Page 44 of Shadows of Before

“Yes. He didn’t ask my permission to go to my boss. When I objected to that, he glibly said he didn’t think he did anything wrong and I was overreacting.”

“Yikes. That’d pissmeoff.”

“I knew you’d agree that I was right to leave.”

“I didn’t say you were right to leave. People who care about each other fight. They get their backs up and won’t budge from their positions. Your brother and I have had some doozies.”

“You and Henry? God, you’re the perfect couple.”

“I know. But perfect couples fight.”

“I can never live with Will doing things like this.”

“Sure you can. And every time he pulls something, you’ll work things out between you.”

She felt her eyes moisten. “Mary, you don’t understand. I’ve accepted that we’re done.”

“You don’t want that, Katie. You’re miserable.”

“I am.”

Just then they heard a cry. “Ah, Henry’s up.”

Kate wiped a few stray tears off her face. “Can I get him?”

“Sure.”

She walked to the nursery and as soon as Henry saw her, he stopped crying and stared at her. “Hey there baby,” she said picking the boy up. “How’s my favorite nephew?”

He batted her face. Gurgled.

At the changing table, she swapped his diaper with a clean one and snapped up a onesie that said,I love my aunt. When she picked him up again, she sat in the rocker even though his nap was over. The scents of baby shampoo and lotion filled her head. The joy she felt cuddling a child close to her heart eclipsed the pain she’d been feeling for 72 hours.

And the thought came: she wanted this with Will.

* * *

Will said, “What do you think?”

Holden surveyed the storefront again. “I think it’s perfect.”

“So I should sign the lease.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve got a checklist here of what to do. I started collecting applications. I decided on an assistant. He’s got a great resume. Do you want me to send all this to you before I make final decisions.”

“No. I’m here if you need me. But this is all yours.”

Good. Becausethisis all I have left.

“There you go again.”

“What do you mean?”

“For the last two hours you’ve gotten distracted at least four times. I wouldn’t care but I can read the expression on your face. You go to a dark place.”

“I, um, parted ways with someone I cared about deeply. It’s recent.”

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