell me who she is," he insisted.
Harry gave him a name, and that was enough to set him off again.
"Wait. You're saying she studies with you? So she's your age?"
"Yeah. She's twenty-five. Same as Laura and me."
"You've got to be kidding me. That's a fifteen-year gap, Harry."
"I don't have any other option. She's the only one who might actually say yes. I can't think of anyone else who would even consider it."
The situation only grew worse the more he thought about it. He would have to marry a stranger, someone far younger than him. A university student he had never even met. Nothing about it felt right, and every part of him expected it to fall apart.
"You do realize Mom's going to explode when she hears about this."
"You'll deal with her. You always do. When you decide on something, you make it happen, even if they don't agree."
"That's not the same thing, Harry. Do you really think they'll just accept me marrying someone younger, someone they've never even heard of, and who happens to study with you?"
"Then just say I was the one who introduced you to her."
Pulling rank wasn't the issue for Daniel. He knew he could make decisions stick if he wanted to. What troubled him was how it would all come together. The story needed to hold up. A woman that young didn't match what people expected from him, and there were too many questions that wouldn't have easy answers. His brother had cornered him, and every angle made it worse.
Over the years, only two relationships had been serious enough to call official, and even those had happened because his mother pushed the idea that his children needed someone to look after them. One woman had no issue with him having three kids, but he never felt anything for her. The other didn't interest him either, though she made things simple since she never wanted to take on a mother's role. Everyone else had been nothing more than passing moments, nothing that stayed.
"Before anything else, I need to see her in person. Have you even spoken to her about this?"
"Not yet. I'll talk to her later today. I know she'll agree to help us. Thanks, brother. I mean it."
"You'd better step up and act like the kind of father your child deserves. It's time you got your life in order."
"I will. Laura and the baby deserve everything good."
"That's what I expected to hear."
Back when he was with his wife, things had been nothing like this. They married young, just like Harry and Laura, but Daniel had already completed his studies and was working in the family business by then.
From early on, he carried himself with discipline. While others his age chased after games or trips abroad, he spent his time studying languages and attending classes in math and statistics. Responsibility had shaped him long before most people even thought about it.
From a young age, Daniel carried himself with quiet discipline. His conduct stayed proper, his manner stayed reserved, and he followed every expectation set by his family without question. Because of that, his parents rarely stood in his way, and he ended up marrying the girl he loved back in high school while still young.
Life with her had been steady and warm. Where he remained firm and distant at times, she softened him, and together they found a balance that worked. People often saw them as a perfect match. Then their children came along, and the happiness in their home only grew. That was why her death shattered everything he had built.
There was no space for him to break down after that. His children needed him, and so did the family business. With no one else to lean on, he forced himself to keep going. He became the one holding everything together.
During the first year, his sister stepped in to help with the children. Even so, Daniel adapted, just as he always did. He learned how to manage on his own. At times, he stayed firm to a fault, but there was no doubt he cared deeply for them.
"I'll tell you what happens once I speak with Deanna."
"And you're certain she'll say yes?"
"It's Deanna. That's enough."
"That doesn't explain anything."
"That's just who she is. When someone needs her, she shows up. She's that kind of friend."
"I get it..."
"But could I at least ask you for one thing?"
"What now?"
"Try not to be so... intense. You know what I mean. Don't go in there acting all cold and serious. She's a good woman, Daniel, but you might scare her off if you keep that expression."
"That's a ridiculous thing to say."
Despite that, there was some truth behind it. He carried himself like a proper man, but his words often came out too direct, and he didn't always notice it. People around him had even come up with a name, though no one had the nerve to say it in front of him. They called him "Ice-Cold Crusher." In business, that image only grew stronger. He handled matters without hesitation, stayed firm in his principles, and rarely let emotion show. Smiles didn't come easily to him, and when he spoke, he didn't bother softening his words to make others comfortable.
Time was slipping away, and there was no room left for hesitation. Everything depended on this plan coming together. Harry arranged for all of them to meet at his apartment, hoping they could settle the details and build a story that wouldn't fall apart under pressure. With his friend now involved, there was still a slim chance things might work out if luck stayed on their side.
"She already knows about my kids, right?"
"Yeah, I've brought them up before. More than once, I think. Either way, it won't be an issue for her."
"We'll need to set clear boundaries when it comes to them."
Neither of them truly understood what they were stepping into. What started as a simple act would soon tangle their lives in ways they hadn't even considered. The fate of "Mighty Deanna" and "Ice-Cold Crusher" was already shifting, whether they realized it or not. The real challenge wouldn't be the act itself. It would be convincing their parents to accept this sudden marriage without digging too deep.
That evening, Deanna stood in front of the mirror, doing what she could with what she had. A black dress seemed like the safest choice, paired with modest heels that carried a quiet sense of grace. Her wardrobe didn't offer much for making a strong impression, but she wasn't about to show up unprepared. Nerves lingered, though she pushed them aside and held on to a bit of hope before heading out to Harry's place.
Elsewhere, Daniel went for something understated. His clothes leaned toward a conservative style, nothing too formal, yet still presentable. Without realizing it, he adjusted himself for the situation ahead. The thought of meeting someone much younger weighed on him more than he cared to admit. There was a chance she would look at him and see nothing worth staying for.
Harry's earlier comment stayed in his mind. Being less like himself didn't make sense to him. He saw no flaw in the way he lived. His reputation stood firm. His children were well cared for. People respected him. Everything about his life pointed to success and stability. From his perspective, there was no reason any woman would turn him down. Harry had to be exaggerating... didn't he?
Before stepping out, he paused outside Jonathan's room. The child had already fallen asleep. Daniel stepped inside quietly, gathering a few scattered toys from the floor before sitting beside him. For a moment, he simply watched. His thoughts drifted to what his brother's child would have, something Jonathan would never know. The boy had already lost the memory of his mother, and even speaking with him had become a struggle at times. Daniel sat there, unsure of what more he could give his son.
