Page 116 of Yours and Mine (Friends with Benefits)

I threw my arms around his neck again, squeezing harder. How did he always know the right thing to say?

“Take your time, Jo, with whatever it is that you need to work out. Also, you should tell him about Mac.”

“I know. I told him to meet me at Pebble Beach tomorrow after work.”

“That’s good. And Jo, I know he’s my best friend, your first love, and Mac’s father, but that won’t stop me from protecting the two of you.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less, Carter.”

“Good. Now, what do you say we watch a movie?” He flicked the channel before I got a chance to answer him. It was a comedy, or maybe a superhero movie. I don’t quite remember, because all I could think about was the new man in town who had never left my heart.

The next morning, when I stepped into the bakery, I could tell the atmosphere had shifted. As soon as I laid my eyes on Marge, I knew that she knew. I ran to her, hugging her tightly.

“I found out yesterday,” I said.

“He came last night,” Marge confirmed. “I wanted him to stay, but he wouldn’t. He lives there now.” She pointed to the back of the bakery. Even though there was a wall there, I knew she meant the barn Nick had renovated beyond the field.

“I can’t believe this is actually happening.” I felt Marge’s tears on my shoulder.

“And I can’t believe he’s been so close for six months and didn’t say anything.”

My father came up from behind, smoothing his hand over Marge’s shoulder, while using his other hand to pull a stool closer to her. She sat down and I joined her. “Nick is a good man. The situation is complicated for everyone, but I’m certain Nick would have never hurt you, or hurt any of us, intentionally.”

“He thinks I’m with Carter, and I’m pretty sure he thinks that Mackenzie is Carter’s.”

Thank God my daughter had stayed at home with Carter. I couldn’t have had this conversation in front of her.

“What if he leaves us again? I’m not going to put Mackenzie through potentially losing her father. I don’t know what to do.”

“One way or another, he has the right to know,” my father said.

“I know, I know.” I lowered my head into my hands, shaking it. I should have been happy, but instead, I was so terrified of losing him again, I wasn’t willing to even try to reconcile. I didn’t want to give him another chance because if I did, I’d hang on to it like it was the only lifeline I had left.

“Joelle, honey. Do you love him?” Marge smoothed her hand over my cheek.

“Of course I do. I never stopped loving him. I’ll love him for the rest of my life.”

She smiled at my answer before exhaling. Was she hoping for that answer? As a mother, I knew she’d always hoped that her son would have a complete family. It seemed like we had all the ingredients: hope, fear, will, love; all that was missing was a guaranteed future of Nick staying in town.

But I did trust Nick. On some level, I always had. He would never have hurt us on purpose. He would have been here after those first two years, if he could.

“Then talk to him. Jo, this could be the chance you’ve been praying for.”

I’d wished for Nick’s return on every falling star I saw, even when I thought he was gone. Marge’s words…a chance… they stuck with me until it was time to meet Nick at the beach.

Iwas sittingon Pebble Beach watching Mackenzie skip stones when I heard his footsteps crunch behind me. I didn’t have to turn to know it was him; I felt him before the first sound of rolling pebbles reached me. He sat down beside me. While I wished he wasn’t this close to me, because it was difficult to think, I was grateful that he was. It only confirmed that this wasn’t a dream.

“I saw Carter by the car,” he said.

“Yeah, he’s pretty protective. He thinks you’ll leave again.”

“I won’t.”

“You’ve said that before.”

“This time I won’t.”

My heart raced. I tried to steady my breath, but inhaling him was a mistake. Instead, I tried to focus on what mattered: Mackenzie. As if reading my thoughts, he said, “She’s good at skipping stones. Just like her mother.”

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