What did I need? That was the question I didn’t have an answer for. I slipped my phone back into my pocket, unsure of what to say.
Later that evening, after James and Bebe were in bed and the house had settled into its usual quiet, I picked up my phone. Will’s message still sat unread at the top of my screen. I opened it, staring at his words for longer than I should have before typing out a reply.
Natalie: Sorry, it’s been busy with the kids leading up to Thanksgiving. Hope you’re having a good week.
I hit send and set the phone aside, expecting to feel lighter. But when no response came before I turned in for the night, a strange unease settled in my chest.
The next morning, I woke up and instinctively reached for my phone. Still no message from Will. My stomach twisted slightly, but I forced myself to push the thought aside. There wasn’t time to dwell on it.
James was tearing through the house, looking for his missing shoe, while Bebe stood in front of the mirror, twisting a strand of her hair.
“It’s fine, Bebe,” I said, trying to coax her out of her perfectionist spiral.
“It’s not fine!” she protested, stamping her foot. “It’s not perfect enough!”
Meanwhile, James raced into the kitchen, triumphantly holding up the offending shoe. “Found it!”
“Great. Now both of you, backpacks and shoes—now,” I said, glancing at the clock. “We’re going to be late.”
By the time we made it out the door and through the school drop-off line, I felt like I’d already run a marathon.
When I got back home, the quiet was almost jarring. For a moment, I stood in the entryway, letting the stillness settle over me. Then I headed to the kitchen to prepare for Lisa’s visit.
I set a vase of hydrangeas on the table, carefully fluffing the blooms to make sure each one sat just right. With a potential client coming over, I wanted to look like I had my act together. As I adjusted the final stem, my phone buzzed on the counter.
I glanced at the screen. Will’s name lit up.
Will: All good here. I get it.
I stared at the message for a moment, the tension in my chest easing slightly. His tone was casual, polite, nothing more. Was it a little too casual? I set the phone back down and focused on the flowers, deciding not to dwell on it.
The doorbell rang. I went to answer it, pushing Will’s message to the back of my mind.
Lisa greeted me with a cheerful smile and her arms loaded with a tray of muffins and an assortment of pastries. “I figured you’d want to try a little bit of everything,” she said as I held the door open for her.
“You’re so thoughtful. This is too much, you didn’t have to go through all this trouble,” I said, guiding her into the kitchen.
“Of, course I did. These are my best sellers,” she said, setting the tray down on the counter.
I poured coffee, and we started going over color pallets and ingredient sourcing for the bakery. Lisa’s passion for her craft was compelling, and for a while, I forgot about the weight of the week.
But then she glanced at me, a curious smile playing on her lips. “So… I was at The City Center the other day meeting with Lori, and I ran into Will Parker.”
My stomach tightened. “Oh?”
She nodded. “Nice guy. Very… composed.”
“Yeah, he is,” I said, keeping my voice even.
Lisa leaned forward, lowering her voice like she was about to share a secret. “What’s his deal? I didn’t see a ring on his finger. He seems… interesting.”
“Interesting?” I repeated, trying to play it off.
“You know. Quiet, but you can tell there’s something going on under the surface. He’s the kind of guy who makes you curious.”
I forced a smile, my mind racing. “He’s definitely good at what he does.”
Lisa tilted her head, studying me. “You work with him a lot, right?”
