Tobias felt his spine stiffen. Even when Jill was trying to be supportive, she managed to irritate him. As far as he was concerned, she had to be missing a sensitivity gene to say anything about Susan. But she was on her third glass of wine, so that probably explained it. When he’d suggested, after the second glass, that she stop, she’d scowled at him and said, “Oh, my God. Don’t try to tell me what to do tonight. It’s Christmas.”

He’d dropped it since he was driving, he didn’t want her to make a scene in the restaurant and she’d get drunk after he left regardless; so it probably wasn’t that big a deal that she was starting while she was with him.

“She’s treated Maddox like a doormat ever since he married Jada,” she complained.

Tobias took another bite of his vegetable delight.

“And although I don’t want to discuss it, we both know why. At least she’s being nicer now,” he added, trying to keep the conversation focused on the positive.

“I wonder why,” she mused, seemingly sincere in her puzzlement. “The turnaround was so sudden.”

Tobias hadn’t told anyone, except Maddox and Jada, that he’d visited Susan’s store or that she’d brought him cookies afterward as if something he’d said had finally gotten through to her. He’d thought it might embarrass her after all the terrible things she’d said about him. She had a lot of pride, and he was willing to respect that. As long as she continued to treat Maddox more kindly, he was going to stay out of her way and hope that nothing interfered with how things were going. “It’s Christmas Eve,” he pointed out. “The first Christmas I’ve been able to spend with my family since I was seventeen. Do we have to talk about Susan?”

“No, of course not. Especially when you seem to be doing so well. What’s been happening in your life lately? How’s work?”

He thought of the beauty of his hike this morning, the goal he’d set for himself with Atticus, how much he enjoyed his job and respected his employer, how relieved he was that Susan’s heart seemed to be softening—and the last text he’d received from Harper. “It’s good. I feel great.”

“I’m so glad you’re finally out of prison. Just think, last year we couldn’t do this.”

Of course she’d think it was great to have him out of prison. Now she had someone else she could turn to for help besides Maddox.