“You could be standing in the way of true love. Speaking of which—is Phil still working an insane amount?”

“Not so much,” Lina said, avoiding her eyes. “The trial in New York ended, and he’s been working less.”

“That’s a relief. Do you still have to take sleeping pills when he isn’t with you?”

“Yep.”

“You beat me home,” Lina said after finding Phil in the kitchen. “Why are you so early? It’s barely five.”

“Are you complaining?” He returned her kiss.

“No, definitely not.” She kissed him again, running her hands up the lapels of his suit jacket as she leaned into him.

The sound of the door opening preceded the entrance of eighteen-year-old Megan, and Lina reluctantly dropped her hands as Phil turned away to greet their oldest child.

“There’s the graduate.” He smiled as he gave her a hug.

“Guess what?” Megan’s gaze swung between her parents. “The class elected me to give the keynote speech at graduation!”

“That’s fantastic!” Phil pulled her back into his arms, kissing her on the side of her head. “I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

“Congratulations.” Lina forced a smile, trying to muster enthusiasm for Megan, who seemed to have a new accolade to share daily. “That’s great.”

“Will you help me write it?” Megan asked Phil.

“You don’t need my help, but I’ll read it over after you have a draft.”

“You’re the best.” She gave him another hug. “I just ran into Kelly Donnelly and Mike Stevens,” Megan said. “He’s the one who asked me to prom but I turned down,” she added when she saw the confusion on Phil’s face. “Anyway, he’s taking Kelly, but everyone knows I was his first choice, so it was really awkward.” She scrunched up her face. “I felt sorry for her. I could feel him staring at me. We were at the deli near school, so everyone was there.”

“Watch the ego, Megan,” Lina said.

“What? I’m just telling you what happened.”

The door leading in from the deck opened, and Logan, at fourteen the youngest of the Hunter children, stepped into the kitchen. “Hey, Dad!”

“Logan, you’re wet,” Lina said after seeing the trail of water between the door and the refrigerator. “How many times do I have to tell you to dry off before you leave the pool area?”

“Sorry. I’m thirsty.” He lifted up a water bottle, and gave her a grin that rarely failed to dissipate her anger. Standing a smidgen over six feet and still growing, he was her gentle giant with dark, wavy hair that he was constantly pushing out of his eyes and a smile that seemed to always light up his face.

“You want to play catch?” He was looking at his father as he tossed the water bottle from one hand to the other.

“After dinner,” Phil said.

“Megan,” Lina said, eyeing a bag of chips she’d pulled from the pantry, “we are going to eat soon.”