She’s definitely right about that. He’s also going to pay for this weekend in so many ways. After a moment, Jessica rocks back on her feet and starts to move around the room.

“God, it’s been so long since I’ve been anywhere close to here.”

“You didn’t travel to the beach?” I ask.

“I did, but not this beach.”

I haven’t either. It’s been almost fifteen years since I stepped foot here. After we broke up, I tried, but the memories are everywhere. My siblings would come, and I’d have some reason to avoid it. Most of the time, the excuse was valid, but the truth was that it was too difficult.

“Why not? This house is . . .”

“Ours.” The word slips out, but I should’ve kept my damn mouth shut. It’s just that being here, standing in this place that we would sneak away to when life was too much, is making me remember.

Jessica stares at me, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. “I was going to say special.”

“It is special.”

“Gray . . .”

Amelia rushes in, holding Jack’s hand and pulling him along. “Hey, you two.”

“Uncle Jack, this is my room.”

He grins at his goddaughter. “It’s a pretty awesome one. I wanted the pink room, though.”

She giggles. “No, silly, you can sleep in the room with the bunk beds.”

“Bunk beds?” Jack looks affronted. “Who is going to sleep in the bottom bunk?”

“Daddy!”

“You have it all worked out, huh?” I ask her.

She nods once, walks over to Jessica, and directs her to the bed. “You and Uncle Jack can sleep in the bunk beds, and that way, Miss Jessica and Miss Delia get their own rooms. It’s what the boys should do.”

Jess grins as she looks at my daughter. “I think that’s a great idea. You are a very smart little girl.”

“I know. My daddy says I’m like Auntie Stella.”

A laugh escapes her lips. “Then you are going to be a handful.”

“What’s a handful mean?”

“It means that you’re perfect and are going to make life very fun for your daddy,” Jessica explains.

“I like you.”

“I like you too.”

Amelia turns to me. “You can marry her, Daddy.”

I nearly choke while Jack breaks out in laughter and Jess’s eyes go wide. “I didn’t . . . she has these . . .” I search for the words and then give up. “No one is getting married. Let’s get the house done so we can go swim, how does that sound?”

She jumps off the bed and places her hand in Jessica’s. “Come on, Miss Jessica, I’ll show you the house.”

Jessica knows this house better than anyone. Amelia has never even been here, but Jess goes along, letting Amelia pull her around. Jack claps his hand on my shoulder.

“You are so fucked, my friend. So fucked.”