Mommy, Aunt Cass, lookie! It’s sooooooo pretty!” Annie flashed her bright pink, sparkle-covered toe nails to Emily as the three of us sat in giant massage chairs getting pedicures.

“So cute, baby,” Emily responded with a little wink.

“Ahhhhh,” I sighed, relaxing more into the kneading roller as it worked out a little kink in my shoulder blades. I could feel Ax’s teeth marks still on my skin and the sensation sent pleasurable chills down my spine. “This is exactly what I needed today.”

“Is the baby still keeping you up all night?” Emily asked, her eyes closed as she sipped white wine from a plastic cup.

“He’s getting better about sleeping through the night, thank goodness. But with the business kicking up, Ax isn’t home as much as he used to be. I just needed a little mom break now and then,” I responded, checking the bright red color that was getting plastered on my big toe.

“Oh girl, mom breaks are important as hell. I’m sure Fletch is having a grand ol’ time changing poopy diapers right about now,” Emily said with a chuckle.

“I owe him for this,” I responded.

Emily waved me off dismissively. “He has baby fever again. Like big time. It’ll be good for him to remember what it’s actually like to have a crying, pooping baby in the house for a little bit.” She glanced over at Annie. “He even has that one set on being a big sister.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Emily’s dramatic eye roll as she drank down the rest of her wine.

“Is everything set for Ryan’s birthday next week?” she asked, switching gears away from all the baby talk.

I looked over to her. “For the most part. When we leave here, do you mind if we swing by my parents’ house? I have to make sure Nate has everything he needs.”

“Yeah, no problem. Haven’t seen him in a while. How’s the new job treating him?” she asked with an eyebrow raise.

“I think working with Ryan has really helped him. Seems to be getting his head on straight finally.” My brother, Nathan, had had it rough for a while, and he was finally getting back on his feet.

“That’s good to hear. It’s been a long time coming.”

“Tell me about it.”

* * *

Pulling into the drive of my childhood home, I was relieved not to see either of my folks’ vehicles out front. Mom would be pissed that I didn’t bring the baby by, and Dad would do his silent treatment like usual. His cold shoulder toward my husband and me was getting old. I knew he hated that I’d married Ax, but it was time to get over it. Ryan was turning his life around for our family, and my father was completely ignoring the changes he was making to better himself. All Dad could see was the leathery tattooed skin of a trained soldier, not the kindhearted man Ryan had grown to be in the last few years.

“Hey, Nate!” I called into the house as I knocked on the door. Annie and Emily followed me in as I heard muffled voices and the back screen door quickly slam shut.

My brother rushed around the corner with wide eyes as he glanced around at all of us. “Hey, ladies. To what do I owe this wonderful pleasure?”

“How’s it going, Nate?” Emily asked, holding Annie by the hand.

Rushing through the kitchen, I watched as a man wearing a bandana kicked up dust and gravel as he rode away on a motorcycle.

“What the hell is going on here?” I asked Nate in a muted voice.

“Don’t worry about it. Just a friend,” he blew me off in a whisper.

Emily shot me a look of concern as she pulled her daughter in front of her tightly.

I got down to Annie’s level. “Wanna see a really pretty doll house?”

She nodded vigorously. “Oh would I?”

Looking up at my best friend, I tried to give her a reassuring smile. “Why don’t you take Annie upstairs to my old room. It’s the second door on the left. You can’t miss it.”

“Yeah, okay.” Emily marched her daughter up the stairs. “Come on. Let’s go see what Aunt Cass has up here.”

Grabbing Nate’s forearm, I pulled him into our father’s study.

“Explain,” I barked shutting the door behind me.

“Damn it, Cassidy. Will you ever mind your own damn business?” he asked, slumping into a large leather chair in the corner of the room next to the stone fireplace.

“Fuck, Nate. Are you doing pills again?” I hated having to ask, but someone needed to.

His eyes widened as his face got red. “Fuck no. Cass, I got clean months ago. You know that.”

“Have you been going to your meeting?” I started to pace around the room.

“Of course. At least once a week. Ask Father Murphy, he’s the one that runs ‘em.”

I could tell he was lying, but there was nothing I could do in that moment with Emily and Annie in the house. I wasn’t going to drag them into the bullshit family drama I had unfortunately just walked in on.

“We’ll deal with this later.” I ran my hand over his shoulder, a look of defeat assaulting every muscle on his stubble-ridden face. “Is everything a go for the fire for Ryan’s birthday next week?”

He glanced up at me, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, I put the word out and everyone should be there.”

“Good. I gotta get home to Mikey. Let me know if you need anything.”

I squeezed his hand as he got back to his feet.

“Yeah, okay.”

I left Nate in the study to join my friends for a bit. Walking into my old room was surreal. The yellow flower wallpaper, the worn white carpet, the sweet lilac smell—it all took me back to a simpler time.

“This is the best!” Annie held a tiny doll in her hand, making it bob down the stairs of the house.

“Everything all right?” Emily asked as I sat next to her on my bed.

I shrugged. “Not sure, but I’ll figure it out.”

She put her hand on my knee. “Let’s get you home to the baby. He’ll make you feel better.”

“Good idea.”