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Maybe Jamie hadn’t even thought of me once he got back to Manhattan. He was probably back to dating models and socialites or whoever billionaires dated. He and Lincoln were probably as tight as ever and they’d already forgotten the tension I caused between them. I hoped the latter was true, but thinking about Jamie dating made me want to throw something and scream with rage and jealousy.
“Charlotte, honey, are you alright?”
I blinked and turned to Mom. It was then I realized that I’d been staring out the kitchen window for… I wasn’t even sure how long, but my feet were tired.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” I forced a smile as she eyed me dubiously. I came home last week for a short vacation. Admittedly, I couldn’t stand to be at the resort with memories of Jamie swirling around everywhere I looked. I thought a week away would help.
“Somebody is awake and wants to see Aunt Char.”
My smile turned genuine fast when I looked at the sweetest face ever. It was my nephew and he wore a gummy smile as he reached out to me. He was only eighteen months old and my sister was about to pop out another one. Vicky certainly wasted no time.
“Come here, handsome,” I cooed.
“Aunt Cha,” little Max squealed.
I laughed because I loved being his Aunt Cha, but I hated that he hadn’t seen me for seven months.
Mom smiled from ear to ear as she got to work on breakfast while giving me and Max happy glances. I sat in a chair and rocked him on one knee, pretending to be a space shuttle because he loved the hell out of the little game. His cute baby laughs filled the kitchen, which drew out my giggles.
Just then Vicky waddled in, clutching her swollen belly. “Goodness, Char, he only laughs like that with you. Not even his father can get him to squeal with joy like that.”
I grinned at Max. “That’s because you and I have a special bond, right, Maxy? You’re an adventurer at heart.” I chucked his chin. “I can already tell.”
“It’s because you’re great with children, Charlotte,” Mom said, pointing a spatula at me. “I’ve been telling you that you should have at least one little one already. What are you waiting for? You love kids.” She swept the spatula around to encompass the scene of me and Max.
I stifled a sigh as I glanced at Vicky, silently pleading for her help.
My sister rolled her eyes and said, “Mom, lay off. Charlotte came home for a break. Stop stressing her out.”
“I don’t see how talking about a family is stressful,” Mom grumbled.
Vicky gave me a look that said just ignore her. I did because I was in enough emotional turmoil. If I had to deal with Mom pressuring me, I’d likely lose it. I managed to tune Mom out enough to not hear much of what she prattled on about. However, I knew the topic was about my lack of enthusiasm to settle down and give her more grandchildren.
“Charlotte, are you alright?”
My head snapped up and I glanced at Vicky who was behind the counter helping Mom. I absently bounced Max on my knee still, but I had been in a completely different world. A world where Jamie and I were back in that cabin contentedly stranded together, basking in our fantasy bubble. I suppose I was so hung up on him because of the way things abruptly ended between us. We didn’t even get a chance to see if we were good together.
As I swallowed a devastated sigh, the doorbell rang, resonating through the house.
Mom’s eyebrows snapped together. “I’m not expecting company…”
Vicky, who was just visiting for the morning, shrugged.
Since they were both busy, I stood up and settled Max in one arm. “I’ll see who it is.”
As I walked through the living room and foyer to the door, I tickled Max because I loved hearing him laugh. His little giggles made me smile and my lips were still stretched in amusement when I opened the door.
My grin tumbled from my face as my jaw dropped and my eyes all but popped out of my head. Standing on Mom’s porch was the man who I thought I’d never see in real life again.
“J-Jamie?” I stuttered.
Was he real? My brain almost short-circuited as I computed if he was because what in the world would he be doing in Oregon? And how would he know where to find me?
Jamie stared at me just as I gawked at him. His gaze then shifted to the toddler in my arm and his eyebrows elevated.
“He’s not mine…” I said stupidly. “I mean… He’s my nephew.”
Jamie blinked and met my gaze once again. “You’re probably wondering what the hell I’m doing here…”
