“Jake will give us a ride tomorrow,” said Daisy, tilting her head toward a young man who had his arm around her.
“Good night, then.”She left, and Lance came along to walk her to her car.
“Can I call you tomorrow?”he asked.
“You’d better.”
“Dinner Wednesday,” he said softly.“No backing out.I’ll pick you up at six.”
“I’d like that.”
He bent toward her, and she was grateful Wren had stayed behind.She wouldn’t want her daughter to witness this kiss, because she was sure anyone who saw it would know just how much she felt for Lance.
Then, as he pulled her closer and deepened their kiss, all thoughts of Wren—or anything else—vanished.
When they finally stepped apart, it was with renewed determination.Whatever happened with their growing relationship, whatever complications arose, she was convinced they could work through them together.
They had to.He had come to mean so much.
“Good night, Raven,”
“Good night, Lance.”
She drove home through the quiet streets, past the familiar landmarks, and into the driveway.When she walked in, she patted her waiting tabby on the head.
“Well, Jackie,” she said, “my life might be complicated lately, but it’s full of some pretty great people.”
“Mroww.”
“Yes, and cats.”She laughed and stroked the cat a few more times before kicking off her shoes and going to her room to change.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she said to Jackie as she exited the house to check on the center.
She walked past the cats, speaking to them in a low, comforting voice before heading over to feed the kittens.
She settled into a chair with one of the tiny kittens, its eyes now open and peeping up at her as she aimed the syringe of milk into its mouth and scrolled through memories of the evening: Wren enjoying herself, Lance dancing with her.
That sensual, toe-curling kiss.
Yes, life could be messy and complicated, but tonight it had been pretty close to perfect.
She adjusted the tiny kitten in her palm, watching it blink up at her, discovering the world for the first time.
“Easy does it,” she murmured.“One day at a time.”
The kitten opened its mouth, searching for the syringe again, and she chuckled as she gave him more.In town, her daughter was visiting Roz tonight.She was grateful for her friend, who had been like a second mother to Wren.Of course, Raven wishedshecould be the recipient of Wren’s confidence.But her daughter wasn’t a child anymore.She just needed to find her footing again.One step at a time.
She thought about Lance.Was he reading one of his favorite books?Or planning the expansion?Or maybe just lying in bed, thinking about her?She would text him when she was done here.
She had missed texting him, missed having him in her life.For so long she had thought loving a man meant losing control, but she had loved the wrong man.It was different when the man was kind, patient, and steady.She’d also learned that adding a man to her life didn’t mean she had to subtract someone else.When she welcomed Lance, Wren, and others into her life, like Roz and Betty, her life expanded, lessening the pressure she had been feeling for years.
The kitten finished feeding and curled up in her palm.
“Yes,” she whispered, rising from her chair to get the next one.“One thing at a time.”
And, for the first time in a long time, Raven was not so afraid of what would come next.
Epilogue
