She looked down at her bowl, her voice quieter now. “I know. It’s just… sometimes, it’s hard.”
“I know it is,” I said. “Let’s promise to communicate more, okay? I’ll trust you more, and you’ll have more freedom. But that doesn’t mean boys are allowed here when I’m not.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. Kellen dumped me tonight.”
“Want me to kill him?” I asked, only half-joking.
She gave me a look. “Dad, no. He’s a jerk, but not worth you going to jail for.”
“No one would know,” I said with a smirk.
“You’re not a Soprano,” she shot back.
I laughed, leaning into a terrible Italian accent. “Those who want respect, give respect!”
She burst out laughing, the sound so genuine it made my chest tighten. “That was the worst Soprano’s impression.”
“Fair,” I said.
We cleaned up our bowls and headed upstairs. As I got into bed, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time, peace. For the first time in months, I wasn’t weighed down by doubt or tension. Madison was okay. Natalie was okay.
And somehow, so was I.
CHAPTER 47
THE RIGHT KIND OF HOME
NATALIE
Time had moved quickly. The school year was winding down, and summer was just around the corner. The kids were buzzing with end-of-year excitement, and everything had started to fall into place in a way that still amazed me. After Christmas and New Years all the kids knew about our feelings for each other and our interactions became open and comfortable.
Will and I had settled into a rhythm. Some nights at my house, others at his, depending on where our kids were. The transition had been smoother than I could have imagined. James adored Carter and Chase, who let him join in on their games. Ivy and Bebe had gone from best friends to practically sisters. Even Madison had embraced my children.
Madison and I had taken our time, but our relationship had started to flourish. She and Meredith had grown close, bonding over fashion and New York, and we were even planning a girls’ trip this summer. The biggest surprise, though, was that Kellyand I had managed to build a friendship, learning how to work together for the kids.
Once Madison and I connected, we realized we had more in common than we ever expected. I had fallen in love with all of Will’s kids. Ivy had been easy from the start, she was just darling. Carter and Chase were quieter, but I’d learned they were night owls who loved sleeping in on the weekends and devoured my French toast and muffins. Chase was heading into high school next year, which felt like a big transition. James looked up to the older boys so much, and it was heartwarming to see. Carter, on the other hand, was already a little heartbreaker. Will had told him one day he’d meet a girl who would stop him in his tracks, and he wouldn’t be able to chase her if he was busy chasing everyone else.
Sarah and I had grown close too, so much that she had asked me to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. She included my kids in her wedding too, which was so sweet. Ivy and Bebe were flower girls together and James was the ring bearer. It was a perfect day, made even more special when she and Todd announced that they were expecting. A baby was coming in the fall, and the kids were already excited about their new cousin.
Jason and Brooke had just gotten engaged and had bought a house together, a beautifully renovated four-bedroom in Dana Point, painted all white with a baby blue door. It was big enough for several kids, which I suspected was in their plans, to continue to grow their family. Their wedding was set for the winter, and Bebe and James were excited about it. They were going to be a flower girl and ring bearer once more.
Meredith was visiting as much as she could, and her relationship with Evan was growing. He was even flying to see her. They weren’t calling it exclusive, justfun, according to Meredith. But from the way Evan had her as his date to Sarah’s wedding, I had my suspicions it was getting serious.
Kelly’s wedding was coming up in June. They were flying to Hawaii for a small, intimate ceremony, just her kids and Jeff.
One afternoon, Will and I were walking through town, coffee in hand, when I mentioned, “Your mom actually asked me about our summer plans the other day.”
Will huffed, taking a sip of his drink. “See? She’s warming up.”
I shot him a look. “You really believe that?”
He shrugged. “She didn’t insult you. That’s something.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You have a very loose definition of ‘warming up.’”
Will just smirked. “Give it time.”
That evening, just before dusk, with the kids at Jason’s for the weekend, Will turned to me, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Come on. I want to show you something. Let’s take a drive.”
