I’d set them up in the living room, because April had proclaimed she didn’t want to be stuck in her room during the daytime too, and Peyton was still at the age where she did everything her sister said. They were both asleep as I brought them orange juice. April’s favorite Netflix show was still playing on her laptop, which was in a precarious position in her lap. I removed it, careful not to wake them up. They needed sleep. I did too, but a million work emails stood between me and sleep.

My apartment was a mix of ultramodern and classic, but the girls’ touch was visible everywhere. They were messy, but I liked it. My office was the only orderly area. I sat behind my desk, drafting documents for three cases simultaneously. Around noon, the girls woke up, and we ordered in. As we finished, I knew I had to call Val. I’d postponed this for as long as possible, but I couldn’t leave the girls with the nanny this evening. I didn’t like to leave them when they weren’t feeling well.

I’d had plans with Val, and I’d really wanted to see her. I moved into another room to make the call.

“Hey,” I greeted when she picked up.

“Hey.”

“So listen, I know we had plans this evening, and I’m very sorry to cancel them. I can’t leave my apartment today.”

“What happened?”

“The girls have a cold, and I’m working from home.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

“They’re better now, but I don’t want to leave them.”

“I understand, of course.” After a pause, she added, “I can stop by, if you want.”

I hadn’t expected that.

“I’d love that.”

“Do you need anything?”

“No, we’re good. I’ll order dinner in.”

“I can cook something.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“But I’m a great chef.”

“Humble too.”

“Never when it comes to my cooking.”

“Don’t worry, we don’t need anything.”

“Okay if I drop by at seven thirty?”

“Sure.”

It was only after hanging up that I wondered if this was such a great idea. Until now, our encounters had always been light and playful, and I’d kept what I had with Val separate from everything else. Those moments had been in a bubble of their own. What if reality would burst our bubble?

The truth was, I wanted to see Val too much to worry about anything else. We hadn’t spent Thanksgiving together last week, because I flew with the girls to visit my parents.

She arrived at seven thirty on the dot. Peyton was waiting by the front door. She was beside herself with excitement every time she was about to meet someone new, but then when she came face-to-face with said person, she hid.

Predictably, the second I opened the door, Peyton stepped behind my legs.