Page 24 of Twenty Years Later

I gave him a funny look but didn't say anything. Still carrying Gabby, I started to walk around the living room, asking her about all the toys and stuffed animals. "What's this?" I pointed to some stackable rings.

Eventually, we ended up playing on the floor, Alex soon sitting down on the messy couch watching us again.

"She's super sweet... and happy," I told him. "It's clear you've done an amazing job."

I glanced up at him to see his jaw clamped down hard like he was fighting some sort of powerful emotion.

Finally, he answered, "I appreciate that."

We played for a while with Alex joining in until my phone buzzed and I saw it was my own little cutie pie calling me.

"Hi, Mama," Audrey said, her tablet displaying a view of the ceiling.

I showed her Gabby who seemed fascinated at first by the energetic little girl bouncing around, but then she just wanted to eat my phone. We didn't talk long because Audrey suddenly had to go "winkle." But it was wonderful to see her beautiful face and hear her happy voice.

After I hung up, or rather she hung up because she loved pressing the red button, I turned to Alex. "So glad we got to meet each other's little girls."

His smile warmed me completely. "Me too."

Suddenly, my stomach made a loud rumbling noise, and I laughed with embarrassment.

Alex closed his eyes and shook his head. "Jayda, I'm so sorry. I'm the worst host ever. I invite you to dinner and then forget to feed you. Or even offer you a drink."

"Ah, don't worry about it. Sometimes I forget to feed myself."

He jumped up, heading to the kitchen at the other end of the big room while I kept playing with Gabby. In a moment, he returned and handed me a glass of ice water.

"Thank you," I said.

"The least I can do." He rolled his eyes at himself as he whipped out his phone. "What do you feel like? Pizza? Chinese? Any old favorites?"

That jogged my memory. "You know what I'd love? Frankie's Pizza."

Alex cracked up. "Of course. I bet it's been a long time. What kind?"

"Just cheese would be amazing."

A few minutes later, after he ordered the pizza, Gabby started to get fussy. "Man, I'm really on a roll tonight. Forgot to feed my kid too. Dad of the year here."

I laughed as I picked Gabby up and followed Alex to the kitchen. "Well, I'm sure I'm totally disrupting your usual routine."

He turned to look at me. "Um, yeah, our routine," he said, grinning.

While I distracted Gabby as best as I could, Alex made some mac and cheese with peas, our pizza arriving right when he finished cooking. Since Gabby didn't want to eat in her high chair or go to Alex, I sat at the table with her balanced on my knee as I bit into a crispy square slice.

"I bet that brings back a few memories," Alex said while pouring me a glass of red wine.

"Oh, definitely. I can't even tell you how many times we grabbed a pizza and then went to the beach to eat it."

"Same here. Frankie's is legendary."

"I'm glad it's still here."

Alex watched as I helped Gabby with a spoonful of her dinner. "Thanks for doing that. She really likes you."

"Aw, she's sweet. And I don't mind. It's nice to have a little one in my lap again."

His eyes were bright with emotion, and we didn't say anything for a bit as we all ate. The coziness and the warmness of the scene seeped into my soul as I realized this was how itcouldbe, how it actuallywasfor some people. A partner to share all the moments with—good and bad.

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