In the distance, Casey laughs at something Ethan says and Lawrence teases my son. It’s the first time in a very long time that I truly exhale.

My foot reaches out until it finds Cole’s. He grins as he extends his leg toward mine.

And that’s it. That’s all it takes to understand what he meant earlier.

“I’m saying that when you’re with me, here, or anywhere else we are, I want you to trust me. You can relax.”

I don’t know what this means, but I think I believe him.

“You go to Cash Cave?” Ethan’s question draws me back to the conversation around us. “I love it there. Mom took me once.”

“It’s one of our favorites,” Casey says. “Lawrence and I were just talking about going there this weekend.”

Lawrence rolls his eyes, grinning, making it clear that there wasn’t a prior conversation.

I blush and stab a bean with my fork.

“Maybe,” Casey says carefully, “your mom would let Lawrence and I take you after we eat.”

“Mom!”

“Ethan,” I say, resting my fork on my plate. “Indoor voice. Wow.”

He squirms in his seat. “Sorry. But can I go with them? Please?”

Cole nudges my foot with his, making me smile.

“I mean, if they’re going and don’t care . . .” My voice falls off as Casey presses her hands together in front of her.

My chest tugs as I watch Casey and Ethan banter about the cave. I can’t help it—I miss my mother. I imagine her like Casey—sweet, kind, and nurturing. I wonder if Mom’s house would’ve been full of knickknacks and snacks like this one. I imagine what it would be like to watch her love on my son.

With my bottom lip trembling, I look down at my plate.

“Perfect. It’s settled then,” Casey says. “Let’s eat so we can go!”

Thank you for this moment. Thank you so much.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO PALMER

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

PALMER

The door closes with a soft thud.

Footsteps clamor down the porch steps, and the laughter from the trio going on a hike gets farther and farther away. Cole and I stand at the kitchen island—in the middle of what looks like a food war zone—and look at each other.

The afternoon light shines in the window over the sink and highlights the angles of Cole’s face. I now know that his jawline comes from his father, and his slightly crooked nose comes from his mother. I’m not sure why that makes me like his features even more, but it does.

“Your parents are really sweet,” I say. “I can’t believe they’re taking Ethan to Cash Cave.”

Cole grins. “That was all my mother’s doing. She was willing to feign an injury to set us up.”

“What?” I laugh. “You’re making that up.”