Page 123 of That One Heartbreak

“Marley!”

“Hey.” He sat on the edge of her bed. “Thanks for all your help with the planter. You did great.”

“Mommy says I can water it every day to keep the flowers looking pretty.” She smiled proudly. “It’s my job.”

“It’s an important one,” he said. “Keeping flowers alive is hard work. My mom is a big gardener.”

“She is? Does she have lots of flowers?”

“Yeah, you saw them. When you and your mom and grandparents came for lunch at my parents' house, remember?”

Addy blinked. “Oh yeah.” But she didn’t remember at all and that was okay.

“She probably has a little watering can you can have. I’ll ask her.”

Addy grinned. “Thank you. Can I have a hug?”

Of course she could. He leaned forward and her little arms wrapped around his neck as she nestled her face against his. “Night, Marley.”

“Night, Addy.” His voice was low. “Sweet dreams.”

Ethan was reading a book, holding it awkwardly with one hand when Marley went into his room. He looked up. “Thank you for bringing the grill back,” Ethan said. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it again, but I’m glad you did. It was fun.”

“Yeah, it was.” Marley nodded. “Thanks for your help with it.”

“Can we build things again?” Ethan asked. “Together, I mean?” The hopeful look on his face touched Marley to the core.

“If it’s okay with your mom.”

“I already asked her. She said it was.”

Weird how that gave him hope, too. Yes, it could just be Kate giving him her blessing to have a relationship with her kids. And he’d take that. But he’d still hope for more.

Marley leaned down to ruffle Ethan’s hair. “There’s nothing I’d like better. I was thinking maybe a water feature would look good in your backyard.”

“Cool!” Ethan’s eyes lit up.

“We’ll talk about it soon. Now get some sleep. You did good work today.”

“And all with one hand,” Ethan said proudly.

“Imagine what you’ll be like when you can use both of them again.”

After he turned out Ethan’s light and closed his door, Marley lingered on the landing for a moment. Knowing the woman who lit him up in every way was waiting downstairs for him. Giving him a chance to say what he needed to say.

More of a chance than he probably deserved.

His jaw was set as he walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Kate was closing the dishwasher as he walked in. Slowly, she turned around to look at him.

“They’re both on their way to sleep.”

“Thank you.” The soft tones of her voice did things to him. Made him want her all over again. “Would you like a drink? More sweet tea? Beer?”

He shook his head. “I’m good.”

“Then shall we just go outside? If you still want to talk.”

“I still want to talk.” His voice was firm. He walked over to the back door, opening it for her, so aware of the slightness of her body as she brushed past him and walked through it into the night air.

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