Page 119 of The Arrangement

I laugh, then wipe off the kitchen counter.

“See you soon, sweetheart.”

“Give Arlo kisses from Auntie Chloe.”

“I will.”

The door snaps shut behind her.

It’s a beautiful afternoon in Nashville with the sun high in a cloudless sky. Mimi and I had breakfast by the pool this morning while Jason did a little work from home. When she jetted off in the golf cart, I came back inside and tidied up.

In the few weeks since the accident, many things have changed, and nothing has changed at all. Our routine has been modified since Jason has needed to take some time off work. He hated it at first, but I think he’s starting to enjoy it secretly.

I know I have.

I still go into the office every day for at least a few hours, taking care of the tasks I can’t manage from home. But, on the boss’s orders, I do everything possible from home—usually while somehow touching my husband. Mara has been coming in every day to help Mimi more than anything since I can take care of our home pretty much on my own. Mara and Mimi have developed a friendship that fills my heart with so much joy.

“Where’s my wife?” Jason calls from upstairs.

“Waiting on your lunch to finish cooking.”

“What are you making me?”

“Leftover chicken and rice.”

“What’s for dessert?”

I can hear the cheekiness in his voice, and it makes me smile.

The day I thought I’d lost my husband was one of the worst days of my life. Five hours. It took five hours for the search and rescue team to find him, extract him, and get him to the hospital.

Those hours were grueling, but I’m pretty sure the Brewer Trifecta of Power kept me sane. They made it possible to survive the anguish. How? Because they’re a unit. They’re strong. And they believe in each other.

I haven’t stopped telling Jason I love him since.

“I don’t know. Chocolate cake?” I ask, waiting on his refusal.

“You better not bring me chocolate cake.”

I laugh. “I thought you wanted something sweet?”

“Fuck the chicken and rice and get your sweet little ass up here.” He pauses. “Please.”

The oven timer beeps, so I take our lunch out and transfer it onto two plates. Then I take the plastic pitcher out of the refrigerator and pour us each a glass of sweet tea. I carry it on a large tray to the upstairs sitting room where Jason has been holed up for the majority of the past three weeks.

“Here you go, my love,” I say, handing him a plate and a drink. Then I bend to give him a quick kiss.

“How was the office?”

“Good. I was only there a couple of hours.” I sit on the chair across from him. “I met with Ian Gregory about the catering contract for next year. I told him if his numbers didn’t tighten, we’d be entertaining a new provider.” I take a sip of my tea. “He’s not happy, but neither are we.”

Jason beams. “Look at you. A CEO in training.”

I scoff. “I have no interest in being a CEO. As a matter of fact, once you’re back in the office full time, I might go back to waiting tables at Fika’s and let you deal with this yourself. I’m sick of these people.”

“Or, you could just stay home and do something you love.”

“But you’re the only thing I love. I don’t know what else I’d do until we have babies.”