Late on Friday afternoon, Kevin raced around the small house he shared with his sons, tending to dishes and dust and newspapers that’d piled up in the last few weeks. His housekeeping skills were better than they used to be, but there was still room for improvement. Chelsea’s brother and his family were in town, and Kevin had invited them for a cookout tonight so she could enjoy her family without having to worry about cooking.

She’d taken the weekend off from the bar, and he looked forward to the time with her as well as the chance to get to know her family. He was also hoping to bridge some of the awkward distance that had persisted between them over the last few days, despite spending every night together.

By the end of the weekend, which would include their babysitting gig for Laura and Owen’s kids on Sunday night, he hoped to have more clarity on the issue that had come between him and the woman he loved. The sad thing was, if you’d asked him a week ago if he could imagine anything coming between him and Chelsea, he would’ve said no, but that was before she told him she wanted a baby.

Speaking of babies, he’d spoken to his brother Mac earlier in the day and was happy to hear that Vivienne McCarthy Cantrell was doing splendidly and already had her grandpa wrapped firmly around her tiny finger. Thankfully, Janey was fine, too, and Joe was recovering from delivering his daughter on the ferry and having a vasectomy. They would have incredible stories to tell both their children about their births someday.

Kevin’s cell phone rang, and he took the call without checking the caller ID.

“Kevin?”

The sound of his ex-wife’s voice stopped him in his tracks. “Deb. What’s up?” He’d never be rude to her, but he had no desire to stop what he was doing to chat with her, either.

“How are you?”

“Fine. You?”

“I’m okay.”

“What can I do for you? I’ve got about two minutes before I need to be somewhere.” That wasn’t entirely true, but he hardly owed her any explanations.

“Did the boys tell you I’m coming over for a visit next week?”

“They mentioned something about that.”

“I just wanted to check that it would be okay with you, too.”

“Why would that matter to me if you’re coming to see them?”

Her sigh sounded through the phone. “Because I’d like to see you, too.”

“To say hello? Sure. I can make that happen.”

“I was hoping we could talk, Kev.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He had nothing to say to her. “About what?”

“Us,” she said simply.

When had one little word packed a greater punch? He leaned against the counter and took a deep breath. “There is no us anymore, Deb. Our divorce will be final any day now.”

“About that… I asked Len to put that on hold for the moment,” she said, referring to her attorney.

Her statement shocked him. “What? Why?”

“Because I think we ought to be sure before we do something so permanent.”

“Deb… I am sure. We’re over. We were over long before you walked out the door and took up with someone else.”

“I’m sorry about that, Kevin. I’ve told you that. It was a mistake that I genuinely regret.”

“I’m sorry you have regrets, but ending the marriage shouldn’t be one of them. That was the right thing for both of us.” Goddamn, this was the last conversation he felt like having right now.

“Are you saying that because you have someone new?”

He’d wondered how much she knew about Chelsea. “I’m saying that because it’s true. You and I stopped working years ago, and you know it as well as I do.”

“It’s because we stopped trying. Maybe if we put in some effort—”

“No, Deb,” he said as gently as he possibly could. “I’m sorry if it hurts you to hear, but I don’t want to go back. I’m happy with my life the way it is now.”

“Because of your girlfriend?”

He gritted his teeth and held back the desire to snap at her. “In part, but also because I’m no longer in a relationship that made me unhappy for a long time. I take my share of the blame for that. Hell, I’ll take more than my share because I should’ve done something about it years ago. But I can’t go back. I can only go forward. And Chelsea isn’t just my girlfriend. I’m in love with her.”

“From what I hear, she’s a lot younger than you are. Do you really think you can make a young girl happy long term?”

Her nasty question struck at the heart of his insecurities where Chelsea was concerned, but there was no way he’d ever let Deb know that. “Don’t worry about her or us. Our relationship is none of your concern. I’m glad you’re coming to see the boys, but I have nothing further to say to you about our marriage. The divorce is happening, so please stop trying to slow it down.”

“Are you planning to marry her?”

“Again, not your concern. I hope we can maintain a cordial relationship for the sake of the boys, but I’d prefer that you not call me again. I have to go now.”

