“So,” she whispered. “I guess I took a step in your direction.”
“Not mine,” he said.
She nodded, knowing what he meant. “And I…I think I’ll take more,” she finished. “With you.”
He searched her face, a light in his eyes she couldn’t remember seeing for some time.
“I’d love that,” he said. “We’ll take the rest of it slowly. Whatever this is for you, Kate, we have all the time we need to find out together.”
She sighed, needing to be completely transparent. “I’m not going to need that long, Eli. Not after what I just saw.”
“Thank you,” he rasped the words. Then he tipped his head toward the room. “Let’s say goodnight to your mom, text everybody the good news, and go home.”
She stood and wrapped her arms around him, taking a minute to fully realize that at twelve fifty-seven a.m. in a Florida hospital, her life had completely changed.
“Lawson!”
Jonah looked up from the cold app plate he was preparing in the far corner of the Driftwood kitchen, seeing his line chef, a sweet Puerto Rican named Luis, coming closer.
Oh, man. Were his last two orders of crudo that bad? Because…they weren’t great.
Nothing Jonah had done since the minute he’d said goodbye to Pepper five days—and four hours—ago had been great.
“Yes, Chef?” He met the other man’s gaze but didn’t know this dude well enough yet to read his expressions.
“We’re slow. You can go. Sorry, but Saturdays on the line are hit or miss, and with that storm? It’s a miss. We don’t have the reservations to keep you here.”
Jonah nodded, fully expecting the early dismissal. It was a good thing, frankly, since he had no nanny and Connor and Meredith had kindly stepped in to babysit on what was supposed to be their “date night.”
“Should I finish this order?” he asked.
“We’ve got it covered. See you Monday, my friend.”
Jonah was out of his apron, cleaned up, and headed back to the Summer House before six.
Six o’clock on a Saturday…he knew what that meant. Pepper was at Sunset Shores.
He wasn’t surprised his mind went straight to her. It was the only place it had gone this past week when he wasn’t working—classes had been canceled—or getting status reports on Jo Ellen’s progress, which were shockingly good.
True to her word, Pepper hadn’t taken his calls, but she had answered his two texts with kind but brief responses. He even broke all the rules and sent a picture of Atlas—clearly the act of a desperate man—and all she did was give it a stupid heart in the corner.
As he opened the front door, he heard his son gurgle and Meredith laugh, which did help a little.
“Where’s my boy?” he called.
“I’m right here,” Connor answered from the kitchen in hilarious falsetto.
Laughing, he came around the entryway wall to find them both at the island, Atlas in his bouncy seat, being fed and adored by the two of them.
“You’re home early,” his sister said, holding the tiny spoon aloft. “We’re having bananas and the green bean mush you made for dinner.”
Atlas kicked at the sight of him and gave a gummy, green bean smile.
“Hey, champ.” Jonah leaned between their barstools and kissed his son’s head. “Not sure why they call it ‘solid’ food, huh, buddy?”
He giggled and opened wide for the next bite, which came from Connor, who was handling the bananas.
“Sorry for killing your Saturday night,” Jonah said, dumping his backpack on the table. “You’re free to check out any time. Thanks for the coverage.”
