Page 36 of Learning at 40

“Agreed?” I question. “Give me your best argh if you do.”

“Argh,” Trevor grumbles.

“Aye aye, Captain.” Oliver salutes me and steps over to Trevor. He taps his brother’s shoulder. “Race ya.”

The two take off for the front of the house, and I turn to Zack. “Do you have a brother?”

“I do. One older one.” He meets my gaze.

“And he’s your best friend, forgiving you everything?”

“My best friends are my brothers from another mother who forgave me for anything. That’s what I want Oliver and Trevor to understand. They’re twins. Their bond is unique.”

I stare at him as he stares back at me. “Who hurt you?” I whisper. It’s not his ex-wife. He’s repeatedly said he didn’t love her.

“No one,” he mutters, turning his attention to the distant lake. He owes me his story about the house, but I decide not to press. My hand remains on his forearm, and I stroke his warm skin. Zack glances down at my touch, staring at my fingers tickling the length of his arm. He reaches for my hand, lifts it, and presses his lips to my knuckles, lingering there while he closes his eyes.

“You’re one of a kind, River Nagle,” he says for some reason.

“Don’t you forget it,” I tease.

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget you.” He speaks against my knuckles before turning to face me and reaching for my face. He tugs me to him for a hard kiss, sharp with tongue and ending with a light nip to my lower lip. It’s over too quickly and thankfully before the boys round the house again.

“Dad, we can’t find it.”

“Keep looking,” he says, holding his eyes on mine.

“Why don’t you go help them?” I encourage. It won’t take long with adult eyes.

“I’m afraid you’ll disappear.” The statement surprises me, but whatever his meaning, his eyes quickly shutter back to their protective shield. He releases me and stands without clarifying why he’d say what he said.

“Zack,” I call out. “Sometimes, the treasure you seek is right before you. That’s my hint to the boys.”

But perhaps, it’s a hint for him as well.

13

[Zack]

We found the small treasure chest—literally about the size of my fist—with two pieces of candy and two five-dollar bills inside. Mason was right; River was going to turn Trevor and Oliver into spoiled monsters.

With a little prompting, the boys rushed to River to thank her for their find. It had taken a while to discover the placement, which was under the base of the tree fort. The boys had to look up, not down, for her gift, and it was a reminder of what she’d said. Sometimes the treasure you seek is before you.

I didn’t miss the analogy. She was a treasure, and I see her plain as day. Unfortunately, I didn’t know what I’d do about her. I was leaving in another week. Logan had done the long-distance thing with Autumn for a while until he got his head out of his ass and realized he couldn’t live without her, but this was different. I was enjoying River, sure. I liked how she was with my boys and me, but my little unit of three had a long road before us.

Our maiden voyage continued, free of maidens.

A brand-new nanny was lined up to start upon our return home. I’d spoken with my law partners and requested some additional time off for the adjustment, requiring a little less time in the office. I’d make up the work from home. I already started working from home long before I went into the office in the mornings and late into the evenings after I returned home. A shift to dedicate hours at home wouldn’t be difficult. I’d accepted I needed to reinvest myself in the boys. The divorce had been nasty. Then with Ben’s illness and subsequent death, the past twelve months had felt like a chaotic spiral.

River’s sudden presence kept up the spinning effect.

“Who’s hungry?” River asks after the boys express their gratitude.

“Me,” they say in unison, raising both their hands.

River lays out an extensive menu of options before the boys decide on macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets.

“You don’t have to do this,” I say as she stands from the lounger.