Page 199

My parent’s house was sold a week after I gave Teddy the keys. Alana and Samuel had their baby there and seem to be loving the place.

The rest of our drive is spent making plans for lunch, where everyone will be throughout the day and what time we’ll meet back up to head home. It’s our usual conversation, a familiar stream of chatter that makes up for the fact that I won’t get to see them for hours.

A deep overcast follows us into town. It stretches over the familiar faces going about their business. We finalize our plans for the day as Lachlan pulls up outside the Kendricks’ house.

Van and I exchange a long, slow kiss that curls my toes before he has to detach. His gray eyes search my face the way they do every morning, like he’s trying to paint it to memory

“Love you,” he says softly.

I brush his smooth cheek with my thumb. “Love you, too.”

With a last kiss, he pulls away. I watch him hop down and move around to the back to yank open the door. His big frame hunches over the tiny figure lifting her arms to him.

“Love you, Princess. Daddy will see you soon.” He kisses her downy cheek before grabbing his toolbox off the truck floor and heading off.

We watch him amble up the path to the two-story colonial and get let inside before setting off again.

At the deserted corner before Silver Pines, I scoot to Lachlan and pull his face down to mine. I kiss him deeply.

I know it was his idea to play the good friend to Van, to be the one I have to pretend I love platonically in public, but I hate it. I hate that I can kiss Van, hold him, tell the world Flora’s his when Lachlan is just as big a part of me and Flora’s life. I know he says it doesn’t bother him, but it bothers me.

“Love you,” I tell him, needing him to never forget that no matter what, he’s mine, too.

The corner of his mouth quirks and he cups the side of my face. “Love you, too, sweetheart.”

I hold his hand as we pull up outside Maisie’s. He squeezes once before hopping down to help me drag all of Flora’s baby equipment onto the sidewalk. She has too much I think some days, but everything is needed.

Lachlan lifts Flora from her car seat. The little girl squeals and flails her arms. She grabs either side of his face as he leans in and nuzzles her cheek.

“Be good for Miss Nina,” he tells her, peppering the soft globe with tiny kisses. “Daddy will see you in a few hours.”

With a final kiss to the tip of her nose, he tucks her into her stroller and faces me. Our eyes lock for what is probably longer than is acceptable. It takes everything in me not to lean up and kiss him. Not to snuggle into his chest and breathe in his warm, clean scent.

“I’ll see you at lunch,” he tells me softly.

I can only nod and stand there as he steps back. Neither of us say another word as I take Flora’s stroller and head in the direction of the bakery.

Our routine holds through the day.

I grab my coffee and muffin, drop Flora off at Little Pines Daycare and head in the direction of City Hall. I dig out my phone as I walk, aching to text my boys and knowing I shouldn’t; both are working. Instead, I pull up Lauren’s messages.

“I think it’s going to rain.”I hit send.

Her answer is immediate like she was already texting me, as well.“I hate yellow.”

I raise an eyebrow at the statement.“Because it looks like pee?”I guess.

“No, just a realization I had this morning.”

Isnort to myself.“Want to come over this weekend?”

“Would I turn down a whole weekend with the love of my life and the mini love of my life? No. I would not.”

Grinning, I sprint across the street and start through the black gates.

“Headed in. Talk soon.”

Mayor Ferguson isn’t alone when I hurry into the office. I deposit my items on my desk, brush a hand down the front of my skirt before joining the two.