“I’m sure my drill sergeant would disagree. He’d probably claim I’ve gone soft.”
She snorts a laugh and invites me into the house. I remove my shoes and follow her down the hallway to the kitchen. Framed photos cover the walls. Photos of the kids as they have gotten older. Photos of Cassie and Cooper together. Photos of a happy family, with an expectant mother, and a father, and their toddler son. Some of the photos I’ve seen before. Many are new.
Cassie suggests the kids go play a game, and they run off into the living room.
The kitchen looks pretty much like I remember, although the walls are now pale yellow. The pine furniture is the same, maybe a little more scratched with use.
“So, what’s new with you lately, Garrett? Any other women in your life? Or have you finally realized Zara is your soulmate?” She walks to the fridge, pulls out a beer, and hands it to me.
I take it from her. “Thanks.”
We sit at the table, and I tell her about Peony, show her the photo of Kenda’s and my daughter. The combined noise of a computer game and the kids’ laughter from the other room creates a background soundtrack to Cassie’s and my conversation.
“Oh, she’s adorable! Who’s looking after her while you’re here? Zara?”
The doorbell rings as I’m about to answer. Cassie pushes to her feet. “I’ll be right back.”
While she’s gone, the competitive, teasing banter between her two kids keeps me company, and I drink some beer.
A man’s voice reaches the kitchen, the words indistinguishable. Cassie laughs, the sound of it growing closer.
The moment he steps into the room, I recognize who he is.
The asshole who’s been mailing the letters.
His gaze lands on me as I stand from the chair, and a ferocious storm blows into his expression. Without warning, he charges across the room and swings a fist at my face.
51
ZARA
Peony yawnsfor the second time in the past several minutes and picks up a wooden block from Simone’s living room floor.
She walks to the lopsided tower Zoe and Kylie have been working on and puts her block on top. The tower sways a fraction of an inch, readjusting to its new center of gravity. But physics isn’t on her side, and the tower crumples.
Kylie and I reach for it on instinct, but we’re too late. The entire structure collapses, clattering loudly on the wood floor.
Jasper jumps to his feet from his dog bed, his nap now over, and barks. At the same time Peony lets out a disgruntled shriek, her gaze on the ruined tower.
The shriek quickly settles into full body sobs. Every inch of her trembles, the rattling aftershocks of an earthquake.
Jasper barks again, eager to play with the girls.
Simone strokes him, and the attention calms the golden Labradoodle.
Kneeling next to Peony, I gather her in my arms and gently rub her back, wanting so much to absorb her frustration, to turn it into a harmless puff of smoke. “Hey, it’s okay, Princess Peony. It’s not a big deal. But I do think it’s someone’s naptime.”
She looks forlornly at me, her bottom lip pushed out. Tears drenchher face, and her mouth opens, the subtle warning that another round of high-pitched, ear-shattering wails are about to commence.
“It really is okay, sweetheart.” I pick Poppy up from the floor and hand her to Peony.
Still sobbing, she buries her face in the panda’s fur.
“Let’s get you home now.” I kiss the crown of Peony’s head and stagger to my feet with the aid of the coffee table for support. I rock her from side to side. “Say bye-bye to Auntie Simone, Kylie, and Zoe.”
Peony’s tearful face peers up from Poppy’s side, and she waves at them, her bottom lip still pushed out in a pout. “Bye-bye”
By the time we arrive at Garrett’s house, her eyes are shut, the rise and fall of her chest slow and even. She looks so adorably peaceful like this, I hate having to move her and risk waking her.
