She looked up and instantly he knew she’d been crying. There was no real evidence, no tears or red-rimmed eyes or puffy lids. But he knew.
“Jo Ellen?” he asked, freezing in place in fear. Wouldn’t someone have texted him if…if the worst had happened?
“Oh, no. No news. Still in the coma but possibly coming out tomorrow or Wednesday.”
“That’s good.” He came around the island, reaching for the baby, who held out one arm to him in a half-hearted effort to say, “Hi, Dad. Glad you’re home but don’t take me off Team Pepper, please.”
But Pepper released him easily and Atlas accepted his fate, snuggling into the much scruffier and harder seat of Jonah’s chest.
“How’s my little man?” he asked both of them.
“He’s good. Can’t stop eating or trying to say a word.”
“And how are you, Pimento?”
She looked up, not smiling, even though his “food things that start with a P” nicknames usually were rewarded with one. “Also can’t stop eating.” She held up the banana. “Second one today.”
He wasn’t sure what to say, so he looked down at Atlas in his blue-striped footed pajamas, smelling of baby shampoo and that particular sweet powdery scent his little guy had after a bath.
“I see he’s cleaned and ready for bed.”
“As promised,” she said, stepping away with her banana. “He did have an extra snooze this afternoon, since it was so quiet around here with everyone at the hospital. Also, trying to talk is wearing him out. Like, how many times can you saybuhwhen everyone else knows so many other words?”
Jonah chuckled and gave him a squeeze. “It’s Da, buddy. Da-da.Da-da.”
She smiled and slid the peeled banana into a plastic bag and reached for her giant Stanley water bottle. “He’ll get there and I…” She lifted the bottle like a toast. “Have got to get home. My bag is at the front, so…” She walked toward the doorway. “I’ll see you?—”
“Pepper.”
“Mm?”
“Please don’t go.”
“I have to. I promised my dad I’d…” He could see her searching for a reason or excuse.
“And don’t lie,” he added.
She exhaled. “I need to go, Jonah. Goodbye, my little angel!” She blew a kiss to Atlas and rushed toward the front door.
Jonah didn’t hesitate, following her with Atlas securely in his arms. “Pepper.”
She froze halfway down the steps.
“You are not getting in that car without talking to me.”
She threw him a look. “There’s nothing to say.”
“There’s everything to say. A secret you’re holding in. Feelings you won’t acknowledge. Conversations that have to be had and I want…I need to have them. Now.”
Once again, she blew out a breath. “Now? Here? With Atlas?”
“Yes,” he said simply.
“It’s…private,” she finally admitted. “Let’s figure out a time when we’ll be alone together.” With that, she darted down thelast two steps and across the dimly lit driveway, so, of course, he followed, reaching her as she got to the driver’s side of her car.
“Pepper. Look at me.”
“I cannot do this in this driveway.”
