Sadie waved. “I will. Promise.”

She buckled Lincoln into his car seat and drove to their favorite park, the one that overlooked the ocean.

“Yay! We go swing now!”

She gave him a tickle, setting him in the baby swing and pushing him gently.

“Higher, Mommy! Higher!”

Sadie daydreamed about the pie shop as she pushed Lincoln on the swing set, lost in her own little world. And how perfect that Essie had mentioned Little Acorns! She would have never thought Lincoln was old enough, and she was certain he would love the interaction with other children his age, not to mention all the activities.

Maybe they even taught the children a second language. Now wouldn’t that be something? Even Annette would be impressed if Lincoln suddenly began speaking French at the dinner table.

“Plus de jus, s’il vous plaît,” Lincoln would say, his pronunciation perfect.

“Mon Dieu!” Annette would gasp.

Sadie would take a delicate sip of her white wine, the new baby sleeping docilely in her arms, and smile, “Why yes! Didn’t we mention Lincoln is now bilingual?”

Perfect.

She’d talk to Ethan tonight.

She was going to finally tell him about the pie shop idea, especially now that there was a childcare option for Lincoln. She sent her husband a quick text.

Hi! What time are you getting home tonight?

Bad news… I’m not. Stuck in Boston for the night, forgot to mention it. SORRY!

She stopped and simply stared at his words.

Was he really stuck? Was he really “SORRY”?

And was Ethan even going to be receptive of the pie shop? He seemed to take pride in telling people that Sadie stayed at home with Lincoln, that he was able to support their little family on his sole income. Plus, he talked about his Cincinnati childhood like he’d been raised in Mayberry, always raving about the brownies his mom would have waiting for the children after school and how she was always around for homework help.

“Mommy! No stop push!”

“Whoops. Sorry, sweetie.” Sadie gave Lincoln a few extra generous pushes. “Wow! Look how high you’re going!”

Sadie watched her giggling toddler soar, all the while completely lost in her own thoughts.

But Ethan had always been very supportive of Sadie’s design skills. She knew he believed in her. But would he think she could manage balancing everything?

She honestly didn’t know. But she never used to be the kind of woman who asked permission for anything. She took what she wanted and wrangled her dreams into submission.

Maybe it was time to be that woman again.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Renee rummaged through her top dresser drawer.

She must look unhinged, her hair flying every which way, her pale pink pedicure was still drying, and most of her wardrobe was spread across the bed.

She held up a pair of white cotton briefs for inspection.

Functional, yes. Sexy? Nope.