“Thank you,” I say. Putting my bag down, I take my laptop out and start it up, then walk to the coffeemaker. “Why does it smell like bacon?”

“I made Casey breakfast this morning,” Olivia says, and I look over at her for two reasons. One, my brother has never made a meal in his life. In fact, my mother still cooks all his meals. And two, Olivia doesn’t cook. “I know, I know …” She puts up her hands. “But I wanted to do something nice for him.”

“I mean, we had to throw out five pots because you burned them so bad.”

“Okay, fine.” She smiles at me, and I look over at her. She doesn’t have one ounce of makeup on her face. Her hair is piled on top of her head. She has a nice glow to her face from being out in the sun in the afternoon. She is also wearing a white tank top with black yoga pants and a long sweater over her. “I asked your mom for instructions.” I look at her, and she just stares at me. “Don’t think too much into it, please.”

I shake my head. “Honestly, I’ve never seen you happier,” I say. “You aren’t even wearing makeup.”

“I know.” She smiles. “And my skin is so soft. I think it’s the water,” Olivia says.

“I’m going to give my notice,” I say, putting the cup of coffee to my lips.

Her mouth flies open. “I mean, are you sure?” She puts her own cup down and leans forward. “This is a big change. You’re going from city to country.”

I smile. “I’ve always been country.” Tilting my head, I say, “And I’ve always been in love with Jacob.” She looks down. “It was one mistake, and I have forgiven him for it.”

“At the end of the day, he is your person,” she says. “He makes you happy.”

“For my whole life, I knew that I would be his wife,” I say. “For my whole life, nothing made me happier than seeing him. Then I lost him, and I lost myself. I was me, but there were all these pieces of me missing and now …” I smile. “Now with him, seeing him, touching him. He was my missing piece.”

She puts her hands to her chest. “Bless your heart.” I shake my head, laughing. “Did I not say it in the right way again?”

“I have no idea,” I say, “but you’re learning.”

“So you are really going to leave and come live here?” she asks, and I nod. “What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea, and I’m scared as fuck, but the other way is me being away from him, and I’m not okay with that option.”

“Does he know?”