Page 24 of In this Moment

She nodded again, and this time forced a smile when all she really wanted to do was throw herself in his arms again so he could hold her the way he had the day before. Evie couldn’t remember ever feeling as safe and protected as she had when Declan heldher.

Her body yearned forit.

But he turned and disappeared to freshen up, so she did the next best thing that she could. She went into the kitchen to cook the biggest breakfast she could.

It didn’t take her long to have a stack of pancakes and a plate of bacon warming in the oven. She’d just cracked the first eggs into the pan when there was a knock at her kitchendoor.

Evie flipped the dishtowel over her shoulder and turned to greet her early morning guest. It was likely a friend of Jonah’s wanting to get an early start on a day of summer fun. It didn’t matter how many times Evie told them that Jonah liked to sleep in, they still showed up—but it wasn’t a friend for Jonah.

It was Tony’s shape she saw through the sheer curtain of the glass kitchen door. Evie froze.

What could he possibly want so early in the morning?

If she could ignore him, she would. But he’d seen her. Besides, the sooner she got rid of him, the better. Before Jonah gotup.

She swallowed hard, pulled her shoulders back and opened the door. “Tony.”

“Good morning. Can I comein?”

She started to shake her head, but Tony stepped forward and to avoid contact, she instinctively backedup.

“I heard the good news.” He glanced down at her left hand. “I actually witnessed it,” he clarified. “I supposed congratulations are in order.”

“They are.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Thank you. Why are you here, Tony?”

“I want to meet Jonah.”

She knew it was coming, but the request still took her off guard. “Now?”

“Is hehere?”

“Of course he’s here,” she snapped. “This is hishome.”

“Right.” Tony looked around, unsure of what to say next. “It’snice.”

Evie wasn’t in the mood to make small talk. “He’s sleeping.”

He nodded. “So later?”

The last thing she wanted to do was introduce Tony and Jonah, but it wasn’t about what Evie wanted. Her son came first. He always had. He always would. He should meet his father. It really was the right thing todo.

“Okay,” she agreed. “At Dream Puff’s. I’ll be there with him at eleven.”

Tony nodded. “We’ll be there.”

“We?”

“Me and Lauren.”

Evie squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, willing Tony and this entire situation to just go away. When she opened them, he was still there.

“Eleven,” she said simply.

“Right. And then can we talk about him comingto—”

“No.” She held up a hand. “We aren’t going to talk about anything else. I’m letting you meet him, Tony, because that’s what’s best for him. He obviously doesn’t remember the handful of times you managed to come around when he was a baby, but he knows about you and you are his father. It’s the right thing to do. But I spoke with my lawyer, and he told me what you’re trying todo.”

“About that, I—”

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