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“We’ll only move in if you’re okay with it,” Aleena says. “You know we’ve been looking for a bigger place, and when Joel saw the listing for the four bedroom on the sixth floor, it seemed perfect.”

“It is perfect,” I whisper because the thought of this family in the same building as me brings me nothing but joy.

We’re not officially related, but I consider myself the twins’ uncle. I know Aleena feels the same. Her husband, Joel, does too.

“Really?” Her face brightens. “You’re okay with it?”

“I’m more than okay with it,” I tell her. “If you need help making it happen, let me know.”

“I will.” She moves to hug me. “Joel had to go back to his office, but he sent his driver to pick us up since he’s got the car seats in his SUV. I could use a little help loading the girls up when he gets here. Unless you have plans.”

“I’ve got nothing on the go but helping you three,” I say. “It’ll be good to have you close, Aleena.”

“I feel the same way.” She smiles. “My girls get to grow up close to their Uncle William. I can’t think of anything better than that.”

51

Opal

I rush down the sidewalk,headed to my cousin’s celebration dinner. I’m only slightly late, but a text to Malvie just moments ago helped my level of panic dive from a ten back down to a four.

Just as I was about to leave Turquoise Crown to go home to change into the floral print dress I’m wearing now, Draven Kent showed up at the bar.

I had reached out to him earlier today in the hope that I could settle up with him. I suspected that the cost of his emergency visit to my bar, as well as the work of his crew, would eat up the rest of the funds I had set aside for random expenses.

I was prepared to bite the bullet and pay what I owed, but he dropped an anvil on me when he said there was no charge. I immediately knew that William had something to do. It took all of ten seconds for Draven to confirm it.

It seems that Draven owes William a debt since he has filled up his schedule for months in the future. Many of William’s contacts have reached out to Draven to book him for projects. Draven explained that in addition to that, William has paid him a king’s ransom to handle some renovations for him.

When I asked if the renovations were at his apartment or his office, Draven’s phone rang, and he had to rush out to a job site. I’ll ask William the same question when I see him because I think his apartment is as perfect as it can be, but I’m not the one who has to live there every day.

Running in three inch high heels is not a skill I’m known for, so I slow my pace just as I spot a familiar face headed in my direction.

“Opal?” The man I’m looking at notices me, and an instant smile blooms on his lips. “Jan, that’s Opal.”

I’ve only ever seen Chuck dressed in his work uniform, so seeing him in a pair of faded jeans and a T-shirt is jarring. The fact that he’s holding tightly to the hand of a pretty woman warms my heart. He looks incredibly happy.

“Chuck!” I call out as they get closer to me.

“I didn’t know we’d run into you in this part of town,” he says as they slow to a stop in front of me. “Opal, this is Jan. She’s my fiancée.”

My gaze moves to the beautiful diamond ring on her hand. She’s holding it up so I can catch its brilliance in the early evening sunlight. “It’s nice to meet you, Jan.”

I’d tell her I’ve heard a lot about her, but I haven’t. Chuck and I don’t share personal details. Until this moment in time, I had no idea if he was single, married, divorced, or none of the above.

“We got engaged this morning,” Jan explains. “Right after we woke up. Chuck took me to Central Park as the sun was rising, and he dropped to one knee in the spot we went to for our first date. It was a picnic.”

As soon as she’s done telling me, tears well in her eyes.

I want to reach out and hug her, but Chuck is already taking care of that. He tugs her close to his chest. “I took the day off. We already did a fancy lunch on Park Avenue, so now it’s a casual dinner at our favorite diner a few blocks from here.”

“What a perfect day,” I whisper. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

Chuck’s gaze drifts to his left. “This city really is its own small world. You never know who you’ll see.”

I look in the direction he is, and my breath stalls immediately.

William is exiting a building across the street. He’s holding a small child. A blonde-haired woman next to him is pushing a stroller.