"Exactly like ice cream," Audrey laughed, reaching out to brush a stray curl out of Lily's eyes.
Lily seemed entirely satisfied with the new arrangement. She threw her arms around Simon's neck for a tight hug, then turned and did the same to Audrey, before dropping back down to the rug to finish her wooden castle.
Simon stood up, his knees popping slightly. Audrey stood up beside him. They walked together out into the foyer, leaving Lily happily playing in the other room.
"She took that well," Simon whispered, leaning his shoulder against the wall, a profound sense of relief washing over him.
"Kids are resilient," Audrey smiled softly. "As long as they know they're safe, they can handle the shifts."
Simon looked at her, his eyes tracing the beautiful, familiar lines of her face. He felt a nervous, thrilling flutter in his chest—a feeling he hadn't experienced since he was twenty-two years old and completely terrified to ask her out for the very first time.
He stood up a little straighter, clearing his throat and stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
"So," Simon started, his voice dropping into a softer, slightly shy register. "I know this great little Italian place downtown. It's quiet, the food is incredible, and I hear the company is even better. I would really love to take you there this Friday night. If you're free, that is."
Audrey looked at him, her dark eyes sparkling with a genuine, warm amusement. The heavy history was still there,but for the first time, it didn't feel like a cage. It felt like a foundation they were finally ready to build on.
"Friday night," Audrey repeated, a soft blush dusting her cheeks. "I would love that, Simon. Pick me up at seven."
Chapter 42
Audrey
The bell above the door of the small, independent coffee shop chimed, signaling Audrey’s arrival.
It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon. The lunch rush had cleared out, leaving the shop half-empty and smelling intensely of roasted espresso and warm pastries. Audrey scanned the room and immediately spotted him sitting in a corner booth by the window.
Nathaniel looked up from his phone, his face breaking into a soft, familiar smile when he saw her. He stood up as she approached, pulling out the chair across from him.
"Hey," Nate said warmly.
"Hey, Nate. Thanks for meeting me," Audrey replied, taking a seat. She placed her purse on the chair next to her, suddenly feeling a knot of nervous energy in her stomach.
When she had called him yesterday, she hadn't given him a lengthy explanation. She just asked if he had time for a coffee. It had been weeks since the night of her first therapy session with Simon—the night Simon had found them in the car. Theyhadn't spoken since, caught in a heavy, unspoken limbo while Audrey navigated the wreckage of her marriage.
Nate signaled the barista and ordered Audrey her usual oat milk latte without even having to ask. He leaned back in his chair, studying her face with those perceptive, kind eyes.
"You look different, Audrey," Nate observed quietly. "Lighter, I think."
Audrey offered a genuine, though slightly wistful, smile. "I feel lighter. The last few weeks have been... intense. But good."
The barista dropped off their mugs. Audrey wrapped her hands around the warm ceramic, taking a deep breath. She owed him the truth, delivered with the same grace and absolute honesty he had shown her when she was at her lowest.
"Nate, I wanted to see you today because I needed to talk to you about Simon and me," Audrey began, her voice steady but incredibly gentle. "The ninety-day stipulation we had on the divorce ended a few weeks ago."
Nate nodded slowly, his expression remaining perfectly calm. "And you made a decision."
"I did," Audrey confirmed softly. "We aren't moving back in together right now. We have a mountain of trauma to work through. But... we are trying again. We're starting over from scratch, and I'm committing to rebuilding my marriage."
Nate didn't look angry, and he didn't look entirely surprised. He let out a long, quiet exhale, looking down at his dark coffee.
"I wanted to tell you in person," Audrey continued, a sudden wave of emotion tightening her throat. "I needed to look you in the eye and thank you. You found me when I was completely shattered, Nate. I was drowning, and you didn't ask me for anything. You just pulled me out of the water. I don'tknow how I would have survived those first few months without you, and I will always be incredibly grateful for that."
Nate looked up, a sad, understanding smile touching his lips. He reached across the small table, resting his hand over hers for just a brief, comforting moment before pulling back.
"You don't owe me a thank you, Audrey," Nate said sincerely. "You were exactly what I needed, too. Two people bleeding out in a breakroom. I'm just really glad you found your way back to a place where you feel safe."
Audrey felt a tear prick her eyes, touched by his absolute lack of bitterness. "How are you doing, Nate? Really. How is the divorce going with Victoria?"
