She knew what the boy meant.

The wonder wisped away, replaced by fear. “Do you think he’s disappointed that I don’t play sports and have a million girlfriends and stuff?”

“No. I don’t. Not one bit. I know I’m your mum and all, but he sees what I do: a fabulous, smart, talented kid. You’re musical, just like he is.”

“Like you are, too. I got it from you first.”

Oh, he was determined to make her cry. She shook her head and kissed his forehead again. “You got it from both of us, I’d wager. Anyway, I get the feeling he likes you for you, not for your potential RBI. He’s a decent man, from what I can tell. He’s your dad, he’s going to love you for you.”

“Are you sad? That you have to share me? ’Cause, Mum, I still love you best.”

She laughed, squeezing his hand. “Right back at you. And mother-love doesn’t work that way. I love you because you’re my son. He loves you for that reason too. It’s hard to open our lives up to a stranger. I worried, I’ll admit that. As long as he respects our life and works with me like he should, like I should with him, things will be fine. This isn’t about me anyway, it’s about you. I never like sharing! You know how I am about my crisps, and you’re far more important to me than that.”

He snuggled down in his blankets, a smile on his face that made her feel a lot better.

“Sweet dreams. I’ll see you in the morning.” She stood.

“Love you,” she called as she trailed down the hall and toward the stairs.

“You too, Mum.”

8

Adrian stood at his car for long moments once he’d gotten outside before he finally gave in and called Erin. It was late. She was a mom, but he knew she’d be waiting for an update.

“God, it’s about time,” she said as she answered. “So. Tell me.”

“It’s really, really good. He’s an amazing kid. Sweet. Heart-on-his-sleeve kind of sweet. He’s got all these strays.” He laughed. “Four cats. Christ. Gillian seems to just roll with it. I’m going to stay over here and have French toast in the morning.”

“I’m so happy for you. I really can’t wait to get to know him. Invite him and Gillian too, for dinner next weekend. He’ll feel better if she’s with him the first time, and I think it’s wise to include her. I like her.”

He did too. A whole hell of a lot.

“I do too. I’ll ask them both. Plan something at my place, invite the immediate family.”

“Do it here so Todd can grill. You know how he loves that damned thing. Anyway, yes, it’ll be a birthday party.”

Adrian had to clear his throat to get past the emotion from that statement. “Yeah. Exactly. Thanks. I’m going to go. I just ducked out to get my bag. I’ll call Brody right now so he won’t worry.”

“Good. He called once to ask if I’d heard from you yet. I love you. Come over when you get back so you can tell me all about it, okay?”

“I will. Love you too.”

He hung up and called his brother, giving Brody the same info and promising to get together when he got back home.

Standing there in her yard on her big lawn with its beautiful view of the water in the distance, he could see the stars so bright above. His breath misted around his face as he turned to go back inside.

He liked her house. It had an easy feel to it. She had a few really great antique pieces. A sideboard served as an informal divider between the dining room and the kitchen while still leaving it open. The chest serving as her coffee table probably sat in someone’s attic for a good thirty or forty years until it got put out at a garage sale.

There was a lot of color on the walls. A deep but bright yellow in the kitchen. The bathroom he’d used was blue. Miles’s bedroom had a ceiling painted blue. He liked that about her.

The space they lived in was eclectic and vibrant, just like, he was beginning to discover, Gillian was.

“Clearly you’ve got a green thumb,” he said, pleased to find her coming into the room. Plants hung and perched, they popped up on windowsills, on tables and shelves. Everywhere.

“Well, it’s been a trial sometimes. Miles and his cats.” She rolled her eyes, but the affection was written all over her. “Lord above. One of them, Fat Lucy, well, she’s a plant eater so I had to be sure all the plants I have in the main areas and on the patio are nontoxic. Lucky for her, Jones protects her and swats at her big dumb head when she gets near something she’s not supposed to be near.” She grabbed the bottle of wine and two glasses. “Still up for a fire outside? You don’t have to. You must be tired and maybe just a little shell-shocked by all this.”

“I’d like that, though it’s really cold out there.”

“Grab that blanket right there.” She indicated the blanket with the tip of her chin.

He followed her out the back and across a deck. “This is great.”

“Thanks. This place was rickety when we first bought it. Over the years we’ve added things. Painted. Replaced windows. All that stuff. We have friends over a lot so it’s nice to have a good outdoor space.”

She drew him down the steps and toward a paved, circular fire pit surrounded by chairs and benches. One flick of the switch and a fire sprouted merrily. She smiled and sat on a small bench, putting the wine and glasses down. A black cat streaked through the yard, rubbing across her legs on the way.