AllFreeNovel
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“I can just put this in the fridge,” Caroline says, opening the fridge door.
“Caroline, are you worried about the man being in the tiny house?”
Caroline spins, her hair spraying out with the velocity. “He’s here? On your property? Do you want the raccoons to get him?”
“No, no. I knew the Goldheart Inn would be full. It makes sense.”
Caroline touches my arm. “Em, I know you slept with this man, but are you sure he’s not a homicidal maniac?”
“Thank you,” Mom says, slicing her hand through the air.
“He’s fine. Don’t worry. I have a sturdy baseball bat and golf clubs.”
“Our only hope is the raccoons,” Mom mutters under her breath. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”
Caroline pats Mom’s shoulder. “I’m staying the night, Kit. I told Brady I’m getting drunk after I sobbed for thirty minutes against my baby’s head. I need this.”
“We’ll be fine,” I say. “I promise.”
My mother hesitates before she slides her purse onto her shoulder.
“I don’t want to tell her right away he’s her dad. So, please don’t say anything.”
“I promise I won’t.” My mom looks at me with a sentimental gaze and walks over to kiss my head. I hope my smile signals she shouldn’t worry about me, but I know she still will. I didn’t understand it until I had my own kid. When my brothers have kids, they’ll get it too.
“I’ll tell him three tomorrow,” I say.
“Okay, I hope you girls have fun. Triple-check the doors. And put a chair under the doorknob.”
“Got it, Mom.” I stand up to hug her, and she sighs against my shoulder.
After saying goodbye to Olive, my mom finally leaves. Caroline and I rush to the window with our wine glasses.
“Do you think she’s going to knock at his door?” Caroline asks.
“I have no idea,” I say. We watch my mom get into her car and drive away, the headlights disappearing into the trees.
“Whew.” I take another sip of wine.
“I can’t believe he’s back,” Caroline says. “What’s he like?”
“Exactly the same. But different.” I plop down in my dining room chair again, holding the stem of my glass. “How is he even better-looking than I remember? His eyes crinkle at the sides now, and his eyes are so blue. I forgot how powerful those were.”
“Still has all his hair?”
“Yep,” I say, nodding. “All of it. Not a whisper of thinning. No receding hairline either.”
“Damn. Brady would be jealous,” she says. She tucks her foot under her butt.
“He has the prettiest girlfriend. Like, what the hell?” I ask, spreading my arms.
“Ooh, Mom’s cussing,” I hear from the other room over a Pixar movie.
“How do you know what she looks like?” Caroline asks.
“It was the lock screen on his phone.”
“I wonder why he’s here?”
