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“A bulldozer? I’ve never tried, but I’ve driven an excavator, and I can’t imagine it’s much different.”

Scarlett hums. “I bet you’re hot in a hard hat.”

Of course, she says it as soon as I take a sip of my maple latte, and laughs when I choke on it. Worth it.

“What are you working on today?”

I glance down at my screen, at Sally’s Facebook profile, and hesitate. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

“What?”

“I’m not doing work stuff. I’m investigating—looking for Sally.”

“Did you find her?”

I nod. “Aye. I think so.”

Scarlett stands up and comes around the table to sit beside me. I don’t know how I expect her to react to the woman my dad essentially replaced her with, but she looks more curious than anything else.

“So, this is her,” she says, squinting at the screen.

“I mean, I can’t be sure, but—”

“It’s her,” Scarlett confirms, and I frown at her. She sighs, then points at the necklace Sally is wearing in the pictures. It’s a deep blue pearly stone, like a dark opal, in an intricate silver pendant, and, as soon as she points it out, it makes my blood boil, because I recognize it. “It’s ammolite. Tana Taylor made it—she sells them at the gallery. He must have bought it here.”

“I recognize it. He bought my mom a bracelet in the same style,” I say, and Scarlett curses.

“God, he’s a dick,” she says, and I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her in close to me. She scrolls through the pictures, frowning. “Is this …?”

“An anniversary party? Yeah. She’s married.”

“Shit.” She pauses on a picture of Sally’s husband. He looks happy, beaming at his wife. “Are you going to reach out to him? Do you think he knows?”

“After twenty-five years? He’s got to. I don’t think you could be with someone that long and not notice they’re cheating.”

Scarlett is quiet for a moment, focused on the screen. “Do you think your mom knows?”

I hate how small she sounds—how small my dad has made her sound.

“Yeah, love. I’m pretty sure she knows. I don’t think she would expect …”

“Me?”

“Exactly. If me, Ronan, and Fallon noticed he’s had affairs over the years, she must have. But, hey, you know this isn’t your fault, right? You’re not like her,” I add, nodding at the picture of Sally on the screen. Whether or not she knows my dad is married, she’s not innocent here. Scarlett is. And I know, even at eighteen, she would never have gone back to my dad’s room if she’d known.

“I know. It’s just … You and me. Do you really think your mom could ever be okay with this, once she knows how we met?”

“She will be,” I promise. I don’t know exactly how my mom is going to react to this, but I know she won’t blame Scarlett for a second. But I understand how hard it must be for Scarlett to believe that. I have to tell my mom, sooner rather than later. Of course, that means my dad will likely find out that we’re all in the know, and I somehow don’t think he’s going to take Scarlett and me well. For now, I’m enjoying our bubble too much to burst it.

“I want to believe you,” Scarlett says, worrying her lip. “I’m trying.”

“I know you are, love. You’re doing amazing. But no matter what, I’ve got you. You and the kids, okay?”

Her lips curve, and the smile reaches her eyes, warming them. “Now, that I do believe.”

There’s a loud clatter from the direction of the kitchen, followed by the most polite expletive I’ve ever heard. Scarlett looks over her shoulder and sighs. “I think that’s my cue.”

She hops out of the booth and grabs her apron, before coming back around and leaning down to kiss me. I cup her face, relishing the taste of her.