Page 43 of Until I Have You

But Edwin speaks first, careful as he shifts his hips to the side so as not to disturb Liam.He fishes his phone out of his back pocket.“I’ll send you her contact information.”

“Ah.Brilliant,” I reply, thankful I don’t have to show my cards.

In reality, Edwin probably wouldn’t think anything of it.Because he trusts me.I’m his friend, his confidante.

Friends and confidantes aren’t threats.They know the boundaries, know what is too far.

Thinking of Abigail the way I do is absolutely too far.

And every day, it’s getting worse.

9

ABIGAIL

In all myyears as a New Yorker, I’ve never climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty.Yes, climbed, because in all these years, they’ve never thought to install an elevator.

I’m sure there’s a very valid reason for it, but my calves don’t listen to reasoning.

Bonnie, on the other hand, loved every second of the a-hundred-and-sixty-seven step climb upanddown and now stands looking up at the green lady watching over Manhattan with big blue eyes.

“She’s so tall,” she mutters.

I step behind her to shield her from tourists walking willy nilly.I follow her gaze up, up, up.I think the view from down here is more impressive than the view from above.

She’s magnificent.I didn’t comprehend just how amazing she would be up close, but she is.

“You think you could be that tall?”

Bonnie gawps up at me.“No, people don’t get that tall!”

“I don’t know, your dad is pretty tall.”

She snickers and turns to face me.“Daddy isn’t even that tall.”

A horn goes off.“Come on, I think that’s our ferry.”

Bonnie reaches up without thinking and grabs my hand.

I let her take it.It feels normal now after just a day of enjoying each other’s company.

At first, I just needed to hold it to cross the street.Then to navigate the throngs of tourists that plague Manhattan.Then on the ferry over when the waves made the boat unsteady.

Now it feels natural.

We get in line for the ferry and remain hand in hand.

I look at her.“Where do you want to stand this time?”

“Mm…the back.I want to watch her go.”

Once on board, we make our way to the top deck, toward the stern.

Bonnie is on a mission, dodging and weaving through the crowd, her hand in mine.“I see a spot!”

I make a few apologies on my way to tourists who she’s bumped out of the way, but for the most part, I get endeared smiles and mutterings of, “Kids, right?”

I smile as if I know anything about having a kid other than helping with the twins or spending a day here and there with Bonnie.

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