“Kevin—”

“Bye, Deb.” With shaking hands, he pressed the red button to end the call.

“Dad?”

He startled when Riley appeared in the doorway. “I didn’t know you were home.”

“I just came in a few minutes ago. I couldn’t help but overhear that. Are you okay?”

“Of course,” he said, forcing a smile for his son. “I’m fine.”

“What did Mom want?”

“She… was hoping for a reconciliation, I think.”

“I’m kind of surprised that she’d ask for that when the divorce is set to be final any time.”

“Apparently, she’s hit the Pause button on that, which doesn’t please me.” Kevin ran his hands through his hair, summoning calm and trying to put the uncomfortable conversation behind him so he could focus on Chelsea and their plans for the evening. “I feel bad that you had to overhear that.”

Riley shrugged. “No biggie.”

“She said she’s coming to see you guys.”

“Yeah, Tuesday into Wednesday.”

“Does it bother you that I really don’t want to see her?”

“I’d be surprised if you did after the way things went down a year ago.”

“You’d tell me the truth, right?”

“It’s fine, Dad. Don’t sweat it.”

“You’re getting home late.”

“I had some things come up at work today that I needed to deal with. Now I need a shower before I meet the boys for poker night. The ladies are having a bachelorette party for Daisy that has everyone up in arms.”

“What now?”

“Apparently, Maddie hired male massage therapists for the party, and the guys are none too pleased.”

Kevin huffed out a laugh. “They’re ridiculous.”

“I agree, but try telling them that. This ought to be an entertaining evening.”

“I worry about you and Finn spending too much time with your cousins and deciding never to get married because of what you’re learning from them.”

Riley laughed. “Don’t worry. I also see that they’re stupidly happy most of the time.”

“That they are.”

“What’re you up to tonight?”

“Chelsea is bringing her brother’s family over for dinner.”

“First time you’re meeting her brother?”

“Yeah.” Suddenly, Kevin was unreasonably nervous, which Riley picked up on.

“Don’t sweat it, Dad. They’ll like you. What’s not to like?”

Kevin smiled at his son. “Thanks.”

Riley went to shower while Kevin continued to clean up before getting to work on making a salad and slicing cheese to put with crackers. Then he got out the ground beef he’d bought, added his special blend of Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder to it and made the burgers using the “burger pounder” the boys had given him for Christmas after he said he wished he’d brought the one he’d had at home.

When they’d lived at home, Kevin had made burgers for dinner every Sunday night. That’d been the beginning and the end of his culinary prowess, which had expanded since his divorce to include Christmas turkey, omelets, spaghetti and barbecued chicken, to name a few things he’d attempted since being single. But the burgers were his specialty, and he hoped Chelsea’s family enjoyed them as much as his did.

When the food was ready and the house as clean as it could be, Kevin went into his room to change into a button-down shirt and clean jeans. He sat on the bed and rolled up his sleeves, trying not to think about the things Deb had said, but they kept invading his thoughts. He reached for his cell phone and dashed off a text to his attorney, Dan Torrington.

Deb told Len to pause the divorce because she was hoping for a reconciliation that’s not going to happen. Could you please get with him and make sure it’s still moving? I want it final ASAP.

Dan wrote right back. Absolutely. I’ll reach out to him over the weekend and keep you posted.

Thank you.

Try not to worry. You’re close…

He was close, but not close enough. For months, as the divorce wound its way slowly through the various legal machinations, Kevin had been fearful that he’d lose his chance with Chelsea because it was taking too long. After what she’d been through with her parents, she’d never been entirely comfortable with his “separated and seeking divorce” status, so he’d been looking forward to the day he could tell her he was finally free and clear. Hearing Deb wanted to pause the proceedings made him feel panicked.

The doorbell rang, and he took a deep breath to change gears so he could focus on Chelsea and her family. There was nothing he could do tonight about Deb or the divorce, and a lot was riding on tonight for him and Chelsea. That was where his attention needed to be focused.

He went to answer the door and stepped back to allow Chelsea, her brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew into the house just as Riley appeared, fresh from the shower.

