Page 78 of Twenty Years Later

"You met someone."

What on earth? "Wow, Bill, how did you know that?"

"You just have a glow about you."

Oh, crap. A glow? There was no way I was going to tell him I was pregnant... yet. Baby steps, right? Although someday, he'd be able to do the math. I had the world's worst poker face and hoped he couldn't see right through me, making me curse video chatting.

"Well, I'm not sure about glowing," I finally said. "But that's kind of you. And you're right. I did meet someone."

This was so awkward to tell your former father-in-law that you were in love with a new man.

"What's his name?" he asked, his voice encouraging.

"Alex."

"And how did you meet?"

"Well, we met up at our twenty-year reunion about six weeks ago now," I admitted, trying not to outwardly cringe.

"Is it serious?"

I'm kind of having his baby. "Um, I'm thinking so."

He was silent a moment. "You know what, Jay?" he said, using the old nickname Blake had for me.

"What?" I held my breath.

"I think that's wonderful. You and Audrey have been going it alone for a while now, and you could really use another hand."

I let out that breath in a big whoosh. "Aw, that really means the world to me to hear you say that."

"Well, I mean it. I'm happy for you." He looked away for a second. "And Blake would be happy for you too."

"You think so?" I bit my lip, wondering how much to tell him exactly. Should I mention that promise during those last moments?

"I know so," he said, more emphatically.

In that split second, I decided not to... well, not to bring up the promiseexactlybecause it might trouble him in some way. And I knew a parent's pain upon losing their child was supposed to be the greatest pain of all. So I decided to remain more general with our conversation and keep the pain of that vow to myself.

But to my amazement, Bill kind of rescued me all on his own. "Is that something that worries you, that Blake wouldn't want you to move on or something?" he asked, his brows creased with concern.

I nodded. "It does. If I'm being honest here, I feel like it's..." I sighed. "Oh, I don't know. I just feel—"

"Sorry to interrupt. I don't knowexactlywhat you're feeling. But I know my Blake. And he would want you to move on, want you to be happy, and want Audrey to have a dad... or another mom if you were so inclined."

I had to laugh at Bill and his open-mindedness as relief rolled through me. He was absolutely right. I didn't know why I couldn't see it before. Blakewouldwant that.That promise was made during a moment of unbelievable trauma. There was no script, no rehearsal, for the last minutes of someone's life. And we had maybe messed it up.

But it didn't erase the years of love and friendship we'd had. Blake was not the villain in my story. And overall, Iknewthat Blake had a kind heart and would always want the best for me and Audrey.

"I can't even tell you how much I appreciate that," I eventually said, feeling those tears threatening once again. Stupid hormones.

"Don't you cry, Jay, or I'll be right there with you."

I laughed again. Blake had really lucked out in the dad department. And thank God for that because his mom had been a real you-know-what.

"All right," I said. "I'll keep the tears back."

"And maybe someday, I'll get to meet this man."

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