Page 54 of That One Heartbreak

Fifteen

“Mommy, you look pretty,”Addy whispered as Kate poured her a glass of juice on Friday evening. “Are you going on another date tonight?”

“No, I told you, I’m staying home with you tonight.”

“But Marley is coming over, isn’t he?”

Kate let out a breath. “Yes, he is.”

“To babysit us like last time?” Addy took the glass and sipped at the juice. Her face was bright red from running around outside with Ethan. He was still out there, currently climbing on the swing set rather than swinging on it.

“No, he’s coming over for dinner,” Kate said. “I told you. He’s bringing pizza.” She got a feeling he was trying to curry favor with her kids. And she liked that – way too much.

“Does he know I don’t like pepperoni?” Addy asked.

“Yes. He’s bringing a plain cheese for you.”

“And then we can watch a movie with him?”

“Of course.”

Addy tipped her head to the side. Her brows were scrunched up like she was confused. “But what will you do?” she asked. “While we’re being babysat by Marley?”

Kate opened her mouth to explain –again– that he was coming over as a friend, not a babysitter. But maybe she was taking the wrong direction.

“Marley’s babysitting me, too,” she told Addy.

“Oh, okay.” Addy didn’t look at all perturbed. “So you get to eat pizza, too?”

Kate tried not to smile. “Yep. All of us will.”

“Even James?”

“What about me?” James walked into the kitchen. He had one earbud in. “What am I supposed to be doing?”

“Marley’s coming over to babysit us,” Addy told him. “He’s bringing pizza.” She had an orange moustache from her juice. Kate grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her face.

“I didn’t know you were going out again,” James said, looking at his mom. “I thought you were staying home.”

“I am.” Kate shook her head. Why was nothing ever easy? She was already on edge at the thought of Marley coming over. Seeing them all in their natural, messy habitat.

“Then why is Marley coming over?”

“Because I invited him for dinner.” Okay, so technically he’d invited himself. But James didn’t need to know that. “To say thanks for last week.”

“He’s bringing a special cheese pizza for me,” Addy whispered.

“Why is he bringing pizza? He’s never come over for dinner.” James caught her eye. “Does he want to talk about me? About the party? Am I in more trouble?”

Oh, so that’s why he was edgy. “No, honey. Nothing like that. He says you’re doing really well. I just thought after having Shana over the other week, we’d have Marley over this week. Like dinner with friends on a Friday.”

“Who can we have next week?” Addy asked, her eyes wide. “Oh, can we have Mr. Burrows from next door?”

“Mr. Burrows moved into a home.” James rolled his eyes. “Before we left the old house, remember?”

He’d been their neighbor when they lived closer to the town center. He’d doted on all the kids, buying them Christmas and Easter chocolates, and telling them long stories about the things he got up to when he was a kid.

“Whose home?” Addy asked, looking confused. “Why does that stop him from coming over?”

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