“So,” I say gently, “do you guys like the daycare?”
River bounces on his toes. “It’s so big!”
I smile, then glance at Myles, who’s gone unusually quiet.
“What about you, buddy?”
He hesitates, twisting his fingers together. “Will Mommy stay away like you did?”
The question hits me right in the chest.
“No,” I say immediately. “No, buddy.”
He watches my face closely, like he’s trying to decide whether to believe me.
“It means that…” I pause, choosing my words carefully. “It means we’ll all be together more.”
His eyes light up.
“You and River will be just downstairs. Mommy and I will be right here. We’ll have lunch together, and we’ll go home together.”
He blinks. “All of us?”
I nod. “Yeah, buddy. All of us.”
“Yay!” he shouts, jumping up.
River copies him instantly. “Yay!”
“What are we yaying about?” Jess asks, walking toward us.
I stand. “How about we go out for dinner tonight?” I say, then add, “Olive Garden.”
Jess tilts her head. “Okay.”
“I want the never-ending pasta,” Myles announces.
“Me too,” River echoes.
I narrow my eyes. “How do you even know about that?”
Myles grins. “YouTube.”
I smile tightly. “Of course. YouTube.”
The boys immediately launch into a discussion about what kind of noodles they’re going to get.
I glance at Jess. “What did Mackie want?”
She gives me a strange look. “She’s actually nice. Just… naïve.”
My brows lift.
“I talked to her,” she clarifies.
I nod, but my expression gives me away because Jess crosses her arms. “What?”
I glance at the boys. “Can we talk tonight?”
