Quinn
Friday, June 7
TWO DAYS LATER,I’m at the shop conferring with Terri about the furnishings for a client’s living room when I get a text from Zack.
Can you meet me for lunch at Bayona at 12:30?
My first thought is to say no. Ever since I learned he’s getting divorced and staying in New Orleans, I’ve felt off balance. We didn’t settle anything the night we went to Brooke’s home; by the time Lily was bathed and tucked into bed, I was too exhausted to deal with how this news changes everything.
And yet, it does.
Terri looks at me, her eyebrows raised. I realize I’m standing frozen, staring at my phone. I turn it toward her so that she can read it.
“Say yes!” she urges. “You’re headed to the French Quarter this afternoon anyway to drop off the bergères for the Franklin project at the upholsterer, right? And you two need some time to talk without Lily listening to every word.”
She’s right. I text back that I’ll meet him.
At twelve thirty, I step through the iron gate into the lushly planted brick courtyard of the restaurant. Zack is waiting for me just inside the door. We’re led through the quaint Creole cottage and seated by the window on Dauphine Street.
“This is lovely,” I say.
“I thought it would be quiet,” he says as we settle at the table.
We make small talk and place our orders—the apple and bluecheese salad with grilled shrimp for me, a house salad and smoked duck for Zack. When the waiter leaves our table, Zack leans forward. “We never got a chance to really talk the other evening.”
I nod. “Thanks for going with us back to Lily’s old home.”
“Glad I could be there. I hope to be around to help with lots of things in the future.”
My heart stutters. I decide to directly address the elephant in the room. “I was surprised to hear that you and Jessica are splitting up.”
“Me, too. I knew that things weren’t great between us, but I didn’t know she wanted to call it quits.”
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He fingers the stem on his water glass for a moment. “Better than okay, actually. I told my sister on the phone last night that I feel like a terrible husband, because the truth is, I don’t feel all that bad.” He lifts the glass and takes a sip. “She said I probably need to talk to a therapist.”
“Sarah can recommend someone.”
“I may ask her for a name in a week or two. But right now, I’m just relieved I get to stay in New Orleans.”
“Yeah?”
He nods. “I tried to talk Jessica into staying here a while back, but she wouldn’t even consider it.”
“I guess that’s understandable,” I say.
“Yeah, I suppose. But that’s not why she’s divorcing me. I mean, I was still planning to move to Seattle. I’d told her I would, and I believe in keeping my word. My father always said your word is who you are.”
“So what’s the reason for the divorce?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Is it Lily and the baby?”
“It’s lots of things, but the bottom line is she doesn’t want to be married to me anymore.” He puts down the glass. “Anyway, now that we’re splitting and I’m staying, I’m making new arrangements.I have things lined out at work, and I notified the Seattle firm that I’m not moving. So the next order of business is you.”
My heart thumps hard. “You mean Lily and the baby.”
