Page 77 of Second Round

“Hey. The boxes I told you about are all set to go.” There were now five boxes of his junk in thebasement.

“Oh, okay. I’ll come back sometime this week andgetthem.”

“Sorry, you’re going to have to take themnow.We’re moving everything into storage this week, and it’s a hassle to have them here anylonger.”

Brent wore his long-suffering look. “Fine. I know what this is really aboutanyway.”

“I don’t think you do. This is about the fact that I’ve asked you three times to take your stuff, so it’s time totakeit.”

“And it has nothing to do with finding out that I’m engaged to Margaret? It’s not like you told me you were dating now. He’s kind of young,isn’the?”

“Brent, let’s not do this. If I were doing something serious—like getting married—I would tell you. But I’m sure you don’t want to know whenever I go out onadate.”

“It looked like more than that to me. He had his hands alloveryou.”

I held up my hand. “Stop! I’m trying really hard not to arguewithyou.”

I moved closer to him, and my voice softened. “Brent, we were married, and we have two amazing kids—that’s never going to change. And you know what? I’m always going to care about you. I hope that you and Margaret will be very happy. But I would really appreciate hearing big news directlyfromyou.”

My calmness lowered his defences. “I’m sorry, Jacks. It just happened. We talked about getting married, but we haven’t bought a ring or anything. Margaret’s fussy about jewellery, so she wants to choose it herself. Anyway, it was kind of unofficial, so I was surprised to hear her introduce me that way. She feels competitive with Amanda Richardson for somereason.”

“Okay. That’s good to know.” It was an excuse I was willing to accept, whether or not itwastrue.

“And I’ll admit I was being a jerk tonight. Thanks for being sounderstanding.”

He raised his hand towards my cheek. For one alarming moment I thought he was going to kiss me, but either my expression or the existence of Margaret and Leo put a stoptothat.

“Show me where the boxes are, and I’ll put them inthecar.”

I helped him take everything out. He slammed the trunk and smiled at me. “So, are you serious about thisLeoguy?”

“Brent, as I said, if something serious happens, I’ll tell you. Until then, my personal life is my ownbusiness.”

He pouted for a moment, then grinned. “Well, tell him from me, he’s aluckyguy.”

28

A Whale ofaTime

Leo

“What’s wrong,Minou?”Charlotte had been quiet ever since I brought her home from Jackie’s place. “Did something happen at yourartcamp?”

She looked down at her bedtime snack, which she had barelytouched. “No.”

“What’swrongthen?”

After a long pause, she looked up at me. Her eyes were filled with tears. “I want to stay here. I want to go to the cabin with Hannah andTristan.”

Jackie’s kids had been talking about their vacation nonstop for the past week. They were moving out of their house, then spending two weeks in a rented cottage in the GulfIslands.

“Sweetheart, you can’t invite yourself to their cottage. There’s not going to beenoughroom.”

“There is. I saw photos and it’s huge. Besides, there is extra room. Sharon was supposed to come, but she can’t now because her client is dumb-A-F. What doesthatmean?”

“Err, I’m not sure. Maybe it’s extra dumb.” At least Sharon wasn’t cursing in front of Charlotte. If she returned to Sophie with a potty-mouth, I would beblamed.

“But yourMamanmisses you very much, don’t you want to see her?” Sophie had docked in San Diego two days earlier and Facetimed Charlotterightaway.

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