Page 134 of How Good It Was (Excess All Areas 3)

“I was wrong. So wrong. And I’m happy to admit it. You and me? We work. Doesn’t make sense to anyone else, and it doesn’t have to. And we have the most epic story to tell the kids about how we got to this place.”

“I need your help.”

“Anything, flower. What do you need?”

“I don’t want to go back. I want to stay here with you. I want to move into the three-bed terrace near Nan’s that isn’t in Alderley Edge, or the three-bed upstairs, or just rearrange some furniture in here and stay until we have too many kids to cope with them all. I need to look into what staying here permanently looks like. But I just need to know it’s permanent.”

Luke just looked at her. She couldn’t tell if he was about to laugh or cry.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Will ...” He reached for her hand, just as her phone rang.

“It’s Sasha. I should take it. It’s one in the morning where she is.”

Luke nodded as she answered. “Sasha?”

“Are you sitting down?”

“I am. I’ll just put you on speaker so Luke can hear. Is everything okay?”

“Your friend, Riley, went to the police. Her father went with her. Charges are going to be pressed. Your father’s original lawyers walked yesterday morning. His new lawyers advised him to settle with you. I have the draft agreement. His starting offer is ten million dollars. I know that’s only half of what you asked for, so I wondered what you wanted to do.”

Willow’s heart beat louder than one of Luke’s drums when he was practicing. Ten million.

Riley. “Is she okay?”

“I’m not part of the case, but Riley’s father called me. He apologised and said he didn’t blame you for blocking her, but he wanted you to know they were both willing to do what they needed to so the truth came out.”

It matched the messages and made her rethink the timing of that call to them.

A part of her thought about reaching out to Riley to make sure she was okay, but decided she’d leave Riley alone until she was certain her behaviour and spending had changed.

She looked at Luke. “What do you think we should do?”

“Honestly? We don’t need the money. We never did. And what were you just saying before the call? You’re pregnant and want to enjoy it. If we pursue things with your dad, it will cloud every day of our lives until it’s resolved. We have everything we need right here. I didn’t spend a penny of the money you gave me, either. It’s in a savings account for a rainy day.”

“You didn’t?” She palmed his cheek.

“No. It’s yours. And for Cletus.”

“Zale.”

“Whatever. It’s you, me, and our baby. So, yeah. Massage it. See how far you can push your dad. But settle, flower, so we can get on with the rest of our lives.”

Willow leaned forward and pressed her forehead to Luke’s shoulder, sighing as he wrapped his arm around her. “Luke’s right,” she said, finally. “See how high he’ll go, then settle. The house is worth over twenty million. My guess is his offer of ten is simply based on selling it and splitting the funds. But I know he has a lot of cash and investments. Tell him fifteen and he has a deal.”

“Smart move, Willow. I’ll be in touch when it’s done.”

The phone disconnected.

Luke smiled. “Let’s go through the checklist.”

“Checklist?”

“Humour me. We have a name.”

“We do.”

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