Olivia walked back into the kitchen, her whole world spinning crazily out of control. And shehatedfeeling out of control. Austin had kissed her, and it had rocked her very being with the emotions that had careened through her. But she didn’t have time to process all her thoughts about that just yet. Not now. Not with Brett sitting in her house.
And Brett was moving back to town? Why? She frowned. He always claimed he didn’t want to be tied down to one place. Loved his traveling around all the time.
“Mom, isn’t it great?”Emily was back sitting beside Brett, who was sipping on a beer like he belonged here.
He didn’t.
“So you’re moving to town?”
“I am. Decided I was tired of being so far away from my family.”
By his family, she hoped he meant Emily. Because she, herself, wasnothis family. Never had been.
“So, who was that guy?”he asked like it was any of his business.
“A friend.”
“He’s the guy who’s been helping me learn all that techie stuff I was telling you about. We set up online ordering for the cafe,”Emily explained.
Brett frowned.“You’re going to do online ordering? Didn’t you just open? Can you handle all that?”
Thanks for the support, Brett.But she didn’t say that out loud. She ignored it.“You have a job here?”
“Not yet, but I’ve sent out a lot of feelers. Have a few nibbles. Don’t worry, Livs, I’m sure I’ll find something soon.”He sat back in his chair, in control, sure the world would drop into place for him like it always did.
Like how he was so relieved when she agreed they shouldn’t get married when she got pregnant and that she’d raise Emily alone. He was free to move on.
Which he did. Immediately. Before Emily was even born.
Why now, after all these years, did he feel the need to come and be a part of Emily’s life?
So, all she said was,“I see.”But she didn’t see. She was confused. He had some hotshot job that kept him traveling all over. To be honest, she wasn’t sure exactly what he did these days. Just knew he rarely visited Emily…and now he was going tolivehere? In Moonbeam?
She walked to the fridge and pulled out a beer for herself. Becauseshedidbelong here. She leaned against the counter and took a sip, looking over at the pair of them. Emily’s eyes danced with delight at having Brett here. And that made her happy. It did. She just didn’t want to deal with Brett right now. Or have things get more complicated. Or…different.
“So where are you staying?”
“I’m at The Cabot Hotel for a few days. Looking for an apartment to rent.”He flashed her a boyish smile. A familiar one, but one that had no effect on her now. Not like it had all those years ago. But Brett was a charmer. Always had been. Always would be. And he was Emily’s father, so she better get used to having him around. For Emily’s sake.
She looked at her watch.“It’s getting late. Emily, you should be getting ready for bed soon.”As if she determined Emily’s bedtime any more.
She looked pointedly at Brett.
“Oh, I should go then,”he said as he took the last swig of his beer and got to his feet.“Night, Emily. See you tomorrow.”
Tomorrow?But she better get used to that if he was moving back. He’d probably be seeing Emily a lot. She’d have to learn to share their daughter. She glanced over at Emily, who still looked like she’d gotten everything single thing she wanted on an enchanted Christmas morning.
Brett left his bottle on the table and headed for the front door. He never had been one to pick up after himself. She glared at the bottle, swiped it up, and tossed it into the recycling bin.
“Mom, isn’t this just so cool?”Emily popped up from the table and hugged her.“I’ll have both parents in the same town. So cool.”With that, she twirled out of the kitchen and headed to her room. Olivia smiled in spite of herself. Who didn’t love to see their child that happy?
Olivia took her beer, went outside, and sank onto a chair in the moonlight. Not exactly how she thought this evening would end. After that kiss, she’d hoped to sit out here with Austin. Kiss him again. Hold hands. Talk and laugh.
All she could see was the image of Brett and Emily, laughing at the table, her daughter so happy.
And Brett’s nickname for her. Livs. That was from years ago when they’d been…intimate. Close. He had no place using it anymore. They were barely friends. Just Emily’s parents. That’s all they shared now.
At first, she’d sent him lots of photos of Emily. Cute drawings she did as she got older. Tracked him down in Europe one time when Emily had gotten really sick and they’d had quite a scare. But he hadn’t come back then. He rarely showed up to visit, though he did call Emily once in a while. Emily adored him and craved any attention he gave to her.
