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She nudges her shoulder against me. “Should I?”
“No, but—” She’d left everything; her job, mother, friends. Even though we’d discussed it all at length, part of me still felt guilty for that. Especially since I’d gone through the scenario once before.
Libby just laughs. “Shut up and let me cook.”
I grab a mug and fill it with coffee, then take a seat at the bar where I can watch her work.
After she soaks a few pieces of bread, she sits everything aside, wipes off her hands and joins me at the bar. “What’s really bugging you?”
I raise my eyebrows in question.
“You keep tapping the handle of your mug.”
I look down at the offending hand and give my head a quick shake trying to clear it. I’d been planning to save my question for later in the day, maybe later in the week, after things had more time to settle. “Harper’s baby is due in two weeks, so I’m wondering if you would consider going to Maine with me for a few days to look after Kenzie.”
She gives me a flat look. “Is that all?”
Yep, that’s not exactly what I expected. “I didn’t want to throw more at you since you just moved.”
Libby throws out her arms, and backs across the kitchen. “I said I’m all in. If that involves a trip to Maine so you can spend time with Kenz. It’s a bit sooner than expected and intimidating as hell, but we do what we need to do.”
As soon as she says that, Spiegel jumps up against the leg of my stool, and I can tell by Libby’s face that we both have the same thought. “I need to consider dog-sitters now, don’t I?”
With a smug smile, Libby nods. “And I think she needs to go out.”
Epilogue
Libby
I was on board with the entire trip to Maine, up until the moment we pulled up to the bungalow nestled next to a hill and adorned with elegant garden spaces and trees. The wood shingle siding is painted a golden beige that sets off the white accent work, and little window boxes sit outside of the upstairs windows.
That’s when the pit in my stomach forms, knowing in the next few minutes I’m going to meet Riker’s daughter. I stand next to the car, rubbing my hands together while Riker grabs our bags. As he passes, he puts his arm around my shoulders, keeping me close as we follow the sidewalk past the gardens to the front porch.
“You’ll be fine,” he assures me before reaching for the doorbell.
He doesn’t have a chance to press it before the door flies open and Kenzie jumps out and into his arms. “Daddy.”
Behind her, Harper stands with her hands on her stomach smiling at the scene in front of her. Then, her gaze sets on me. “Come on in, Libby. It’s nice to meet you.”
She extends her hand, and I’m momentarily at a loss for words as I take in the gorgeous interior of their home. The walls are painted a light blue, with the same white accents, and the floors are a pale hardwood. “Thanks for having me. Your house is beautiful.”
“Thank you. There’s a little spare room through that doorway behind the stairs. Make yourself at home.”
Riker finally makes it inside the door, stacking our bags in the corner while Kenzie chatters away about her soon-to-arrive baby brother. It’s even sweeter to see them together in person than watching him on the phone with her. He hangs on every word.
Then, Kenzie spins and runs up to me. “Hi.”
I squat down to her level. “Hi, Kenzie. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Do you like guinea pigs?”
I giggle, and everyone around me laughs as well. “Sure. I like most animals.”
She takes my hand and pulls me toward the stairs. “Then you should meet Zeebler.”
Zeebler? I mouth over my shoulder as we pass Riker and climb the stairs.
He just grins and waves, as Harper pats his forearm.
