Regan walked to the table and sat down across from Madeline. “Aside from you, he couldn’t have done better.”

The thought should have brought her some comfort, but instead her heart ached. She wondered when things had gone so wrong for them so long ago. He shouldn’t have to be moving on at all. Madeline should have always been the better choice. Why had they decided they weren’t good for each other? It was certainly too late now, wasn’t it?

Chapter Nine

Carlos drove down the street where he’d lived with Madeline years ago. There was still a pain that pierced his chest, knowing he’d only be driving away to head to another home. For now, he’d take the time he had and visit with his ex-wife and his kids, and be grateful that he’d escaped his own house, which had been draped in pink by his sisters for Kathy’s bridal shower. But in the backseat, Tyler slept in his carrier. Carlos had been given the important task of babysitting so that Regan could keep some sanity about her, and dry boobs, he’d been reminded.

He pulled up in front of Madeline’s house and smiled when he saw his boys in the driveway playing basketball.

“Hey, Dad!” Christian waved. “Wanna shoot some hoops?”

“Maybe in just a bit,” he answered as he ducked back into the car and unbuckled Tyler’s car seat from the backseat.

“Oh, you’re the babysitter today?” Christian held the ball under his arm as he walked closer to the car to peek at the baby. “Hey, Cuz, what’s up?” Tyler smiled and Christian nudged his father’s arm. “Hey did you see that? He smiled at me.”

“I think it’s just gas.”

“Funny, Dad.” He went back to shooting the ball at the hoop as Eduardo helped Carlos with the diaper bag.

“I think he looks just like Aunt Regan.”

“I think so too. But don’t tell Audrey that. She thinks he looks just like Zach.”

“Everyone has an opinion,” he laughed as he opened the door for his dad. “How come you brought him here?”

“I needed to be absent from the party, and I thought your mom would enjoy seeing him.”

“I think that will make her day.”

The sight of Madeline sitting on the couch, her feet tucked under her, and not one compress in sight warmed him. Her white cotton T-shirt had a scooped neck, and he could see the proud swell of her breasts. Obviously, by the choice in her clothing, she was pleased with the results. Different levels of excitement ran though his body. Of course he was as happy about her having new breasts as she’d seemed to be by letting them peek through her shirt. But there was always that side to him that still got stirred up at just the sight of her, and not just her chest.

It had been four weeks since her surgery and he knew, from talking to the kids, that she was finally getting back the mobility in her arms.

She was wearing a bright orange scarf on her head, and he was pretty sure she had on makeup.

Carlos walked into the living room and set the baby carrier down. “I brought you a visitor, I hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh my goodness,” she said, moving quickly toward the baby. “Look how big he’s already gotten.”

“Mom, do you think he looks just like Zach?” Eduardo asked as his father unbuckled him from the seat and picked him up.

“Not one bit. He looks just like Regan.”

“That’s what I think.”

Carlos held him to his shoulder, adjusted him, and turned to Madeline. “Do you think you can hold him?”

“I’d love to try. Will you sit right next to us in case I need you?”

It all seemed so familiar. They’d shared a moment like this once, but it’d been their own baby they’d cradled and admired. He let his emotions settle before he spoke. “Of course.”

Madeline held out her arms and Carlos laid Tyler in them gently. He then slid up right next to her, placing his arm around her shoulders, keeping a hand on Tyler for support.

Carlos watched his children all filter into the room. Clara didn’t move toward Tyler as she normally would. Eduardo and Christian stood back, and they all just watched.

He looked back down at Tyler, who was awake and smiling up at Madeline, holding tight to her finger. The look on Madeline’s face was priceless, and he knew they all saw the same thing. She looked like she was glowing.

The color in her skin was almost back to normal. The smile on her lips was radiant. The optimism in the room was infectious. He realized, aside from his precious nephew, it was just his family in the room. His children and their mother and him. Peace filled the room. Madeline had tilted her head and rested it against his, and his hand rested gently on her shoulder. Never had he felt with such comfort with anyone else, not like he did with Madeline. That thought hit him. But there was someone else. There was Kathy—and while he was sharing moments with his ex-wife Kathy was celebrating their future.

When Tyler became fussy, Carlos reached for him. “I’ll take him.”

“Oh, please don’t. He’s just hungry. Perhaps you could make him a bottle.”

Carlos rose from the couch and went to make Tyler’s bottle. He was glad he had a reason to release Madeline from his arms and get his thoughts in order.

He wasn’t surprised to find step-by-step instructions in the bag. Regan, even though she wasn’t officially an executive assistant anymore, kept everyone around her organized and on track.

Carlos made Tyler a bottle and then resumed his position next to Madeline so she could feed him. But this time he left some space between them.

She took the bottle and set it to Tyler’s lips. “Thank you for bringing him. This is wonderful. I needed this.”

“I thought it would be good for you.”

“Look at my face,” she said, turning to him. “Do you notice anything?”

She turned her face from side to side and smiled.

It took him a few moments of contemplation. “Your eyebrows grew back.”

“Yes!” She smiled wider. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

“You look great. You really do.”

“I feel great. At my last appointment they said my blood work looked good. My cell count is back up and normal, and there are no signs of cancer.”

“So you’re in remission?”

“They won’t say it until I finish my treatment next month, but yeah, it looks like maybe I am.”