Page 86 of Mended Hearts

You so sure? I have an octagon imprinted on my cheek.

Ollie

What?

Leighton

Tillie decided laying on the floor was a proper coping mechanism, and I have to say she’s on to something.

Ollie

I’ve never been more grateful for the fact that we have a maid, because the sanitization on that tile would otherwise be questionable.

Leighton

My apartment would’ve dealt much stickier results.

Ollie

Do I want to understand that?

Leighton

Hairspray, you weirdo.

Ollie

*Laughing emojis*

See you soon, beautiful.

Leighton

I dare you to say that to octagon face.

Ollie

Bet.

Forty minutes later,I rolled into the driveway with a passenger seat full of crackers, white bread, ginger ale, and applesauce.

A nearly naked Beau was asleep on the couch—Batman underwear-clad ass in the air, face smashed into the cushion like he was trying to break his neck—withBlueyrunning on the television. There was a trash can lined up in front of him, and a half-drunk sippy cup had tipped over beside his feet, steadily dripping onto our blanket.

I dropped the groceries on the kitchen counter, set the water upright on the table, then coaxed Beau into a more conducive sleeping position and covered him up.

The house was silent until I got upstairs, where the softest voice filtered back to me—serrated at the edges, but no less sweet—and made my heart swell.

Leigh was singing about having a son who was “free as a dove,” and I narrowed my eyes, straining my ears to catch more of the lyrics. Was she seriously singing “Danny’s Song”? God, nowthatwas a throwback. What, did she come from Alaska or through a time machine?

And did she have any idea that my children had never known this kind of maternal affection?

Carly hadn’t sung to them. Hell, I was convinced she hadn’t evenheldthem much when they were babies.

A twinge of guilt threatened my resolve. Because what if I was wrong about this? What if she wasn’t it—and I lost her because I couldn’t get her out of my damn mind?

Gingerly pushing open the cracked bathroom door, I found them right where I’d imagined. Mattie was sprawled on her side across the tile, pale and small, her head resting on her arm. Leighton was slumped against the wall like her legs had given out, eyes closed, a lazy hand circling over Mattie’s back.

“Hey, beautiful,” I whispered as I stepped inside.

---