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“You’re a goddess,” I said with a smile. “Nick is a very lucky man.”
Carly laughed and started dishing up two plates with way more food than we could ever hope to eat. We settled at the dining room table and started eating. I told her about the meeting with the contractor and the changes I wanted to make to the second upstairs bathroom to update it and make it more baby friendly with a large tub and a new vanity with more storage.
After we finished, we went out on the back deck and watched Hunter run around the beach. “Gemma invited me over to the barbecue next weekend. She said you and Nick were going to be there.”
Carly’s jaw tensed and she refused to make eye contact.
“What?”
She glanced at me and then dragged in a sigh. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
My stomach churned. “Okay…”
“Jack’s in town.”
My eyes went wide. “What?”
“He came to the coffee shop about an hour ago with Aaron.”
I sank down, resting my arms against the banister. “Wow. I wonder what happened to New York.”
“I don’t know. He didn’t say much and Aaron seemed pretty quiet too.”
“Any idea how long he’ll be here?”
Carly shook her head. “Nope. I just thought I should give you a heads-up.”
“Thanks.” I nodded as I stared, fixed on the ocean. I knew I’d have to talk to Jack. I just hadn’t expected the opportunity to come up naturally. I’d imagined making a call or maybe even flying to New York, to have the conversation in person, but in either case, it would be on my terms, with time to prepare and work my way up to it. Now, it was possible—hell, even likely, given the size of Holiday Cove—that we’d bump into each other. I couldn’t tell Jack he was about to be a father in the middle of the produce section at the grocery store. No, that wouldn’t do.
I’d have to find a way to set up a meeting with him. And soon.
Even though I had a fridge full of leftovers from Carly’s generous lunch, I decided to cook something for dinner. Cooking was therapeutic for me and the weekends were the only time I had the opportunity. During the week, my life was too hectic, and I usually ended up eating takeout or at best—a quick stop-and-grab at the grocery store.
Homemade marinara sauce simmered on the stove and turkey meatballs were braising away in the oven. I hadn’t gone all out and made fresh pasta but had a box of the good stuff from the refrigerated section of the store and was getting ready to drop it into a pot of boiling water when I heard a knock on the front door. Hunter heard it too and jumped up from his place in front of the fireplace. He bolted for the front door, his toenails clacking on the wood.
I smiled to myself as I set aside the box of pasta. “Does Auntie Carly think I need full-time supervision?” I asked Hunter as I reached for the door handle. I tugged it open, preparing a playful lecture, but all the words slipped away as I realized it was not my bright-eyed friend on the front porch.
“Jack?” I finally managed to choke out.
Hunter lunged at him, dancing on his back legs to get Jack’s attention. He stroked his head and smiled as the oversize chocolate Lab made a fool of himself. When he looked up at me, his smile faltered. “Hello, Holly.”
“What—uh—what are you doing…here?” I stammered, a wave of nausea making me dizzy. I held on to the door frame to steady myself.
He stood straight and tall, his shoulders dropped back. It was a stance I’d seen so many times. At ease. An odd expression considering it still required a fairly stiff posture. “I wanted to let you know I was in town for the next few days.”
I tilted my head. That couldn’t possibly be the reason. I waited, seeing if he’d add to his opening line. When he didn’t, I shifted back. “Okay. So, what are you really doing here? What do you want?”
He dropped his gaze to the ground for a moment before meeting my eyes. “I wanted to see you. To see how you are.”
Steam wafted out from the kitchen and I turned to look over my shoulder. “Do you want to come in? I was just making some dinner.”
His eyebrows drew together. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah. You know I always make too much.”
He smiled faintly. “Sure.”
I snapped my fingers, but Hunter stayed on the porch, looking around frantically. My heart squeezed tight. “Any chance Princess is in the car?”
He smiled. “She is.”
“I don’t think Hunter would forgive either one of us if we left her out there. Why don’t you go get her? I’ll go check the oven.”
