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Everyone else murmured their welcome—uncomplicated, and without fanfare. It had been nearly a month since she’d been there, but everyone behaved like she’d never left. As though they—and this place—were plainly hers to belong to. You didn’t invite a person to have a seat or offer to get them a drink when they returned to their own home. You simply expected they’d do it themselves.
A mist of perspiration dotted Rowan’s temples. “I need your help,” she said, to nobody in particular.
Gia sat forward in her chair and took off her glasses. Will stopped pacing. A tendril of drool leaked from the baby’s lip onto his hand. The four at the game table all scooted sideways in their chairs to look at her.
A year ago, this kind of focused scrutiny would have driven Rowan directly from the room, every intent dissolving into anxious avoidance. She swallowed hard, tamped it down. This was a safe space, and the time for cowardice was over. These were Harry’s people.
These wereherpeople.
“I’m in love with your son.”
Silence. Mercy’s eyes shifted comically to Patrick, whilePatrick’s attention snapped to Duncan. Duncan’s eyebrows crowded together in a confused frown as he absently scratched his beard. Maren and Nate abruptly laughed out loud and high-fived. Will raised brows at Gia, who sat forward with elbows on knees, her fingers linked below her chin, smiling gently.
A tear slipped down Rowan’s cheek. Her watery laugh broke the silence. “Not any of these sons. Harry.”
A long sigh came from Duncan. He leaned forward and pulled a wallet from the back pocket of his jeans to withdraw several crisp bills. He flicked them across the table to Patrick, who rubbed his hands together before snagging them to tuck in his own pocket. Duncan silently slid more bills to Nate, who then handed the money directly to Maren.
What in thehell?
“Come here, Rowan.” Gia patted the couch adjacent to her chair.
Duncan bumped the table as he stood, sending game pieces rolling. “I’m going to get some air.”
Rowan turned to watch him go. Before she could call after him, Gia stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“Let him go.” Her black eyes were inscrutable.
Mercy and Maren ushered their husbands quietly out of the room, and Will followed with the baby. Arden stayed, joining Rowan on the couch, close enough their legs touched.
Rowan took a big breath.
“Harry blocked my calls, Gia. Arden said he’d be here. Can I stay?”
Gia’s thumb stroked Rowan’s arm. “He is very hurt, darling. After he first left, I tried to get him to talk to me about you, but he ended the call, every time.” She made a growly sound. “Imagine, a grown man, hanging up the phone on hismother.”
Rowan pinched her temples. “I’m so sorry. For all of it.”
“I don’t know what happened between you two, but I’m certain I’m not the one you need to apologize to.”
“I know, but he won’t take my calls, my texts. He—”
“I wasn’t talking about Harry either, Rowan.” Gia’s voice was firm, but kind.
A tear slipped down Rowan’s cheek, and she scrubbed it away with the cuff of her sweater.
“Make peace with yourself. Forgiveyourself,and forgive Harry for leaving. Forgive both of you, for whatever happened that made him go.” Gia reached over and looped a fallen curl behind her ear, and Arden laid a warm hand on her knee. “You’ll stay the weekend. He can’t hang up on you if you’re in his face.”
“You can stay in the carriage house,” Arden said. “We had it ready for Harry to stay there, anyway.”
“What if he’s moved on?” Rowan said.
“He hasn’t,” the two Brady women answered in unison, without hesitation.
Rowan’s answering smile was flimsy. “I don’t know what I’ll do if he won’t listen to me.”
For a while, the three were quiet. Then, Arden said, “Make him listen. Tell her about grape jelly, Mama.”
Gia made a thoughtful sound. She settled into her chair, angled toward Rowan. “William and I had only been married a month when I became pregnant with the twins. Then Malcolm came along when they were barely three. By the time I was twenty-two, we had three babies and very little time together. Having children is hard enough on couples who have been together for a long time, you know? It took a toll, and we argued a lot. Especially at night. Nights with babies can feel so long. Everything seems more difficult, in the darkness.
