“You can’t believe this now, but it’ll go by so fast. He’ll be almost ten before you know what happened. And another thing—he won’t always be as needy as he is now. Before long, he’ll be able to do a lot of things for himself, and you’ll feel like you can breathe again.”

“That’s very helpful. Thank you.”

“Any time. I’ll give you my number. You call me any time you need to talk.”

“That’s really nice of you.”

“I remember being right where you are, and I know how you feel. You’re not alone in this. Caden is so lucky to have a dad who cares so much about getting it right.”

“That’s all I want—is to get it right and to make sure he has the best possible life.”

“If those are your goals, you’re already a wonderful dad.”

“You really think so?”

His insecurity was so very endearing. “I know so.” She picked up his cell phone from the table and added her number to his contacts. “You call me any time you need a single-parent friend. Okay?”

“I will. Thank you so much, Emma.”

“Happy to help, and thanks for not ratting me out to Mom and Dad,” she said with a wink.

“If you only knew the secrets I’ve kept in this house. You think it’s easy being the youngest of ten?”

“You wear it well. I’m going to bed.” She nodded to Caden. “Looks like you’re good to go for a while, too. Sleep when he does.”

“That’s what everyone says.”

“Night, Max.”

“Night.”

Emma crept up the stairs and peeked into Simone’s room to check on her before going to her own room and closing the door, breathing a sigh of relief not to have encountered Molly or Lincoln.

As she got ready for bed, she thought about her conversation with Max as well as the night she’d spent with Grayson, the things he’d said, how he wished she and Simone could move to Vermont. It was funny how that never would’ve crossed her mind until she came for Christmas, met Colton’s incredible cousin and had her orderly little world turned upside down.

She tiptoed across the hall to use the bathroom and brush her teeth, finally breathing easier when she was tucked into the comfortable bed in Hannah’s old room. Sleep proved elusive, however, as she allowed herself to entertain the tempting fantasy that Grayson had suggested. They could move to Vermont. She could find another job here. The Abbotts and Colemans knew everyone. Surely they could help her find something. They would have Lucy back in their daily lives, along with Colton and his big family.