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“He wasjustbeing friendly,” Charlie said, while thinking she hoped that wasn’t true.

The following day, Charlie was about to pick up her next client from the waiting room when she noticed a voicemail alert on her phone.Something inside her told her to listen to it.When she hit play and heard Collin’s voice, she grinned.

“Hey, it’s Collin…from yesterday… I just wanted to ask you a professional question.No, that’s a lie…I wanted to say I had a nice time meeting you.No, that’s a lie, too.I mean, I did have a nice time meeting you, but I meant I was lying about why I called.Oh, God, can I erase this message and start over?I sound like an idiot.”Charlie heard him take a breath, then he continued.“Okay, I called to see if you wanted to meet for coffee this week.You’re probably busy or possibly met someone and got married, but if you have any time and are still single, call me.Then again, you don’t even have to be single.Just kidding, please call me.Did I say it’s Collin…from the escape room.”Charlie heard him groan, and then he hung up.

CHAPTER 39

Abby

Aweek later, Abby sat in her first improv class in years, located in the theater department of the local high school.Three people stood in the center of a small wooden stage, lit by a few overhead lights.In the corner was an open trunk packed with props, a horse mask lying on the top.

As she watched the actors on stage, Abby started second-guessing why she had signed up for this class in the first place.She’d always been intrigued by improv but had been nervous about attempting it.The thought of failing miserably on her very first night made her queasy.How could I compete with these people who’ve been doing this for years?She looked at her watch and wondered what story Alex had read to the kids that night.I should be home putting the kids to bed.I still have time to sneak out.She was sure the door was beckoning her.

Before she could decide, the other students clapped for the actors who exited the stage and were replaced by two more.Abby noticed that the instructor, Milo, was standing next to her.

“You’re next up, Abby,” Milo said, glancing at her name tag.

“Can’t I just observe since this is my first class?”she asked.

“Those who only watch don’t learn.You don’t have to be good; we’re just having fun here,” Milo said.

Abby’s hands grew clammy, and as she stood up, she wiped them on her jeans.She walked toward the stage like a turtle in a relay race.The two students, a man and a woman, were waiting for her.Abby guessed they were probably in their twenties.How can I feel ancient when I’m only thirty?She glanced at their name tags, Meredith and Tom.Milo told them to improvise a job interview and assigned Tom as the interviewer and Abby and Meredith as the applicants.The two women would be applying for employment as a zombie killer.Tom and Meredith seemed ready to go, but Abby looked down at the floor and said nothing.

“Miss, what qualifications do you think you have that would make you an expert zombie killer?”Tom asked.

When Meredith didn’t answer, Abby realized Tom was talking to her.She blurted out the first thing that came into her brain.“I have four kids.”

Laughter and clapping exploded in the room.Abby looked at Milo who was nodding his approval.She lifted her chin and gazed out at the audience, marveling at the other students who seemed to be enjoying themselves.Her posture became erect, and her voice grew louder with each line she threw out.By the end of the exercise, the student’s rapturous applause made her giddy.Abby returned to her seat, smiling so widely that the muscles in her cheeks hurt.

“I’m having a hard time believing that you’ve never done improv before,” Milo said.

“Being a mom, I’ve had to make things up to get my kids to do their chores.I hadn’t thought of it as improv before; I thought it was just lying,” she said.

Abby couldn’t believe how much she enjoyed the class; she already couldn’t wait to return.When Milo dismissed them, he asked that they bring in five to ten prompts for the following week.Abby already had some ideas.

As Abby walked to her car, she looked at her phone.A voicemail from Morgan had come in, so she hit the play button to listen to the message.

“Hey, I hope things at home are good.I just got a call from Mom’s lawyer that we need to go back to Los Angeles and clean out her house so it can be put on the market.Charlie and I think it’s a good idea because we can pay off the mortgage and split the equity after it sells.We can all use the money.If it’s not a good time, Charlie and I can do it without you.Call me when you have a chance to discuss it.Bye.”

Abby put the phone back in her purse and got into her car.It hadn’t crossed her mind that they’d have to sell the place where they grew up in.They had lost their mom, and now they were going to lose their childhood home.She knew keeping it didn’t make sense when none of them lived nearby.

As if watching a movie montage, Abby saw her sisters and mother lighting the Hanukkah candles in the living room, all their Passover Seders, and the birthday parties they had in their backyard.The memories came crashing down on her, and her chest ached.

By the time Abby got home, it was after nine o’clock, and Alex had fallen asleep on the couch with Emma on his chest.Emma opened her eyes and reached out her arms to Abby, who, as smoothly as possible, picked her up and took her to her crib.She covered Emma with a quilt and gave her what felt like a thousand kisses on her tiny cheeks and forehead.Abby breathed in her sweet baby smell and knew someday it would be gone, replaced by teenage sweat and dirty socks.She wished her daughter sweet dreams, then closed the door and went back into the living room.

Abby looked at Alex with his legs curled up to his butt, happily sleeping.She felt a silly grin cross her lips, and her heart filled with pride that this man was hers.She wanted to reach out and run her hands through his hair, but she didn’t want to wake him; he looked so peaceful.She gently lay down next to him, wanting to feel the warmth of his body against hers.She took in the fragrance of his aftershave and lightly brushed Cheez-Its crumbs off his shirt.Alex didn’t awaken, but he must’ve sensed she was there because he rolled over and laid his head on her chest, and she closed her eyes.

When she woke up, Alex was gazing at her.

“What time is it?”Abby asked.

Alex looked at his watch.“Three forty-five.How was class?”

“Amazing.I’ll tell you all about it in the actual morning.”Abby rolled off the couch.“Let’s go to bed before our favorite people wake up,” she said.

When they got into their room, Abby was so tired she didn’t have the energy to change into her pajamas.She took off her pants and crawled under the covers in just her T-shirt and panties.She kissed Alex before turning over to get as much sleep as she could before the light came through the blinds and little feet clomped on the floor.

CHAPTER 40