“It wasn’t all good either,” he replies.
I clear my throat and stand. “We should get back to the party.”
“Yeah,” he says, pushing himself up too.
There’s no hug. No dramatic handshake. Just a quiet understanding settling between us.
As we step back into the hallway, he says, almost casually, “I’ve been thinking about installing those… hippy-dippy cameras you guys sell.”
Glancing at him, I correct automatically. “Motion-activated surveillance systems.”
“Yeah. Those.”
“I can come by and take a look,” I say. “See how many you need.”
He nods once. “I’d like that.”
Epilogue
Jess
“River! Myles! Let’s go!” I yell, zipping closed the bag of orange slices.
Myles comes sliding into the kitchen in his new shoes. “River’s in the potty.”
I groan, glancing at the clock. It’s going to be another thirty minutes. Minimum.
“Guys, let’s go!” Logan calls, stepping inside from the backyard. Bell trots in behind him.
“I told you to get the dogs in the car,” I snap.
“Well, she wouldn’t go in,” he shoots back.
“I’ll do it, Daddy!” Myles says, already sprinting outside. “Let’s go, Bell!”
Dutifully, the dog follows him.
I give Logan mywas that so hard?look.
He throws his hands up. “Maybe if you’d set the alarm like you were supposed to, we wouldn’t be rushing.”
My mouth drops open. “Forgive me if I was tired after the client meeting you were supposed to take.”
“For the last time,” he says, grabbing his keys, “I got stuck in traffic coming back from my dad’s. Something that wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t pushed me to fix our relationship.”
I blink at him.
Pushed him?
Before I can respond, there’s a honk outside.
I shove the orange slices into the picnic basket, toss a, ‘get River’ over my shoulder and head outside.
I may have suggested Sean check on Logan after he stormed out, the day of Penny’s christening. But push? Absolutely not.
I stop short on the driveway, nearly colliding with someone.
“Brad?” I press a hand to my chest.
