A whimsical smile pulled at her sister’s mouth. “While I don’t disagree with you, we were still raised in different countries. We’ve had to adapt a lot to understand each other’s perspectives. Besides, English might be his native language, but have you heard the guy talk when he’s excited about something? You can’t understand a word he says.”
The sliding glass door opened, cutting through the laughter echoing off the walls. Rory entered the kitchen, his usually neat dark hair ruffled from sleep. He stopped when he noticed everyone’s amused glances on him. “What’s so gas?”
“We were just talking about your funny accent.” Elise’s fond smile made it obvious she loved the way he talked.
Rory chuckled, bending to kiss the top of her head.
As she abandoned her chair to help him find some breakfast, Gemma slid into her spot. “Hal, you can’t expect your relationship to be without hardship. If it’s not the ex, it’ll be something else. That’slife. Only you can decide if your love for Christian is worth tackling this challenge.”
Elise poked her head out of the pantry. “She’s right. But maybe a few days away from Christian can help you figure out what’s best for you.”
“I just wish he’d tell me what’s going on.” Hallie picked up her phone again, willing a notification onto the screen. Nothing. “I hate all the unknowns. Are we still together? Is his ex staying at his house? Is he still expecting me to watch his kids on Monday?”
“Wait, you’re still babysitting his kids?” Tyler asked. “I thought that was a one-time thing.”
“She’s the nanny,” Kendall answered for her. Hallie didn’t miss the ironic humor in her tone.
Tyler’s eyes narrowed, though he seemed more confused than anything. “Since when?”
“It’s been about a month.” Beej looked to Hallie for confirmation.
“What?” Tyler scoffed. “Am I the only one who didn’t know?”
A chorus of “yes” came from everyone in the room and his head whipped toward his wife. “Even you?”
Gemma lifted her shoulders in apology. “Cassie told me. She made me promise to keep it to myself.”
Tyler pierced Brad with a serious look next. “I suppose your wife told you too?”
“Nope. I heard it directly from the horse’s mouth.” Discarding the tea bag into the garbage under the sink, Brad picked up the mug in one hand, a bottle of honey in the other. He raised them both in a wonky toast before heading for the door. “Peace out, fools. I’m on my way to deliver my queen her morning sustenance.”
“Wait up.” Tyler followed his cousin into the hall.
Before Hallie could wonder about all the significant glances the guys had given each other, Elise’s arms came around her shoulders from behind. “I wish I could tell you that everything will work out with Christian. But no matter what, I’m always here for you. You know that, right?”
Her sister’s support pulled a smile onto Hallie’s face. “I do. It’s been really nice having you here again.”
“It has, hasn’t it?” Elise squeezed her tighter. “I miss working through all our problems together.”
Together.
Christian had used that word back in his mom’s kitchen. Did he still want that?
Or did Sabrina’s reappearance change everything?
Christian tiptoed to Isla’s door, sliding it open enough to slip from her dark room.
“Daddy?”
He froze. Hadn’t she been asleep a second ago? Turning, he found her propped up against her pillow. He returned to her side. “What is it, sweetheart?”
“Why doesn’t Hallie come over anymore?”
His heart pricked at the mention of Hallie. He still hadn’t texted her since she’d walked in on his hostile exchange with Sabrina. She deserved an explanation—and probably an apology for his distance—but with his thoughts still in their downward spiral most of the time, he had no idea what to say. Preparing the girls to meet their mother was taking every ounce of energy he had left. But Isla didn’t need to know all that.
Kneeling beside her bed, he tugged on the blankets as she laid back down. “She’s spending Thanksgiving with her family. You know that.”
“But she’ll come back?”
