“I keep forgetting you went to school here,” Kendra said.

“Yeah, it’s actually nice to return to the area,” I said. “I mean, things were so different then. It feels like a million years ago.”

Kendra tipped the bottle my way. “But you had a good time?”

I let her top up my glass. It felt nice to talk to someone—a friend—one-on-one. I hadn’t really spoken about that time with anyone except Trixie and Adam.

“Actually, no,” I admitted. “It was one of the hardest times of my life. I was working like three part-time jobs when not in class. And I was engaged—did I tell you that? Oh god, we kept hoping to make it work and it just didn’t.”

Brad. I had filed him away in a locked box in my mind, but since we’d moved back here, he’d returned to haunt me. “We were very different people. But when Lily came into the picture, I thought we’d do better. Have a purpose. A family. He didn’t see it that way.”

Her mouth fell open. “He ditched you? With a baby?”

“Oh yeah. And he’s like this California playboy now. Inherited a lot of money. Has nothing to do with us.” I’d dodged a bullet there. Brad was never going to be the family guy that Adam was.

“Men. They can be such selfish bastards.” As if to prove her point, Barney padded in and plopped himself down right on top of her feet. She reached down and absentmindedly petted his head.

But could I really blame Brad for what happened? I’d certainly done my best to sabotage our happily-ever-after with all my bad decisions. “I can’t put all the blame on him,” I said. “I made mistakes, too. But I vowed I wouldn’t let Lily suffer for them. I’ve always tried to give her the best life I could.”

“Ah, mothers,” Kendra said. “We really are the heroes. And we don’t get any credit for it, do we?”

“Hear, hear.” We toasted again, my wine almost tipping over the side of the glass.

“I’m going to need some food to soak this up.” Kendra picked up her phone. “I’ll just order pizza. Screw it.”

I checked the time. Five thirty.

“You should stay.” Kendra looked up from the screen. “The boys will take their food and hole up in front of their devices and I’ll be on my own anyway.”

It was tempting. The wine, the couch, the conversation. I didn’t want it to end yet.

“Let me just check in on Adam and Lily.” I texted. Can you guys fend for yourselves tonight for dinner?

They responded almost immediately. Lily sent an emoji of a plate of pasta. Adam said, Don’t worry about me. Work to do.

“I’d love to stay,” I told her. “If you don’t mind?”