Ergo, if he wanted me to go to his stupid party and be his pretty, devoted prop while he cavorted with his staff, I’d do it with a smile. Chris was the key to retrieving my son. There was a better future in the distance.

If I could just hang on a little longer.

If …

AT SIX IN the morning, Decker smelled the coffee. He reached over to Rina’s side of the bed and it was still warm, her smell filling the bedroom with all that was good. He showered, shaved, dressed, and walked into the kitchen just as the toast popped out.

“God, it’s great to have you home,” he told her.

“It’s really good to be home.” She gave him a smack on the lips. “Sit down. Coffee’s ready.”

“How about if you sit down, and I’ll serve you?”

“Even better.” Rina sat. She had her hair pulled back into a ponytail. This morning, she wore a lightweight ecru linen blouse and denim skirt. Comfortable clothes. It was hot outside. Slippers were still on her feet. “I missed you.”

“I guarantee it was not as much as I missed you.” He poured her coffee and buttered the toast. “My outlook is definitely rosier now that you’re back.” He took the food and drink to the table and sat opposite her. “But I’m glad you saw your mom. I’m sure it made her very happy.”

“It did. Her caretakers are very nice but very gabby.”

“Did they get on your nerves?”

“You know … they take such good care of her, I don’t mind. And she seems to like them. I can’t believe your mom is so independent.”

“Too stubborn to need help. Except when she does.” Decker sipped his coffee. “Thanks so much for going to her medical appointments. I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”

“Once she got the news that everything was benign, she was a different person.”

“I’m sure.”

Rina was smiling. “You should have seen the four of us—Blossom, my mom, your mom, and me—going to the market. Oh my God. The mothers stopping in front of every single item on the shelves, discussing its merits and detriments. It took us over an hour for a routine trip, and that’s not counting loading and unloading time. And I don’t mean groceries. I mean them.”

“You are a patient person.”

“Actually, Blossom and I work well together.” She dumped cream in her coffee. “I know they’re old and that can be challenging sometimes. But really, it’s a privilege still having them around.”

“I’m sure they loved your company.” Decker took a bite of toast. “Personally, I’m thrilled that you’re back. And Tyler is as well. He missed your dinners. He missed your sandwiches for the road.”