That was so bizarre. As if Cosette knew she was being talked about, she wound herself around Tessa’s calves and meowed loudly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Jack leaned forward and met her gaze. “Leo’s allergic to cats.”

“Leo plays with Cosette all the time.” Cosette sprung suddenly into her lap and took a minute to settle herself in a round heap with her tail curled about her body. “I’ve never once seen him sneeze.” Allergic? No way.

“Leo isn’t just allergic to cats, Tessa. Leo is puffy-eyed-wheezy-get-out-the-EpiPen allergic to cats. A few years ago, we had to take him to the ER after a college house party because he couldn’t breathe.”

She set down her glass, feeling shaky. “That…that’s impossible.”

“Come to think of it, I ran into him the night of your wedding buying antihistamines in the drug store.”

Her head spun. She thought of how Leo seemed a lot more affectionate to Cosette lately, compared to that first night. She’d passed that off as him simply getting more used to her. And the night of their wedding…she’d thought he’d been trying to escape—to get away from her. But he’d snuck away to buy medicine?

“But Jack, Leo’s fine now. Around Cosette, I mean. How can that be?”

“Yeah.” He took a sip of tea. “Because he’s been getting those shots.”

Frowning, she tapped her glass. “What shots?” Then it dawned. “Oh my gosh. Allergy shots? Like, millions of allergy shots so he can live with my cat?”

Jack nodded, looking pleased that she finally put this all together. “That would be correct.”

“Doesn’t that kind of treatment go on for years?”

“That would also be correct.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

Jack gave her a wink. “Leo’s complicated. And I can’t even tell you if he’s capable of normal relationship behavior. But I don’t think his dad is the only one who has a soft spot for you.”

Tessa’s head was reeling. “Thanks. For telling me that. I think.”

“Hey, no problem,” he said before he got up. “You and Leo can name your firstborn after me.”

…

“What do you want to do now?” Leo asked after a quick dinner as they sat together that evening on the glider, watching the lights flicker on one by one in the valley below. “It’s a beautiful evening.”

“It is at that,” Tessa responded a little formally.