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There wasn’t a section of the yearbook they weren’t in. And they were always side by side.

Until now.

Until I’d broken them apart.

They hadn’t just been friends. They’d been inseparable. Brothers without the blood.

I didn’t realize I was crying until a tear hit a photo of them sitting next to each other in their soccer uniforms. It splattered over Calder’s face. I wiped it and whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

***

A few hours later, there wasn’t anything left to clean. The rain had stopped, and I checked my phone for the twentieth time—still no call from Rafe. I felt like I was choking being in this apartment, so I grabbed my keys and wallet and went to get some fresh air.

When I reached the ground floor, I realized I hadn’t checked in with Rosie yet today, so I knocked on her half-open door.

“Come in!” she yelled.

I forced a smile. “Hi, Rosie. Just wanted to see if you needed anything.”

“Actually,” she said, “I’d love some help getting out of here. The stairs are easy because of the ramp Rafe built, but the double doors in the vestibule are always a bitch.”

“Of course.”

“I just need a minute to grab the concoction I made. Did you know there’s a family of parrots living over in Mount Prospect Park? I fixed them a bag of mixed nuts and seeds, hoping I can lure them out for a visit. My mother had a macaw when I was growing up. I inherited Elmer when she passed, and he lived until just five years ago. He was seventy-six.”

“Wow. I didn’t know parrots lived that long.”

“Some do, especially the macaw and cockatoos.”

Rosie wheeled herself into the kitchen and opened and shut some of the lower cabinets, then stretched for her purse and took something out of it. “I don’t like to bring a bag with me when I’m alone at the park,” she said, stuffing some cash into her front pants pocket. “It invites trouble when you’re stuck in a wheelchair.”

That’s something I never would’ve thought about, growing up in Montana. “Smart.”

She wheeled herself to the door. “Where are you heading off to?”

“Just out for a walk since the rain stopped.” I paused, hating the thought of more alone time to think. “Would you mind if I came to the park with you?”

“Mind?” She chuckled. “I’d be thrilled.”

I pushed Rosie’s wheelchair a few blocks to Mount Prospect Park. When we got there, she asked me to set her up next to a bench under a tree that she said the parrots lived in. There was a small, gated-off kiddie park with a swing set and jungle gym across from us, and we watched as a little girl who couldn’t have been more than four worked tirelessly, determined to push her brother on the swing, even though the little butterball probably outweighed her. She stumbled with every shove, but refused to let her mother help.

“So cute,” Rosie said, tossing seeds and nuts from her baggie onto the ground around her. “Do you want to have kids someday, Talia?”

I nodded. “I think so. I hope I’m lucky enough to have a few.”

“I hope so, too.” Rosie smiled. “Unfortunately for me, kids weren’t in the cards. But I love them. I suppose the best I can wish for is being a great aunt someday. I’m still holding out hope that Rafe will change his mind and want children at some point.”

I blinked, feeling my heart lurch. “Rafe doesn’t want kids?”

Rosie shook her head. “Between you and me, I think it’s because of what he went through growing up. He lost his dad at such a tender age, and his stepfather is a big ol’ bully.”

Wow. How well did I even know Rafe? Calder and I had talked about kids. He wanted three—two boys and a girl—as well as a house with a backyard, a yellow Labrador retriever, and to coach his son’s Little League team.

“Do you think Rafe wants a house in the suburbs with a lawn and a white picket fence one day?” I asked.

Rosie laughed. “That’s not something I can picture. Maybe a penthouse in Manhattan when he makes it big in the art world. Giant windows that look out at the City below when it lights up at night.” She nodded. “I think that’s more his speed.”

My whole body felt cold. I’d turned my entire world upside down for a man I obviously didn’t know very well. What if Rafe never wanted kids? Could I live without being a mother? Was that a deal-breaker? I was pretty sure it might be.