“Sorry. I didn’t mean that.” She was still drunk, but she knew she was going to be embarrassed in the morning.

“I’m going to take off. I’ll leave your key under the front mat so I can lock the door.”

“I don’t want you to go.” She reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his. “Would you sing to me?”

“Hunter—”

“Please, just one song. Then you can go.”

“What do you want me to sing?”

Chapter 19

19

“What did he say?” Lina asked when Phil finished a call with Wayne the following day. They had just started the drive home, and she felt exhausted, the emotional stress from the evening before sapping all her reserves.

“The same thing Diane told you. There were only a handful of direct witnesses, but everyone knew what happened within thirty minutes. Apparently you were the excitement of the wedding. Besides the bride and groom, of course.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“It was harder than I expected,” Lina said as she looked out the window. “Seeing her, I mean.”

“Don’t think about her.”

“That’s a little easier said than done.”

As soon as Lina saw Adele’s and Shiloh’s cars in front of their house, she remembered the barbeque Alice had planned and felt her whole body tense up. She wasn’t up for a family party.

“We have everything under control,” Alice said as soon as Lina and Phil stepped out of the mudroom into the kitchen. “Your father and Adele have agreed to handle the grill, and I’m taking care of everything else.”

“How was the weekend?” Lina asked.

“Fine, fine.” She turned her back to them as she continued to cut vegetables. “Hello, Phillip.”

“Alice,” he replied.

“You’re back,” Shiloh said as she came in from the deck. “How was the wedding?”

“Good,” Lina lied.

“Is it okay if Julian comes over?”

“No,” Phil said shortly. “He isn’t allowed in this house.”

“He’s my husband.”

“I’m sorry, Shi. My children aren’t going to be subjected to him.”

“He apologized and—”

“No,” Phil repeated. “I know you’ve forgiven him, and that’s your prerogative, but I don’t have to. He isn’t welcome here. I’m taking these upstairs,” he told Lina, lifting the bags slightly before leaving the room.

“So that’s it?” Shiloh asked as soon as Phil was out of earshot. “He’s never allowed here again? What about Christmas?”

“I’m sorry,” Lina said. “He’s not going to change his mind.”

“How can he not forgive him? He of all people should know about mistakes. At least Julian didn’t get another woman pregnant.”

“Shiloh!” Lina gasped.

“He has no right to judge Julian,” Shiloh said. “Not when he’s—”

“Shiloh, please—the kids don’t know,” Lina whispered, her cheeks turning red. “Please don’t talk about it.”