No way I could argue with that logic—Dave and Marsha made two trips a year while Ella usually made one trek back across the Atlantic. My parents were no longer alive, so Jeremiah needed this relationship with Ella’s family. Unfortunately, the whole US continent and the Atlantic Ocean caused less closeness than any of us would have liked.

“I never meant for you to feel excluded from Ella’s life.”

Dave met my eye. “Distance did that. We never felt unwelcome in your home. Just limited by time and air fare.”

“We’ll have to do better—about traveling this way, then.”

Dave’s smile warmed even as he shook his head. “With an infant? And Jeremiah’s select football schedule? And Ella’s work and your touring schedule? I don’t think we’ll see more of any of you in person. But at least we now have that video call feature. It’ll be good for Marsha to see the bub’s steps and words and all that.”

I chewed over that conversation, trying to wrap my head around my lack of attention to so many details. Sometimes, the living of life got in the way of seeing priorities.

“If Ella and I can work through this . . . I’ll see to it that we put more effort into visiting.”

“Appreciate the thought,” Dave said, tossing back the last of his beer.

“There’s one more thing.” I hesitated. “I’d like you to bring Ella here, tomorrow. I plan to do a show. For her and for her school back home.”

Dave settled back against the booth, hands over his middle. “Why would you do that?”

“I never would have sent divorce papers to Ella’s school. Never. I want to put the rumor mill there to rest. And.” I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. I raised my head and eyed him. “Ella’s always liked these small performances best. I thought . . . well, it’s the best way to show her how much she means to me.”

“New-fangled ideas on love,” Dave grumbled.

“One more thing. I’d like this to be a surprise. For Ella.”

Dave eyed the pub again, his expression dubious. He met my gaze. His pale-blue eyes softened more. “I get that you want to put this to rights, Simon. I appreciate that. I’ll bring Ella. But you need to understand something, young man. She’s cut clean to her core. This idea of yours might not be enough to heal that deep of a cut.”

Nerves skittered through my belly. I heaved a breath. My stomach refused to settle.

What if this crazy plan didn’t work?

What if Ella couldn’t leave the house to come to the pub or, worse, what if she did show up and didn’t care?