Page 50 of Cause and Effect

“Okay. We’re coming.”

“You two are the perfect couple.” I smiled at Morgan.

She laughed. “We’re not perfect, but close enough. I bet you and your husband were the perfect couple. I’m sorry, Laurel. I shouldn’t have?—”

“It’s fine.” I waved my hand. “We had our issues like every other couple in the world. I miss him, and so do the girls.” I grabbed the salad bowl and took it out to the patio.

“Mom, Julian was throwing us in the pool!” Sophie ran over to me.

“He was?” I smiled, glancing at Julian.

“Yeah. Good thing they know how to swim, or else we would have had an issue.” Julian smirked.

Everyone sat around the patio table and ate.

“Your daughters are adorable, Laurel,” Pippa said.

“Thank you.” I smiled, looking over at my girls.

“You’re a warrior,” Calista spoke. “Raising three special little girls on your own must be tough.”

“We have our days. But my parents have been a huge help.”

After we ate, the girls jumped back into the pool, swam for a while, and then it was time to head home. After gathering our things, I hugged everyone goodbye, and Julian walked us to my car.

“Bye, Julian,” all three girls said, climbing into the car.

“Bye, girls. I hope you had fun today.”

“We had the best time!” Stella exclaimed.

“I guess I’ll see you on Monday,” Julian said, taking a few strands of my hair between his fingers.

“Yeah. I’ll see you on Monday.” I smiled.

Climbing into my car, I shut the door and pushed the button to start the engine, and nothing. Furrowing my brows, I pushed it again—nothing happened.

“Oh, come on!” I looked at Julian, who stood there. I opened the car door and climbed out. “The car won’t start.”

“I can see that. Pop the hood and let me take a look,” Julian said.

“You know about cars?” I asked, popping the hood.

“Nope, but I can try.” He looked under the hood and then scratched his head. “Looks like you’ll have to call a tow truck in the morning.”

“Ugh. I don’t need this right now. I can call my parents to come get us.”

“Why would you do that? I’ll drive you and the girls home.”

“Are you sure? You’re here with your family.”

“I’m always with my family.” He smiled, opening the back door. “Come on, girls. I’m driving you home.”

“Yay!” All three girls shouted.

Chapter Twenty

Julian

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