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“Yes, I know, and thank you for that. Brent thanks you too.”
“It’s no trouble. The boys love him. It’s funny because he’s closer to Zack’s age, but in some ways he clicks more with Bean. Zack remains the leader of the pack, which is how he likes it. Bean gets a little extra backup in certain situations, and I think Tyler likes how they compete over who gets to be his friend. It’s an interesting sort of cousin dynamic.”
“Man, I miss everyone so much,” Annika moaned. “Please don’t tell me they’ve grown six inches since I’ve been gone.”
“You’ve only been gone a week.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
Jenna laughed. “No one’s grown six inches. Nothing changes that fast.”
But something had. Something big. She debated telling Annika all about her and Billy’s new relationship phase, but she didn’t. For one thing, she didn’t have a label for it. It was “serious” and “real,” according to Billy. But they were still feeling their way toward what that meant for their lives.
She loved him. That much she knew. But was she ready to be in a relationship with him again?
Besides, after three years of listening to Jenna talk about her Rules for Divorce, her sister might lose all respect for her since she’d broken them all over the past week.
“So if you’re coming home by Christmas, will you be here with us, or somewhere else?” Jenna was trying to be delicate about it, but what she really meant was, “are you holiday-official with this new billionaire boyfriend of yours?”
“Well, Brent was hoping that you’d consider bringing the boys out to Sans Souci. He has the staff already working on a meal plan and decorations and so forth.”
Jenna couldn’t help it; she let out a spurt of delighted laughter.
“What?”
“Your new boyfriend has a ‘staff’.”
“He’s not…he doesn’t…” Annika gave up and dissolved into laughter right along with Jenna. “His staff is excellent, by the way. Very hard-working and effective.”
“Oh my God.” Jenna laughed even harder. “I’ll talk to Billy about it,” she managed when she finally got a grip on herself. “About Christmas, not the hard-working staff.”
“Billy? Why does it depend on him?”
Oops. Her amusement had made her relax too much. “He’s their dad and they want to see their dad on Christmas.”
“Yes, of course, but…something’s different. Just the way you said that. ‘I’ll talk to Billy about it.’ It’s the kind of thing you’d say when you were married.”
“You’re overthinking it.” Irritated, Jenna colored in the fallen linden branch that she was using as a backdrop for her Hygrophorus Waxy Cap. The tip of her pencil snapped, leaving a gouge in the paper. “Or maybe it’s all that medication you’re on.”
“Low blow. Hey, what’s happening with Japan? Is Billy going to play overseas?”
“We don’t know yet. Billy’s getting nervous because his agent isn’t returning his calls. He feels like something’s up.”
“Do you still want him to go?”
“I…I mean…sure…” Annika’s direct question had Jenna totally flustered. Did she still want Billy to leave? Honestly…no.
She closed her sketchbook and shoved it aside. That pit in her stomach was back, the one that kept trying to warn her about getting involved with Billy again.
Mercifully, Annika changed the subject. “How’s the Hermit? Has he even noticed I’m gone?”
“I haven’t seen him since right after the storm. He wants me to admire his latest masterpiece, but he hasn’t asked once about my mushroom guide. I’m just…well, a little fed up, I guess.”
“You know what? I’m proud of you for saying that. It’s good to see you speak up for yourself.”
Jenna was still smiling over that wonderful compliment when Annika ruined the whole thing.
“I’m getting tired, so I’m going to hang up now. But I’ve been hearing some things from Lake Bittersweet about Billy. I’m sure it’s all bullshit, and I nearly bit someone’s head off over it. But I wanted to warn you…sorry, the nurse just got here. I have to go. Bye! Love you!”
