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She shook her head, beaming at him. “You are such a sweetheart, but I’m okay. I want to finish this laundry now that I’ve started it. And besides, I know you’re just as tired as I am.”

They shared a smile. They were cleaning up the house together after another long day. Grayson was cleaning baby bottles at the sink in the kitchen, and Alexis was standing by the kitchen table as she folded laundry on it. The house was still a mess, but at least they were putting a dent in all of the work that needed to be done. She felt grateful that he was being such a help to her. She knew a lot of men would have considered all of the house and baby work her job, especially since she wasn’tworking at the pub for the time being. Her heart stirred with love for him as she thought about what a considerate, caring husband he was.

She watched him as he set the clean baby bottles into the dish drainer, thinking to herself that she should do something nice for him again, like their surprise fun evening that had ended in both of them sleeping on the couch. She chuckled at the memory.

Grayson paused in his work and pulled his phone out of his pocket. She watched as he casually checked the notification he’d gotten, and then his eyes widened in surprise.

“Hey, Alexis!”

“Yes, hon?” Whatever notification he’d gotten, it had both shocked and delighted him. She hadn’t seen him look that animated since Cash had been in his arms for the first time.

“You remember Lewis Mackenzie, right?”

“Oh my gosh, of course. Is he the person who texted you?”

Lewis Mackenzie had been one of their good friends in L.A. He had worked with Grayson, and they’d often attended parties together. She and Grayson had lost touch with most of their L.A. friends, and it had been a long time since they’d heard from Lewis.

“He is.” Grayson grinned. “And you’ll never guess what he told me.”

“What?”

“He’s in town.”

Alexis’s jaw dropped. “What, really? What is he doing in Rosewood Beach?”

“Well, he’s not really staying here long term or anything like that. Sounds like he chose Rosewood Beach as a pitstop on his way to Portland because he remembered that we live here. He’s doing a business deal for the development company he’s working for now, and his path to Portland takes him through ourneck of the woods.” He grinned down at the text. “Gosh, I’d love to see him.”

“Is he asking to meet up?” Alexis asked curiously. Their friendship with Lewis felt like a lifetime ago, and she wondered if she would feel like he was a total stranger if she saw him again.

“He is,” Grayson said, looking up from typing a response to Lewis. “I mean, it sounds like that’s why he booked a room at the inn here. He was planning on stopping somewhere halfway through his trip, but he picked our town because he was hoping to see us. He says he wants to meet up for old time’s sake.” He looked down at his phone and then looked up again as if a thought had just occurred to him. “Is that good with you?”

Alexis shrugged. “Oh, sure. I’m just surprised. We haven’t seen him in a long time so I wouldn’t expect him to reach out, but it’ll be fun to catch up! We can show off our cute little town and our cute little baby.” She laughed.

Grayson grinned. “Sounds perfect. I’ll suggest that we all meet for lunch tomorrow at The Lighthouse Grill. Does that sound good to you?”

“Sounds great.” She smiled back at him and turned back to the laundry.

For a few minutes, her mind was on Lewis and the surprise of his unexpected visit, but her thoughts soon turned toward all of the things she needed to do. There were still baby toys on the floor of the living room, and she needed to vacuum and sweep the floors. Cash seemed to make a mess everywhere he went those days, and she hadn’t felt caught up on cleaning in weeks.

For a moment, her old life in L.A. flashed into her mind. Late in the evenings when she lived there, she would have been taking a bubble bath or doing her multiple-step skincare routine. If not at home, she and Grayson would have been out at an expensive restaurant or hot new club.

She shook her head, chuckling. It was so strange to think of those past times. On the surface, her life had looked incredible, but she’d felt distance between herself and her husband, and she hadn’t had any real friends she could truly count on. She’d been lonely—whereas now, her life might be messy and less glamorous, but it was filled with joy.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that I ever had another job besides chasing stray Cheerios and trying to find one missing baby sock to match the other,she thought with a sentimental smile.Even though our time in L.A. feels like a lifetime ago, I don’t mind that things have changed so much. I’m so glad they have.

She looked down at the piles of laundry that were scattered across her kitchen table and felt a glow of joy in her chest. Her life might not be glamorous anymore, but she couldn’t have been happier.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Julia pushed open the back door and stepped inside her kitchen. She felt tired after work, but she was determined to make the chicken Marsala that she’d promised Cooper for dinner. She’d never made it before, but she knew it was one of his favorites, and she wanted to do something special for him.

I’m so glad we agreed to have a lovely dinner at home this evening,she thought.I’ve been so busy I feel like I hardly have any quality time to spend with Cooper these days.

She poured herself a cup of coffee, reflecting that it was probably her fifth cup of the day, and she should probably start cutting back on caffeine. While she leaned against the counter and sipped the rich, invigorating liquid, she started to think through the recipe she was about to prepare. As she considered it, her eyes roamed across the kitchen table, where her wedding planning materials were strewn haphazardly.

She’d bought all kinds of little goodies to put inside her bridesmaids’ gift bags, in preparation for her bachelorette party, and she got excited as she looked at the piles of face masks, foot scrubs, and other fun girly goodies. She’d purchased a variety of scents for each small gift, and she was planning on choosing specific scents for each of her bridesmaids.

Hazel should get that lemon and lavender candle,she thought, feeling excited.Or, no—maybe Faith would like that scent more.