Page 105 of Regretting Youu

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Morgan

I’m in Clara’s bedroom closet hanging up clothes when she gets home from school. I’ve been keeping myself preoccupied all day with cleaning, laundry, mindless organization. It’s not lost on me that I never left the house today, so I really should have never cancelled the cable technician. I could be catching up on Real Housewives right about now.

I hear Clara making her way down the hallway, so I brace for impact. I expect her to scream at me or give me the silent treatment. It’ll be one or the other. I’m hanging up the last shirt when she walks into her room and drops her backpack on the bed.

“What are we eating for my birthday dinner tonight? I’m hungry.”

I stare at her cautiously because I feel like this is some sort of trick. She still wants to do a dinner? That surprises me. But I go along with it, just in case it’s sincere. I hope it’s sincere. “I was thinking lasagna,” I say. I know lasagna is her favorite.

She nods. “Perfect.”

I might need to run to the grocery store now, but I’d do anything at this point to have an opportunity to open up a conversation with her. And this dinner will be the perfect opportunity. Maybe she realizes that too. Without Jenny and Chris here, Jonah won’t be here. It’ll just be the two of us. We’re long past due for a serious heart-to-heart.

I’m chopping tomatoes for the salad when the doorbell rings. I wipe my hands on a dish towel and begin making my way to the front door. Surprisingly, I’m intercepted by Clara. She swings open the door, and I’m taken aback by the sight of Jonah and Elijah.

What is he doing here? Did he really think the dinner was still on after last night?

I expect Clara to slam the door in his face, but she doesn’t. He hands her a box, and even though I’m on my tiptoes in the doorway to the kitchen, trying to see what it is, I have no idea what he’s just given her.

“Seriously?” She sounds excited. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.

“I had an old phone in a drawer at the house,” Jonah says.

“This is the latest model, though.”

“I took the old one.”

Clara lets him in, and I slip back into the kitchen. Why did he buy her a phone? Is that his way of winning her over? That’s not how you parent, Jonah.

“I already put your old sim card in it, so it should be ready to go.”

“Thanks.”

It’s nice hearing a hint of joy in her voice, but it’s hard to feel relief when Jonah is walking into the kitchen behind me.

“You bought her a new phone?” I ask, without turning around.

“She dropped hers today in class. It broke, so I gave her one of mine.”

I suck in air before turning around to face him. I hate how I feel around him after last night. As brief as that kiss was, it feels like it’s still lingering. Like I can still taste him on my lips. “What are you doing here?”

“Clara called about an hour ago. She said her birthday dinner was still happening.”

I look in the direction of Clara’s room with narrowed eyes. “What is she up to?”

Jonah shrugs, adjusting Elijah in his arms. “Maybe she’s okay with it.”

“With what?”

“With us.”

“She’s not. And there is no us.” With that, I spin around and finish making the salad.

Jonah takes a seat at the table and begins playing with Elijah by making faces at him. It’s adorable and awful. I can’t stop stealing glimpses of him because his interaction with his son is breathtaking. Maybe even more so because I know Elijah isn’t even his biological child, yet the love Jonah has for him is the same as if he were. I hate that Elijah is a result of Chris and Jenny’s betrayal, but I love that it doesn’t matter to Jonah.

Seeing him with Elijah is making me think too many good thoughts about him, so I walk over and take Elijah from Jonah, just so I can stop the feelings that are rocketing through me. I sit at the table and turn Elijah toward me. He smiles. He gets excited to see me now, and it melts my heart every time.