I know what she means. It’s a tough balance between being in Paige’s life and stepping on Emily’s toes. So far we’ve been managing it. But Jane and I are always going to be a symbol of her old life—the one she had while she was on the run.

Emily deserves a trip to Paris without all that hanging over her head.

“I’d have gone, too,” I say. “But I wouldn’t want to miss this sunset with you.”

The ocean waves lap against the shore. A gull takes off into the air, calling as it goes.

“It feels right to me,” Jane says. “Being here with you. I’m glad we have a new house. I miss Paige so much, but… what we have here doesn’t feel incomplete. Am I making any sense?”

“Yes. I miss the hell out of her. We’re not broken, though.”

Though I worry about what will happen if Jane really decides not to go to college on campus. I don’t want her to resent me for it later. I want her to make the best choice for her, even if things have to be different for a few years.

“She must be so excited,” Jane says. “Disneyland. You think Emily’s going to like it?”

“She’ll be there with Mateo.”

“That’s what I mean. You think they can go on a vacation together?”

“I think Mateo is an oversized kid who still loves theme parks. They’ve been spending more time together, anyway. He went over to watch the interview with Emily.”

“He should just build a house between our two. Then he wouldn’t have to travel so far between properties.”

“I think he’d much rather move into the Coach House.”

Her eyebrows go up. “Do you think Mateo’s interested in Emily?”

“I know he is.”

“But he was always so caustic with her.”

“He’s charming all the time, to everyone. It only stands to reason that the one time he’s not, it’s because he doesn’t know how to handle his feelings.”

“Men,” she says, shaking her head. She brushes a kiss to my cheek. “The interview was terrible. I’m glad Emily had someone to watch with her.”

“Joe’s an asshole. The least he could do is stop trying to use her as leverage. It’s going to affect Paige, too. I blame him. And the news. Goddamn vultures don’t care how it impacts the victims.”

“I don’t even know what I’d do in that situation.” The sun sinks lower, and Jane’s thoughtful. “With the interviews and the press. And having a child.”

“It makes things more complicated.”

“I think…” She lets out a breath. “I think I would like it. Becoming a mother, I mean.”

I close my arms around her and hold her closer. “You would?”