We had lunch. It was tense and not enjoyable.

But we managed it.

I only ate half my meal.

Conrad paid and he was polite enough to walk me to the door.

We parted ways on the sidewalk.

I made my way to my Rover alone, got in, started it up to get the heat going, grabbed my phone and called Mickey.

“Hey,” he greeted.

“Hey back,” I replied.

“You done with him?”

“Yes.”

“It go okay?”

“For me and Conrad, it went swimmingly. It was still not an hour packed with fun.”

Mickey chuckled.

I enjoyed listening to it for a few seconds before I shared, “He’s decided not to move to Texas, Mickey.”

He spoke my thoughts. “Good for the kids, sucks for you.”

“Yeah,” I mumbled and turned our conversation to brighter horizons. “Lawr’s here. Your kids are with Rhiannon. Any chance you’d be able to go out to dinner with us tonight?”

“Seein’ as your brother’s around and that doesn’t happen often, I could talk to a guy, get him to take my shift at the house.”

“I’d like that Mickey,” I told him softly.

“Then it’s done, Amy,” he replied, also softly. “Now, gotta go. I’ll come over after I get home and shower. Be there around six.”

“Okay, honey.”

“Later.”

“’Bye.”

We rang off.

I went home to report about the lunch to Lawrie and then hang with him and my kids.

Mickey came over at around six and we all went out to dinner, Auden and Pippa declaring we just had to introduce Lawrie to Tink’s.

Lawrie had no problem with the establishment at all. He enjoyed the burgers. He enjoyed being with his little sister, her kids and the man she loved.

Pippa ended our evening by begging Mickey to come over the next night for a dinner she was going to cook for him and her uncle.

Since his shift at the firehouse was during the day, he agreed.

Thus before Lawr was on the road in his rental to go back to the airport on Sunday, he’d had a good dose of the life his little sister was leading.

And after he gave the kids their tight hugs and good-byes, when he hugged me, he said in my ear, “Really fucking good to see you this happy, MeeMee.”

I tilted my head back and caught his eyes. “Happy to be this happy, Lawrie. I’ll be happier when you officially separate from Mariel and ask out Robin.”

He sighed.

I smiled.

And with my kids standing beside me in the drive of our fabulous home, we waved away their Uncle Lawrie.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Do What I Gotta Do

“Okay, what is your problem?” Alyssa asked me, brushing varnish on my nails.

I focused on her. “I’m sorry?”

“Babe, you’re here but your mind’s so far away it’s a wonder you aren’t drooling,” she told me.

My eyes shifted to Josie sitting next to me in her pedicure chair.

“We’ve been chatting for fifteen minutes, you haven’t said a word, and Alyssa called your name three times,” she said. “You didn’t even blink.”