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“Thanks so much for tonight,” Maggie said, turning to him with a polite smile and her hand stuck out in front of her.

“My pleasure,” Rory said, managing to hide his surprise as he took her hand and shook it firmly, like they had just made a business deal.

They let go at the same time, and then he watched her get into her car and drive away, trying not to mentally diagnose the too-throaty rumble of the engine.

When her taillights had disappeared, he found his eyes moving across Ambler Road to Pura Vida.

The shop was dark, but there was a glow in the windows of the apartment above it that Ana shared with her family.

I did what you wanted, he told Ana in his mind.

But he still couldn’t imagine being happy with anyone but her.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out. He had been hoping it would be Ana, but he was always glad to hear from his little sister.

Buttons

Hey, I hope your date went ok.

I’m fine, but Doctor Webb says I should rest from here on in. Any chance you can take Leo to story time at the library Saturday morning? Grayson won’t let me out of his sight.

Rory frowned and typed out a response.

You wouldn’t have to rest if you were fine. What’s going on?

Just a little sciatica. It’s no big deal, but he doesn’t want me making it worse.

Relieved that it was back pain rather than something more serious, Rory smiled.

Of course I’ll take him!

Rest up. Need anything in the meantime?

Not a thing for now. Thanks big brother. But I’ll keep you posted if I do.

Good deal, Buttons. Sleep tight.

He slipped the phone back in his pocket and watched the light in Ana’s windows glowing for another moment before he got back in his truck and drove off toward his own apartment.

But somehow, with that light fading behind him, he felt like he was headed away from his home.

12

ANA

On Saturday morning, Ana sat on the carpet of the children’s section of the Trinity Falls library with Theo on her lap.

They always liked to arrive nice and early so they could sit right next to Miss Caroline and be close to the rack of stuffed animals that oversaw story hour.

“Oh my goodness,” Ana said, grabbing a toy from the rack and making it hop around Theo’s lap. “Miss Kangaroo can’t wait for story time. She feels jumpy.”

“Why?” Theo laughed, thoroughly tickled. “Why is she jumpy?”

“Because she’s excited,” Ana told him, then made the kangaroo talk in a funny, squeaky voice. “I can’t believe it’s almost story time. It makes me want to jump, jump, jump.”

Theo grabbed the kangaroo and jumped her up and down himself, laughing his head off and making Ana smile.

“No way,” a familiar deep voice said.