Page 61 of The P Arrangement

She did a double take when she saw what I held. “It didn’t seem right to get rid of them,” she whispered.

I rubbed my forefinger and thumb together, making her wedding and engagement rings sparkle when they caught the light from the streetlights behind us.

I put it back—right side up—closed the lid, and put the box in her hand. “You don’t have to explain it to me. I’m just glad whoever broke into your house didn’t get them.”

Her eyes softened. “Me too.”

And because she was feeling so vulnerable, I wanted to make her feel better, so I told her, “When we get home, you can put it in my safe, right next to mine.”

TWENTY-THREE

DELANEY

Preston tookme to his house, tucked me into his bed, wrapped me in his arms, and held me all night. I didn’t think I would sleep because my mind was racing, but I fell hard and didn’t wake up once during the night.

The next morning, he volunteered to pick Paxton up from my sister’s, but I knew I would have to face her sooner or later, so I told him I’d get him myself. I threw on some clothes, borrowed Preston’s truck, and headed over there.

I knew I looked like crap, but I’d already called into work, and I didn’t feel like doing anything more than I had to. After being at the conference for three days, doing my presentation, traveling, and having my house broken into, I was mentally drained. I just wanted to pick up my son, take him home, and snuggle with him all day. Or at least as much as a two-and-a-half-year-old would let me.

When I got to my sister’s, I braced myself for a lecture, but when I walked inside, Natalie came running and threw her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Her surprise reaction had me relaxing in her embrace. “I wasn’t home when it happened.”

Letting me go, she said, “But you could have been.”

“Maybe. The cops said they probably scoped out my place, and when they realized I wasn’t home, they broke in.”

Natalie shivered. “Ooh, just thinking about it creeps me out.” She winced. “I’m sorry.”

“No. It creeps me out too.” I hated the thought that strangers had come into my home and touched and stolen my things. “I don’t know if I’ll ever feel safe there again.”

“You could always move.”

“Yeah.”

I’d only owned the house for a year. I’d rented for six months after I left Preston. When our divorce had gone through, I had known I had to decide what I wanted to do for my immediate future, so I’d purchased a house. To turn around and sell it so soon would be a pain in the ass. I probably wouldn’t break even with what I owed and what I made on the house. But I honestly didn’t know if I could stay there again, so selling might be my only option.

However, I was less than twenty-four hours away from discovering the break-in. I might feel better in a couple of days or even a week.

“We’ll see what happens,” I told my sister.

“Let me know what you need help with. I’m sure insurance will want pictures of everything along with the police report. I can help you with all of that.”

“Thank you. I guess you’re a pretty okay sister.”

Natalie stuck her tongue out at me, and I laughed.

She hugged me again, and I asked, “Where’s Paxton?”

“Paxton, your mom is here!” she yelled with a grin on her face. In a normal voice, she said, “I was happy to keep him last night, but I could tell he was bummed about not seeing you.”

The pounding of little footsteps started from the back of the house and got louder as they moved closer. A few seconds later, my precious baby came around the corner and came barreling straight for me.

He launched himself at me, and I caught him, pulling him into a bear hug.

“Oh, my baby. I missed you sooooo much.”

Paxton hugged my neck tight. “I missed you too, Mommy.”

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