I shook my head, laughing. “I can’t let my past affair get in the way of their friendship.”
Just then, Lauren walked in, catching the tail end of the conversation. “Did I hear the word ‘affair?’” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
We all laughed. Camille, ever the instigator, was giddy. “Let’s get her up to speed.”
“Camille!” I protested, but it was too late.
Lauren had become one of my closest friends in the short time she lived here, and I trusted her not to judge me. Still, confessing my affair felt like a big step.
By the time Camille was done filling her in, Lauren looked more stunned than judgmental.
“Wait,” she said, holding up her hand. “You’re telling me that the hottest dad at St. Isidore’s is single, you’ve already had an affair with him, and you’re not with him now? Why not?”
“It’s complicated,” I said. “It wasn’t the right time. I was married while we were together. He also has a daughter in high school who hates me, and if I stayed with him, it would’ve made things worse.”
Lauren leaned back, crossing her arms. “He’s picking Ivy up here later?”
I nodded.
Camille and Lauren exchanged amused looks. “This is going to be fun,” Camille said, grinning.
The kids swam while the three of us sat on the patio, catching up on shows, swapping easy recipes, and laughing. It amazed me how in just a year and a half of living here, these women felt like family.
The kids inhaled the pizza I ordered for their post-swim dinner. When the last crust was discarded, Camille started gathering her boys to leave. Lauren followed suit.
“Do you guys really have to go?” I asked, suspicious of their quick exits.
“Yes, love,” Camille said, laughing. “Call me tomorrow. Farmer’s market. Drop the kids off at my house; I’ll have our nanny there.”
Lauren smirked. “Have fun,” she said, following Camille out the door.
I rolled my eyes. I knew exactly what they were up to.
Right on cue the doorbell rang at 6:30, my heart was racing. I opened the door to find Will standing there, looking like trouble dressed up in perfection.
“Hi,” he said, his voice upbeat. “Is Ivy ready?”
“Oh, sorry,” I said quickly. “The kids started a movie about twenty minutes ago. I’ll go get her. Come in.”
He stepped inside, looking around as his eyes caught on the office to his left. “Did you redecorate?” he asked, slowing as he glanced into it before we continued toward the living room.
“Well, Jason moved out and then we divorced, so… ,” I said, feeling the weight of the words. “I turned this into my office.”
His expression shifted, his jaw dropping slightly. “I had no idea,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity. “I’m so sorry. I feel responsible.”
“No,” I said quietly. “We had problems long before you and I.”
For a moment, neither of us said anything. The silence was heavy but charged, the air between us thick with unspoken words.
“I’ll go get Ivy,” I said finally, breaking the moment.
Upstairs, I found the kids cuddled under blankets in the playroom. “Hi, guys,” I said. “Ivy, your dad’s here.”
“Aww, bummer,” Ivy said, pouting. “I want to sleep over!”
I laughed. “Maybe next time, okay?”
Bebe got up to walk Ivy downstairs, and the two of them immediately launched into plans for their future sleepover.
