It said you’re welcome to be there, take a seat, relax and enjoy.

It was me.

I kept rolling cookies, putting them on the baking sheet and blathering to my children.

“Tomorrow, I’m taking you out shopping.” I shook my head and a doughy hand at them and went on, “Don’t lose it on me, but I don’t want you to have to lug bags here and back to your dad’s. We’re talking shampoo. Curling irons. Pajamas. Some clothes if you want. Things like that. I just want you to do what you can in the short time we have to make this feel like your home. So that’s what we’re doing.”

I wanted that. I thought it was a good thing to do. Both of my kids liked shopping, even Auden. And I wanted them to feel when they came to me they were coming home.

I also wanted to take them to Dove House.

However, as sad as it was to admit, I didn’t know if they’d be as charming and respectful of the old folks as Aisling and Cillian were.

I did know that they would not be affectionate and respectful to me and I didn’t want the residents seeing that. I also didn’t want it to confuse them, considering Aisling and Cillian weren’t my kids and they had been both.

“We’ll go out to dinner and a movie tomorrow too,” I kept going. “Then, on Sunday, I found this place that does really amazing outdoor furniture. It’s not close, about an hour and a half drive, but that’s where we’re going.”

I put a ball of dough on the sheet and looked their way to see they hadn’t moved. Olympia was watching my hands. Auden was watching me.

I didn’t stop talking.

“I know that the weather is going to turn here soon so I probably shouldn’t worry about the deck until next year.” I grinned. “But I haven’t had weather in a long time. I’m looking forward to it. And knowing what it was like in Boston and Lexington, I know by the time summer rolls around again I’ll want to be ready to enjoy that deck right away.”

My kids said nothing.

I still didn’t quit talking.

“So that’s it. Those are our plans for this weekend. Sound good?”

“Did Dad shout at you?” Auden asked tersely.

I froze at his question, except my eyes slid to my daughter to see she was shuffling her feet and rolling her lips.

She’d told her brother what she’d heard.

I looked back to Auden, not even knowing how to begin to handle this.

“Yes, honey,” I answered honestly.

His jaw went hard and his Adam’s apple bobbed before he bit out, “He came here and got in your face.”