Samuel lingered in the doorway, quietly watching as Alan carefully tucked the blankets around each child. The famously reserved and enormously powerful chief executive's movements were unexpectedly gentle, almost tender, as he adjusted the covers and made sure the triplets were perfectly cozy. There was no hesitation in his touch, only an attentiveness that seemed at odds with the image he usually presented to the world.
With a small, knowing smile, Samuel finally eased the door closed most of the way, leaving only the soft glow of a smart nightlight to illuminate the room. The pale light gave the space a bluish haze, casting long shadows but keeping the children comforted. Ariel and Adin had both latched onto Alan's arms as though they were personal teddy bears, snuggling close on either side of him. Luther, ever the more composed sibling, lay perfectly still beside his brother, as if determined to sleep with the precision of a soldier.
