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“I don’t know.” I laugh softly. “I’m glad he’s here for her. I’m glad he loves her so much…” An old ache squeezes my chest. “He hurt me really bad, Min.”

“I know. I remember.”

“At the same time, he was wrestling with some major league shit.”

“Have you talked about any of this?”

“Not really. We’ve really been focused on her and letting him get to know her so it wouldn’t be such a shock when she found out.”

“That girl is not shocked.” Her eyebrows are up, and she points out the window. “She is in heaven.”

Deacon walks out the door to where Taron is standing with Dove, and it’s my turn to give her arm a shove. “And what kind of spell have you cast on Deacon Dring to keep him coming back for more? Just when I think he’s gone, here he is again. Not that I’m complaining. He’s the best financial adviser I know.”

“He’s the only financial adviser you know.” She tries to play it off, but I’m not letting her.

“Spill. I thought you two had parted ways.”

“I don’t know what you mean. We’ve never really dated.” She shakes her head and turns her back to the window where our tall, handsome former classmate is chatting with Taron.

“You are so full of shit.”

“I’m not! We only dated a few times. Deacon is not here for me, whatever you think. He’s looking for some family history or something.”

“What in the world?” Now I’m intrigued.

“He was raised by his great aunt. She’s one of those old Dallas wildcat wives who has more money than God. She’s pressuring him to settle down and get married. She wants him to have kids or she’ll write him out of her will.”

“You have got to be kidding me.” I hop onto my knees. “That’s crazy! Why didn’t you ever tell me this? It’s like a Disney story. Is he looking for a princess to marry?”

“Hell, no!” Her brow furrows. “And don’t repeat any of this!”

“Who am I going to tell?”

“Anyway, he’s looking for some Harristown relative or something to get her off his case. I don’t know. I kind of stopped listening halfway through.”

“You stopped listening or you started making out?”

Her lips curl in a smile, and we both start laughing. “I’m not one to kiss and tell.”

“Sounds like you’re the one with the magic stringing him along all these years.”

“I’m not stringing him along. He just happens to be in town, and we just happen to get along well…”

Her voice trails off, and I chew my bottom lip. “It’s time you found someone of your own, you know.”

She shakes her pretty head. “I’m trying. It’s just…”

“I know.” First loves can be hard to shake.

We sit for a few minutes in silence, watching the men talk. Dove’s head is on her daddy’s shoulder, and her little fingers rise and fall, patting his back.

He doesn’t even seem to notice, and my insides warm. The ice melts and mist fills my eyes. They’re so perfect…

Mindy’s phone buzzes, and she looks down. “Tamara said they just got back from her in-laws. She says Boo is whining for Dove to spend the night tonight. Yes?”

“Sure… If she can tear her away from her dad.”

“That’s a real consideration. I’ll let her know.”