Page 215 of The Song We Lost

I blink confused, Clara is married and how would Jackson even know her… But then I think of all the times he showed up with bags of baked goods.

“Ugh, Jackson… I don’t think..”

But he is already moving, heading across the street, towards Clara. I have never seen that look on his face, I've never known Jackson to show interest in anyone. Rhett laughs again and I turn away hoping that story doesn’t end in heartbreak.

"Bailey."

I turn to find Cole standing beside me, with Iris asleep against his shoulder. The sight squeezes my heart every single time. She is getting so big and reminds me more and more of her mother every single day.

"Adam invited everyone to the pub," he says.

I reach out and brush a curl away from Iris's face, looking up at Cole’s sad face.

"Stay." I say.

He immediately shakes his head. "I should get her home."

"Cole." I try.

"Bailey." he retorts.

I laugh. "Go have a drink, maybe a little fun."

"No." he says, and I swear I see the fear in his eyes.

I step closer and lower my voice. "Sadie would be furious." His fake smile falters, but I push on. "She'd tell you to stop hiding. She would tell you to live your life."

He closes his eyes like that truth is too painful to hear, but then he whispers, “I know.”

For a moment neither of us speaks. Because we both miss her, every day. Some days more than others. Then I reach out and pull Iris into my arms, his eyes opening wide when I do.

"I've got her."

Cole looks at me, then at Iris, then toward the pub, and laughter and people.

“I don’t know if I can.” he whispers.

“You can,” I reassure him and then kiss Iris on the top of her head as she instinctively snuggles in closer to me.

"Bailey?" his voice cracks.

"Go." I say, knowing he needs this push.

He nods slowly, steps closer, kissing the top of my head and then Iris’s and then without another word walks away.

Luke walks me to our truck, and after I get Iris safely into her car seat, he pulls me into a kiss that steals the breath from my lungs. When he finally pulls back, his forehead rests against mine.

"I think we should give her a cousin."

I laugh so hard I nearly wake Iris. "Luke."

"What?"

"We are not having this conversation in a parking lot." I say.

"Why not?"

"Because…" But I stop, because I can't come up with an answer.