Jack linked his pinky with her son’s in a binding pinky swear. “Promise.”
“Banana,” Rohan said solemnly.
“Banana,” Jack replied, just as somber.
Harmony? Well, Harmony still looked ticked. April had seen that look on her daughter’s face only a few times in her life. Usually, right before they went for flu shots or when her dad forgot to pick them up for his night.
She crossed her defiant little arms. “You don’thaveto go, Jack. You get tochoose.”
Oh dear. Bad. This was bad.
April closed her eyes and hoped the peace would wash over her. Nope, still numb. So she opened them.
“We don’talwaysget to choose,” April said gently. Was the gentle for her or for Harmony? She didn’t really know.
The vase pulled her gaze back to the gold lines, mending it, strengthening it. Like her.
“I have a job and a life back in California,” Jack said, his entire focus on Harmony. April understood the charge of his attention when it settled exclusively on a person. He spoke softly, like he was reading a story to Lola. “I just came to help your mom. But she’s doing great.” He stared at April for a moment that seemed to stretch on and on, even though it was probably only a few seconds, before giving the gift of his attention back to her daughter. “Your mom’s ready to sing on her own. She needs to do that. So now, I get to go help somebody else.”
Oh goodness. He got it. He understood exactly what she needed.
But of course he did—he was Jack. And if Jack thought she was ready to sing? She really was.
“Mom can’t sing,” Harmony said, her expression earnest. “Everybody knows that.”
“Have you heard her?” Rohan asked, totally siding with his sister. “It’s true.”
“She’ll surprise you,” Jack said, the smooth tenor of his voice easing the ache he was already leaving behind. “Give her a chance. She always surprises me.”
This man should be walking out the door, not wiggling into her heart.
Except. The numb chipped away the longer he stayed. The longer the vase held her attention. And the chipping away left a lot of feelings to sift through. Big emotions that April wasn’t ready to face.Oh dear God, what am I doing?
He was already in her heart. A heavy pressure around that area proved it.
What had she gone and done?
“He’s leaving because of you.” Harmony clenched her jaw so tight as she turned to her mother, April worried she’d need to call the dentist. “You make everybody leave.”
Yep, just like that—snap—the numb disappeared. Each of Harmony’s words acted like a dagger in April’s heart. She choked on nothing.
You make everybody leave.
April held her fist to her chest as though trying to keep her heart from breaking just like the vase.
“Hey.” Jack braced his hands on Harmony’s shoulders to draw her attention back to him. He shook his head and crossed his arms. All the butterscotch drained out of his voice when he said, “Your mom is the best person I know. Do you hear me? You are so lucky you have a mom who loves you like she does.”
Harmony’s bottom lip trembled.
Sonofabitch, April’s did, too. She turned away to study the drapes. Kitty waved to her from the StairMaster on her front porch.
Good to know that part of her life wouldn’t change. April would start Life 2.0: a better version with stronger wings able to keep everything from falling.
“No one’s making me do anything,” Jack continued to Harmony. “Do you really think anyone could tell me what to do?”
“Mom,” Lola whispered, tugging at April’s hand.
April lifted her up.
