Jillian nodded again, thrilled to deliver the surprise.“She said if I really wanted to come, she’d bring me.And I really did.”She tugged on the zipper of her coat.“She’s talking to your headmaster now.I guess he was from Texas?”
Cat used the edge of her desk to steady herself.Lyndsey.Lyndsey had brought Jillian here—across the ocean—to Michigan.To see Cat.
Cat couldn’t have imagined anything more unlikely if she tried.
Jillian hesitated for the first time, her smile faltering.“Are you… are you happy I’m here?”
Cat crossed the classroom quickly and wrapped her arms around Jillian in a fierce hug.“More than you know.I’m just… shocked.”
“But hopefully in a good way?”
“Oh, in a very, very good way.”Cat gave her one more hug.“And everyone is good at home?Livy?Your… dad?”
“Everyone is good.But we miss you, and I think you should come back.”
“Oh, Jilly—”
“I have a plan.”
“Jillian.”
“Come to dinner with us tonight, and I’ll tell you everything.”
Cat crossed her arms.“You should have just called me, Jillian, because I can’t.I won’t.”
“You haven’t even heard my plan!You can’t say no without hearing it.”
“Okay, fine.Where are we going to dinner?”
“Mum knows.Let’s go find her.”
Kalamazoo’s historic district glowed in the late afternoon light.Old brick buildings lined the pedestrian mall, strings of white lights outlining the trees.The restaurant, Rustica, was tucked halfway down one block, its doorway marked by a narrow window while inside the restaurant hummed with conversation.
Lyndsey swept in ahead of them, all long legs and confidence, shrugging out of her camel coat as though she owned the room, and maybe she did with her tall, blonde beauty and her unmistakable Texas accent.Jillian would one day be the spitting image of her mother, and she was clearly proud to be walking next to her.
Cat, following behind, felt a tremor of nerves, because Jillian was hard to say no to, but Cat wasn’t going to London.That wasn’t happening.
Once seated Lyndsey ordered a bottle of wine and then focused on Catriona, asking her questions about her teaching job, learning Greek and Latin, and was it hard to adjust to Kalamazoo after two and a half years in London?
The questions were easy for Cat to answer, and dinner unfolded naturally after that.Jillian told Cat about school this term, how her marks were high, and she was beginning to think about the future.Both women listened as Jillian talked—Lyndsey indulgently, Cat with a quiet fondness she couldn’t quite hide.The food was delicious as well, and between the good food and the excellent company, Cat relaxed, truly enjoying the evening with Jillian and Lyndsey.
When the waiter cleared the main course plates, Jillian slipped from her chair.“I’ll be right back,” she said.“Don’t talk about anything interesting while I’m gone.”
They both smiled, watching her disappear toward the back of the restaurant.The moment she was out of sight, Lyndsey exhaled, the kind of long, satisfied breath that signaled she’d been waiting for this.
“She’s a good girl,” Lyndsey said softly.
“She really is,” Cat agreed.“You must be proud.”
“I am.And I’m grateful.”Lyndsey toyed with her wineglass for a moment, her voice turning thoughtful.“I wanted to ask you to dinner for another reason, Cat.I didn’t want you thinking I was going to be the awful ex—lurking around, making life complicated.That’s not who I am.”
Cat blinked, caught off guard by the directness.“Oh—no, I never thought—”
Lyndsey smiled, stopping her gently.“You might have.It’s human nature.But truly, I adore Rhys.Always will.He’s a remarkable man.Just… not my man.”She laughed softly, shaking her head.“He’s so serious, so structured and driven, and I need change and chaos.Morelet’s fly to Rome for dinner just because.”
Cat found herself smiling.“Despite being different, you two co-parent very well.I’m impressed.”
“We probably spent too many holidays together, though.I think it made the girls believe we might end up back together, and that will never happen.”
