Page 36 of A Simple Regret

“Why?”

Her question is soft, as if she’s somehow protecting herself. From me? From the answer? I’m not sure, much like I’m not sure why I’m doing this for them. It’s not my place. Clearly they’re fine sledding in the backyard.

But I can’t help but want to give him—both of them—this.

“Because of him,” I reply, nodding to where her son plays in the yard. “And as much as I may not like our history, I would never hold it against your son. He’s…pretty cool, and I’d love to give him this experience.”

Maren doesn’t respond, and we both return our attention to the little boy in the yard. After a few more minutes, she whispers, “Okay.” I almost don’t hear her.

“Okay…you’ll go?”

She glances at me and nods. “Yes.”

I’m unprepared for the wave of relief washing over me. “All right.”

She lets him play a little longer before finally hollering, “All right, Theo. It’s time to go in and warm up.”

“I not want to!”

“But we need to. You don’t want to get sick, do you? Then you won’t be able to come outside at all.”

He seems to consider that before dropping the monster track molds and running toward us.

“No, we have to pick up our toys. We don’t leave them in the yard,” she states.

He spins around and grabs the plastic feet and brings them over to us. “We’ll put them in the garage for now, okay?”

He nods, helping gather all the new toys I purchased. I retrieve both sleds and follow them to the small structure. It’s mostly cleared out now, with the exception of a few stacks of boxes she still needs to sort through. Soon, she should be able to park her small SUV in here, which I’m sure she’ll be grateful for.

When all the toys are placed on one of the shelves and the sleds are stacked against the wall, she turns toward me. “Thank you.”

Knowing she’s referring to the new toys, I nod and reply, “You’re welcome.”

We step outside, and she locks the door. I turn to head toward my own home when she asks, “Would you like to come in for some cocoa?”

I shouldn’t.

I have a list of things a mile long to do at my own home. Some laundry, vacuum, dishes. I have my truck in the garage finally and need to do a little more body work.

But all that is brushed aside the moment she invites me inside.

“I’d love some.”

CHAPTER

TEN

Maren

If I could have retracted my offer of coming in for cocoa, I would have. As soon as the words left my mouth, I wish I hadn’t said anything. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I’m using my son to get him back, or the fact that I’m trying at all, because that’s the furthest from the truth.

I just wanted to say thank you for making my son’s entire day with those snow toys.

So when he actually agreed, I thought for sure I was hallucinating. No way did Camden Miller, the man I once loved and left behind, accept my offer. The Camden I met last week would have probably thrown the cocoa in my face. No, that’s not true. Camden was always polite, even if he didn’t want to be. I’m sure he would have stomped away, possibly even slamming the door on his way out, but he wouldn’t have done anything that could have potentially caused me harm.

“Ready for the cocoa?” I ask when we reach the sidewalk after putting the snow gear in the garage.

“Yep!” Theo replies, reaching his gloved hand toward Camden. “You wike cocoa?”