I groan softly. “The bean has other plans.”
He smooths my hair away from my face. “Nighttime cardio is good, too.” He kisses me again, like he can’t help himself, then rises from the bed.
We move through the morning in a way that already feels familiar. He makes coffee and pours me a juice while I get Ellie up and changed. We all crowd into the kitchen together, Ellie in herhighchair, smearing yogurt on her face, while Felix toasts sourdough, and I cut up fresh fruit.
Felix hasn’t promised me anything or made any grand declaration. But the ease of us—the way we fit so effortlessly—it’s too good to be one-sided. I have to believe he feels it too.
He laces up his training shoes after breakfast, kisses me goodbye like it’s the most natural thing in the world, then crouches down to Ellie’s level as she whips up something in her play kitchen. “Save me some food, okay?”
“Fee go?”
“I’ll be back soon.”
As she throws her arms around his neck, his handsome face softens. His eyes meet mine over her blonde head.
“I’ll be back in a couple of hours,” he says as if I need the reminder.
“We’ll be here.”
I should say it now. I love you. Three simple words.
But he’s already out the door, and it’s just me and Ellie in the quiet house. She runs over and lifts her hands in the air. “Up.”
“Alright, Miss Bean.” I hoist her onto my hip. “What should we do this morning?”
“Blocks.” She points toward the living room where her toys are stacked in one corner. We’re well on our way to creating a block tower that defies the laws of physics and my architectural skill level, when the doorbell rings.
Ellie’s head whips toward the door. “Fee!”
“Not Felix, baby.” I set her down and stand, brushing off my leggings. Probably a delivery.
I pull open the door and find myself face-to-face with a stranger.
She’s maybe mid-fifties, with dark hair cut in a neat bob that curls under at her jawline. She’s wearing pressed khakis and a lavender cardigan that looks expensive. Something about her stiff posture makes me instantly nervous.
“Hi,” I say, trying to keep my voice friendly. “Can I help you?”
The woman’s eyes flick past me into the house, and her face lights up. “Oh, is that Ellie?”
I turn to find the girl toddling toward us, her hand reaching for my leg. She latches onto my pants and peers up at the stranger with those wide brown eyes.
The woman puts her hand to her mouth. “She looks just like Julie did when she was small.”
My stomach drops, the hair on my arms standing on end. “I’m sorry, who?—”
“Nancy Harmon.” She extends her hand, and I shake it automatically. Her grip is firm. “I’m Julie’s aunt. Her mother’s sister.”
For a second, I can’t process the words. It’s as if she’s speaking a foreign language.
Julie’s aunt, which makes Nancy Harmon Ellie’s great-aunt.
“I—” My mouth is dry. “Did Felix know you were coming?”
“Not exactly.” Nancy’s smile is apologetic. “His attorney reached out to me a few weeks ago. I’ll be honest, the news was overwhelming. It took me some time to return his call.” She looks at Ellie again, and there’s something raw in her expression. “But once I did, I couldn’t wait for Felix to have time for an official meeting. I flew in from Charlotte late last night and drove here this morning. The attorney gave me the address.”
I bend down and scoop Ellie into my arms, holding her against my chest like a shield. “I don’t understand. The attorney gave you this address?”
“He wanted to coordinate a time for me to meet Ellie, but he mentioned he was having trouble reaching Felix.” She glances past me into the house. “Is he here? I’d like to meet him, as well.”
