And that was really it about the letters. If she had gotten rid of them, she was just as willing to divorce as Jax was—an idea she couldn’t believe without proof. She opened the last door at the end of the hallway, dismayed to find a bathroom.

Disbelief slowed her footsteps as she walked back downstairs. The front door flew open, and Amanda rushed in with Caleb in tow.

“What were you doing?” Amanda said in a panic.

She opened her mouth, ready to confess how she had given up on her marriage, but stopped herself. “I just wanted to check out the addition.”

Amanda encouraged Caleb to go put away his things and get ready for a snack. She watched him turn the corner before piercing Gretchen with a harsh stare. “Did you go through Jax’s stuff?”

“No!”

“Tell me the truth.”

“I didn’t. I wouldn’t do that.” She was offended by the accusation and the disbelief on Amanda’s face. “I thought about it for a split second but didn’t.”

“That’s my sister.” Amanda walked around her.

She noticed a bag in Amanda’s hand. “What did you get now?”

“More necessities and a G-I-F-T for Caleb since Jax left without knowing you struck a deal with the devil.”

“You really are the best sister ever.”

The afternoon passed in a flurry of Caleb talking, Caleb demanding different snacks, and Caleb crying about one thing or another. Gretchen finally got him settled by agreeing to watch his favorite Disney movie. She was exhausted before six o’clock and decided she needed a nap.

“You don’t care if I lie down for a bit, do you? I can barely keep my eyes open.”

Amanda glanced at Caleb, who was completely enchanted by the movie. “I think we’re good.”

She dragged herself to her bedroom and practically collapsed on the bed. She didn’t bother to cover herself even though she was chilly in her T-shirt and flannel pants. She dozed off the moment her head hit the pillow.

She heard Jax come home and walk into her bedroom. Her eyelids felt sluggish, but when she finally looked at Jax fully, she was floored by Jax’s bright smile.

“Hey you,” Jax said as she sat on the edge of the bed. She took Gretchen’s hand. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired, but good. We were watching a movie, and I couldn’t stay awake.” Gretchen pulled herself into a seated position. Her ribs didn’t hurt. “I feel like I’m healing faster now that I’m not in that hospital bed anymore.”

“I would hope so. We paid almost two grand for this mattress.”

“Did we?”

“You insisted.”

“Worth every penny.” Gretchen let out a comical yawn. “It’s wonderful.”

Jax traced Gretchen’s palm delicately with her fingertip. “We christened it four times that night and again in the morning.”

Gretchen shivered. “That’s a memory I wish I still had.”

Jax ran her fingers up the inside of Gretchen’s wrist, up her forearm, and to her cheek. She then fingered the ends of Gretchen’s curly hair. “I could tell you about it. Tell you how I made you feel, where I touched, and what I used to fill you up.” Jax caressed the sliver of Gretchen’s abdomen left bare when her T-shirt had ridden up. “You were insatiable.” Jax started to lean in slowly, her eyes trained on Gretchen’s lips.