“He’s not having an affair,” she clarified.
The smell of fresh bread and espresso still lingered from breakfast and sunlight pooled across the tiled floor. “No.”
“Thank God.” Relieved, Charlotte pressed a hand to her heart. But an instant later, another thought struck her. Did Sloane know what was going on between her and Julian? Could that be what this was all about? She caught her breath and held it for several heartbeats while waiting to hear what it was, but Sloane still managed to surprise her.
“It’s Lilly.”
Had she missed something she should’ve noticed about her sister because she was too preoccupied with her work and Julian? Lately, Charlotte had left a lot of Lilly’s care to Sloane. It’d seemed natural to do so, since she had to work and Sloane was available. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing. I think she seems happier—more content—with each passing day, don’t you?”
“I do,” Charlotte agreed. Now she was really lost as to where this conversation was going... “So... what’s up?”
Sloane got off the couch. “I’ve talked to Ben, Charlotte. We’d like to take Lilly.”
Charlotte blinked in surprise. “TakeLilly? Take her where?”
“Have her come live with us, finish raising her.”
“Are you kidding?” Charlotte sprang to her feet. “Where’s this coming from? You... you don’t want children. You’ve been adamant about that.”
“I didn’t. I don’t,” she clarified. “Not of my own. At least, I don’t think so. Maybe that’ll change over the next couple of years. I never saw myself doingthis. But being around Lilly, getting to know her, has made me see things differently.”
Charlotte didn’t know what to say. “I’m shocked. Where is this coming from?”
Sloane shook her head while holding up her hands. “Honestly, I don’t know. I just... Ireallycare about her.”
“I know you do. You’re incredibly good to her. But you can’t mean what you’re saying about... about taking legal responsibility for her.”
“I do mean it. Ben and I... we’d do everything we could to be great parents.”
“You don’t have to convince me of that,” Charlotte said. “I know you’d be great parents. It’s just...”
Sloane peered at her more closely. “What?”
“I think I want to raise her myself.”
Silence followed. Then she said, “Since when?”
Now that Charlotte knew Lilly, she couldn’t imagine lifewithout her. They’d shopped together, painted their nails together, enjoyed the beach, sightseeing and the good food of Italy. They’d spoken to Don and Penny regularly and laughed with each other in the Jacuzzi. Day by day it felt more natural, more real, that she had a sister, and a sister was forever. Although Sloane had probably spent more time with Lilly because of Charlotte’s book, there was something about their relation that made them natural companions. “Since coming here and getting to know her, just like you. I’m the only family she has.”
“You don’t have to be related to be family.”
“I agree. I didn’t mean that—”
“And I feel Ben and I are in a better position to take on a child right now. We already have a home for her. She’d have a motheranda father—you know how wonderful Ben would be to her. We’re settled and ready for the next chapter in our lives.”
While Charlotte was going through a divorce, had a book to finish and was living with her parents. She saw the practicality of it, but still. “Are you thinking this might save your marriage, Sloane?”
Sloane seemed reluctant to gothatfar, but she said, “I think it would be good for us.”
Then how could Charlotte say no? “But Seattle is so far away,” she said, mostly to herself.
“We’d come visit you often, and you’d be welcome to visit us whenever you like. I’d love to see more of you, anyway.” She dropped her hands. “Besides, Seattle’s no farther than Cherokee, Iowa, yet you told her she could live with Steve if that’s what she wanted.”
“I said that before, when... when... That was before,” she reiterated.
“I’m just saying that we’d be happy to have her.”
