Page 107 of A Whole New Play

Concern flares in my chest. “What is it?”

“Do you think you can pick up the twins from school this afternoon? I know it’s your day off, but Davis just called and wants to meet to discuss the custody case before we sit in front of the judge next week.”

Next week?

“I thought the hearing wasn’t for another month.”

“It got moved up.”

“That’s exciting.” Carter’s been waiting for this to be resolved for a long time now. The fact the end is near is great.

“Yeah, I guess it is.” A siren sounds as he speaks. He waits for it to fade before continuing. “Do you think you can get the twins? I already called my parents but neither of them is answering.”

“Sure, but isn’t the science fair today?” I ask, but I know it is. I saved the date in my calendar the moment Abby and Andy told me about the event.

Carter groans. “Shit, I forgot.” I imagine him running a hand down his face. “I can’t miss it. Abby will never forgive me.”

“That’s not true.” I reach the garage where I parked my car. I stand outside the stairwell to finish my conversation with Carter, knowing I’ll lose reception if I go inside. “Abby would be disappointed, but she’ll understand.”

“She shouldn’t have to understand,” Carter grumbles. “She’s only six.”

He has a point.

“The science fair doesn’t start until four and it lasts an hour,” I remind him. “There’s a chance you’ll be able to make it back in time.”

His heavy sigh crackles through the phone. “You’re right. I’ll do my best.”

I know he will. He’ll do anything for his kids.

“Good luck with Davis. I’ll see you at the science fair.”

“Thanks, Valerie. See you soon.”

The call ends. I climb the two flights of stairs to reach my car. Once I’m inside, I start the engine and then check the time. I have a few hours to kill. I’ll head back to the house and change into something more kid-friendly. Lord knows what kind of messy science projects elementary kids come up with.

I place my phone in the center console and tap the screen on the dashboard to start my GPS to determine the fastest route back to Rose Hill.

Opening the maps app, I go to type in the house’s address, but my hand freezes when I read what appears on the screen.

Directions to Home

My hand falls to my lap.

I never added Carter’s address into my phone book as Home. I know my phone auto-populated the location with that title, likely because the device’s GPS has registered that’s where I spend my evenings. As well as most of my waking hours.

Still, seeing Carter’s home listed as my own makes me feel… strange.

Not strange in a bad way.

Strange in an exciting way.

Because it hits me that I’m no longer worried about getting too attached to Carter and his kids. That ship has sailed.

I’m not Abby and Andy’s mom, and I have zero expectations of stepping into that role. But there’s plenty of room in the twins’ lives for an adult who loves and cares about them. I can be a reliable person they can turn to when they need help.

I can be someone for their dad to turn to when he needs help, too.

Like he did just now.

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