“Hey, just checking back in to see how things are going. Did enemy number one leave?”
I smile to myself. Somehow, I needed that reminder. That he is the enemy. That even if I love him and know he can’t actually be an enemy for Taylor’s sake, I have to treat him like one where my heart is concerned. Nothing has changed.
“He took Taylor to get a new laptop.”
“Well, isn’t he just Dad of the Year.”
“It’s fine, honestly. She needed one, and I can’t afford it right now. It’s better this way. Besides, it gave me a chance to finish unpacking the house.”
“You’re all settled in now, then?”
“I think so. The internet guy just left, and everything’s put away. I’m starting to feel okay again.”
“I’m glad. Well, listen, I just got to a showing and had a few minutes, so I wanted to check in. You call if you need anything, okay?”
“Always. Love you.”
We end the call, and I return to the couch, opening my latest manuscript.
When the door opens later, I’m in a haze of my story and have completely lost track of time. Taylor appears, keys and new laptop in hand. She looks around, eyes wide.
“Wow, Mom. It looks great in here.”
She’s in a good mood, then.
I close my laptop as Lewis appears, carrying an armful of bags from different stores.
“Did you have a nice time?”
“The best. Dad took me shopping for clothes, too. Since so many of mine got ruined.”
I glance toward the bags. “You mean they got…wet?”
She turns back to Lewis, taking the bags and disappearing to her room.
His hands go up in surrender toward me once she’s gone. “I know you’re probably going to say she didn’t need them, but I just bought a few things for the summer. The Apple Store didn’t take long enough, and after eating lunch we still had time to kill. If it helps, we went by the bookstore too, and she picked you both out a few books.”
“You shouldn’t buy things for me.”
His smile is patronizing. “That wasn’t in the divorce handbook.” He comes to sit down on the couch next to me. “We agreed to be friendly. Friends gift things to each other. It’s a thanks…for letting me see her. For letting me stay here.”
“Just for the night,” I remind him. “And only because it’d be irresponsible to drive during the storm. Tomorrow, you have to go.”
It takes several seconds, but eventually, he agrees. “Yeah, you’re right. Tomorrow. But tonight…” He glances over the back of the couch. “Why don’t you go and take a bath? I can get supper going.”
I sniff myself, and he laughs.
“You smell fine. I’m just trying to be nice.”
“Oh, good. ‘Fine’ was what I was going for.” My brows rise without warning. “Did you say you’re going to cook?”
He chuckles under his breath at my surprise. The husband I once had could—and frequently did—burn toast. “I’m having to learn.”
I place my laptop on the couch and stand. In the kitchen, I search through the fridge. “We have stuff to make taco bowls, meatloaf, or…stuffed pepper soup.”
“Taco bowls are her favorite,” he says from where he’s standing near the stove.
I grab the pound of ground beef. “Taco bowls it is, then.”
