When we stopped, he put a hand light to my hip and bent deep, touching his mouth briefly to mine.

When he lifted away, he murmured, “Hey.”

“Hey back,” I replied quietly.

His eyes kept smiling then he took his hand from my hip and turned to the kids.

“Okay, I think we all know each other but let’s make that official,” I suggested. “Auden, Pippa, this is Mickey. Mickey, these are my kids, Auden and Olympia.”

I did hand gestures along the way as Auden pushed in first, offering his hand to Mickey.

“Hello, sir,” he said formally, which made Pippa widen her eyes and look at me.

I pressed my lips together, giving her wide eyes back, as Mickey took my son’s hand and replied, “Mickey’s fine, Auden.”

“Right,” Auden muttered as he let go.

“Hey!” Pippa cried brightly, hopping toward him, beaming up at him and offering a hand.

I watched her do this, allowing myself a brief moment of sheer joy that my girl was back.

Mickey took her hand and replied, “Hey.”

They separated and Pippa tipped her head to the flowers and offered, “Do you want me to take those? I can put them in water for Mom.”

Mickey lifted the massive bouquet of green hydrangeas, peach roses and red gerbera daisies to Pippa and said, “Sure, darlin’. Thanks.”

She took them in both hands, pulling them to her chest, before she beamed at me and skipped away.

“Can I get you a drink, Mickey?” Auden asked.

“Yeah, thanks. A beer,” Mickey answered.

Auden nodded and moved away.

I looked to Mickey. He looked to me. Then he moved in close, sliding a hand to the middle of my back.

“You doin’ okay?” he asked under his breath.

“I’m a wreck,” I told him under mine.

“Don’t mean to freak you, Amy, but you aren’t hiding that.”

“Great,” I mumbled and he grinned.

“It’s cute.”

“It doesn’t feel cute.”

“Relax,” he replied. “I already know you got good kids. This is gonna go fine.”

It seemed so far he was right. I just hoped it kept up that way.

“The flowers were a nice touch,” I shared.

“Got that. Your girl is as easy to read as you.”

I felt my face get soft.

“Uh…Mom,” Pippa called. I jumped and looked her way. She was smiling broadly. “You sold all the vases.”

“Crap,” I muttered.

Auden came out of the fridge with Mickey’s beer and asked him, “Do you want this in a glass?”

“Bottle’s good,” Mickey answered.

“I know!” Pip exclaimed. “I’ll pour the ice water in the glasses and use the pitcher.”

“Good idea, sweets,” I told her.

She jumped to the pitcher, setting aside the flowers.

Auden approached with Mickey’s beer, handed it to him and asked me, “Do you want a glass of wine?”

“That’d be great, kid,” I replied.