Two decades, and he’d hardly changed at all. His shoulders had filled out, but his hair was still dark, his eyes still the same ocean blue and his body lean and fit. The world, their relationship, all of it, seemed so different now she was looking back on it with some perspective. And she knew now that it wasn’t something they could just ignore. There were things they had to say to each other. Things she needed to say to him.

No more hiding.

She looked directly at him and ignored the bump of her heart. “Nate, do you still make those incredible pancakes?”

He smiled. “With bacon and maple syrup? Yeah, we make them.”

“Great. We’ll take a stack of those and anything else you think we’ll enjoy. Maybe some fresh berries. Vitamin C.” She reached out a hand and tugged Ashley to her feet. “I hope you’re hungry, because unlike me Nate is a good cook.”

Ashley looked at her. “If we’re really going to eat here, then maybe we should have a quiet table.”

“We don’t want a quiet table. We want the best table, with the best view. Is there room on the deck?” It was like diving into the deep end of a pool.

“The deck?” Ashley’s eyes flew wide. “Everyone would be able to see us.”

Joanna’s heart was thumping so hard she wondered if it was trying to knock sense into her.

“Let them see us. No more hiding.” It wasn’t enough to tell Ashley she wasn’t going to hide anymore. She had to show her, even if it was a test of her acting skills.

“The deck?” Nate was watching her. “You’re sure that’s what you want? I can bring your order in here if you prefer or find you a table inside.”

He knew. Even though they hadn’t seen each other for twenty years, even though he couldn’t possibly know how she felt about things now, he did somehow know.

“The deck would be perfect.”

He nodded and eased away from the wall. “Give me a minute.”

Ashley picked up her purse, and the backpack she’d had with her in the hospital. “You told me not to read what they’d written and I wish I hadn’t. They said I look just like him. Cliff. That I am just like him. And now I’m scared I’m going to be a terrible parent, just like he was.”