Chelsea’s brother extended a hand to Riley. “You must be Kevin. I’m Andrew Rose. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“Um, I’m Riley, Kevin’s son.” He pointed to his father. “That’s Kevin.”

Andrew’s eyes widened in what could only be called shock, which he quickly tried to mask. “Oh. My bad.” He reached out to shake hands with Kevin. “Nice to meet you.”

“You, too.” Kevin glanced at Chelsea and wondered why she’d failed to tell her brother he was older than she was.

Chelsea put her arm around Kevin, which went a long way toward reassuring him. “This is my sister-in-law, Lydia, and my niece, Josie, and my nephew, Travis. This is Kevin and his son, Riley.”

“Nice to meet you all.” Kevin shook hands with each of them. The kids were four and six and obviously adored their aunt Chelsea. “Come in and make yourselves at home. What can I get you to drink?” As he started to walk away, he caught the odd look Andrew directed at his sister, who ignored him and the awkwardness that had suddenly crept into the gathering.

“I’m headed out,” Riley said. “You all have a nice evening.”

“You, too, son.”

“Nice to meet you,” Andrew called after him. To Kevin, he said, “How old is your son?”

“He’s twenty-eight, and his brother, Finn, is twenty-six.”

“Huh,” Andrew said as he accepted the beer Kevin had opened for him. Like Chelsea, he was tall with blond hair and gray-blue eyes, the resemblance between the siblings striking. His wife was petite compared to him and Chelsea, with dark hair and eyes. Both kids were blond with blue eyes and friendly smiles.

Kevin wanted to ask Andrew what “huh” meant, but he didn’t. Rather, he served glasses of wine to the women and offered lemonade to the kids. “Let’s go outside. It’s nice out tonight.” He showed them onto the back deck, which the boys had joked was bigger than the living room. They’d spent a lot of time out there during the summer, and Kevin would miss the extra space when the colder weather arrived.

Maybe by then, he would’ve convinced Chelsea that they should get a place of their own that was bigger than either of their two houses. Was he getting ahead of himself and their current dilemma by thinking about them living together? And why did he feel that everything was suddenly so uncertain, from the divorce to his relationship with Chelsea? He hated that and was determined to find a way past the uncertainty as soon as possible.

“I hope everyone likes burgers,” Kevin said as he fired up the grill.

“Sounds great,” Chelsea said, smiling at him. “What can I do to help?”

“Not a thing. Relax and enjoy.” He went inside to retrieve the burgers from the fridge.

Andrew followed him. “How old are you?”

Startled by the blunt question, Kevin looked him directly in the eye. “Fifty-two. You?”

“Thirty-eight.”

“What do you really want to ask me, Andrew?”

“What’re you doing with my sister, who is, if my math is correct, sixteen years younger than you?”

Kevin stared at him, shocked by his audacity. But then he reminded himself that Andrew was looking out for his sister and kept his tone neutral when he replied. “I love her. I hope I’m making her happy.”

Andrew’s shoulders lost some of their rigidity, but he still seemed agitated. “She says you’re still married.”

“Not for much longer, and that was over before I met Chelsea.”

“I don’t mean to be a dick, but she’s been through a lot…”

“I know.”

Andrew looked up at him, and in one second of eye contact, Kevin could see the residual hurt he carried with him, too. “I don’t want to see her hurt again.”

“Neither do I. That’s the last thing I want.”

The screen door slid open and then closed as Chelsea came inside. “Everything all right in here?”

Kevin looked to Andrew to answer for both of them.

“Yeah, sure,” Andrew said. “Kevin and I are getting to know each other better.”

“You’re not being a prosecutor right now, are you?” Chelsea asked her brother.

He smiled at her. “Me? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure, you don’t.” To Kevin, she added, “He’s ‘prosecuted’ every guy I’ve ever dated.”

Andrew put his arm around his sister. “Just making sure they’re worthy of you.”

Chelsea elbowed him. “I like this one. Don’t run him off.”

“I have a feeling this one won’t easily be run off,” Andrew said.

Kevin released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, feeling as if he’d passed some sort of test with Chelsea’s brother.