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“Fallon, as much as I think I can decode your thinking, I’m a little lost here. What did Dave say that surprised you?”

“He told me that sometimes he didn’t like it when Jake came home.”

“It upended our lives. The older the kids got, the more that became true.”

“He said that, too—not in those words,” Fallon said. “He also said I was always there, and when Jake came home, I wasn’t.”

“We all missed you when you weren’t,” Andi hesitated, took a breath, and smiled, “Home,” she said.

“That’s why I need to talk to you about things—about Jacob becoming our donor, about Dave—but also to tell you the truth.”

“Fallon, you don’t need to tell me anything.”

“Yes. I do. I accepted our friendship for what it was, Andi. And I know what everyone thinks—that Liv broke my heart. She did. I think—if I’m honest—she isn’t the reason I never tried to have another relationship.”

Andi’s eyes closed.

“I don’t regret anything about our past. We both found someone who can give us what we need. But the truth, Andi—therealtruth—mytruth is that I loved you long before we landed in your hotel room that night. It’s not like I thought about it. I didn’t. Maybe I avoided thinking about my feelings. I loved being with you and the kids. I didn’t want anyone to interfere with our time together.”

“I know.”

“You do?”

“I didn’t realize it back then,” Andi said. “I should have. Maybe I didn’t want to. I felt it, too.”

“I need to tell you because I need you to know that I love the boys as much as I ever did. I never thought of them as my kids, but I love them that way.”

Andi smiled softly. "Oh, Fallon, I know," she said, drawing in a deep breath.

Sometimes, life seemed to crawl forward at a snail's pace. It was easy to become so engrossed in the mundane that one overlooked the gentle shifts in their world and within themselves. Andi had fallen into that trap. She had forged a close bond with Fallon before Olivia settled into town. Fallon enjoyed her time with Jacob and Dave, often weaving herself into Andi's life with outings and offers to help with yard work. They werefriends, and Andi loved that Fallon enjoyed spending time with her children.

After Olivia left Whiskey Springs, Fallon began spending more time with Andi. Andi would drop by Murphy's for a bite while the boys were at school, seizing the opportunity to catch up with Carol and Ida. She recalled a day when she ordered a glass of wine to calm her nerves and ease her guilt. Jacob attended a young artists' class at the university in Burlington on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Driving him there meant missing many of Dave's Little League practices and games. Balancing the different interests and personalities of her two children was a delicate dance. Arranging a ride for Dave to baseball was easy; he was friends with most of his teammates, and Andi knew their mothers would gladly help out. Getting Jacob to Burlington proved to be more challenging. She was sure Pete or Ida would be willing to take him if needed, but she was hesitant to impose. Her thoughts returned to that day:

“Why don’t we take turns?” Fallon suggested.

“Take turns?” Andi asked.

“Yeah. Turns. You know—you take Dave to baseball, and I’ll take Jacob to Burlington one day, then we’ll switch.”

“Fallon, you don’t need to take this on. Dave can get a ride.”

Fallon’s face scrunched disapprovingly. “I’m sure hecanget a ride. But unless I’m misreading this, you’re worried about not being there to watch him play.”

Andi groaned.

“I know I’m notyou,but I can stay to watch him play.”

“You have a business to run.”

Ida laughed. “Do you see my daughterrunning?”

Andi sighed.

“Andi?” Fallon asked.

“I don’t want to impose.”

“How would you do that?” Fallon wondered. “I offered. You can repay me with those scallops you make if it’ll make you feel better. Or that honey chicken thing.”