Mari stood on her small balcony, her thoughts whirling.

Hank loved her and she loved him. She didn’t want to keep it a secret either, but she wasn’t ready to face London, to tell her the truth. And she didn’t want to lose her job. It wasn’t just a job to her—she loved Harper and hated the idea of someone else taking care of her.

What if the new nanny didn’t love her like Mari did, or thought painting was too messy and refused to let Harper express her creative side? What if she wouldn’t read to her whenever Harper wanted, or didn’t feed her the right kinds of foods?

On the other hand, Mari loved Hank. So much. Was she willing to give him up? Give up the love that was blossoming between them?

Why couldn’t she have everything she wanted? Why did life have to be so complicated?

Her phone notified her that someone was initiating a FaceTime session. Mari pulled her phone from her pocket. It was London. Why was she calling in the middle of the day?

Simone must have talked to her.

Heart racing, Mari took a deep breath to calm herself, then she answered.

London had a big smile on her face, not the expression Mari expected to see if she’d just found out Mari and Hank were involved.

“Hello!” London said.

“Hi.”

“I have some wonderful news.”

So, this had nothing to do with her and Hank. Mari’s heart slowed to a normal rate. “What’s up?”

Her smile grew. “I’m done filming, so I’m flying home tonight!”

A million thoughts bounded through Mari’s head, but she managed to keep her face neutral. At least she hoped it was neutral. “That’s great.”

“I’ve arranged for you and Harper to fly home tomorrow. First thing in the morning. I’m so excited to see her.”

First thing tomorrow? Already?

Mari wasn’t ready to tell Hank good-bye. Not yet.

“Oh.” Struggling to maintain her composure, Mari could feel tears pushing into her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just…it’s so sudden.” Scrambling for something to say, Mari said the first thing that came into her mind. “Harper’s having such a wonderful time. I…I don’t know if she’s ready to leave.”

London’s eyebrows bunched, then they smoothed out. “She’ll be fine. Besides, I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see me.” London waved her hand. “Anyway, it’s all arranged. The limo will pick you up at nine o’clock tomorrow morning.”

There was nothing she could do. This was completely out of her control. “All right. We’ll be ready.”

The sound of a door opening could be heard in the background and London turned her head. Someone said something and she nodded in their direction, then she turned back to the camera. “Looks like it’s time for me to head to the airport. I’ll see you tomorrow!”

“Okay. Have a good flight.”

“You too.”

Then the session ended.

She would have to tell Hank good-bye. How was she going to do that? She wasn’t ready. Not in the least.

Why was she wasting her time stewing in her sadness when she could be with him? What an idiot she was. She ran out of her bedroom and down the stairs, pausing for a moment when she reached the archway that led to the family room. Hank was sitting on the couch with Harper, reading her a story, and doing a fantastic job of changing his voice as he read. Harper was enthralled.

Heart wrenching at the scene, Mari waited until he finished the book, then she walked into the room.

Her feelings must have been written all over her face, because when Hank saw her, his face fell. He turned to Harper. “Princess Pink Rose, would you like to watch The Little Mermaid?”

Harper’s head bobbed up and down, and minutes later she was sprawled out on the couch, happily watching the movie.

Hank took Mari by the hand and led her into the cozy sitting room where they sat beside each other on the couch.

“What’s wrong?” he asked without preamble.

“London called.”

His eyes widened, and Mari shook her head. “It’s not what you think. She said she’s done filming and it’s time for us to come home.” She swallowed over the huge knot in her throat. “We leave in the morning.”

* * *

In the morning? Hank had known all along that this was only a visit, but he’d put off thinking about the day Mari and Harper would actually leave. But now it was here.

Mari was waiting for him to say something, but he just needed a moment to think. He stared at his hands balled in his lap, his thoughts firing in all directions.

“What should we do?” Mari asked after he’d been silent for nearly a minute.

He lifted his head and met her gaze. “There’s nothing we can do. London has primary custody, so tomorrow you…you leave.” He didn’t like saying it out loud. It made it real.

She grabbed his hands and implored him with her eyes. “But I love you, Hank. I don’t want to leave.” Tears flooded her eyes. “But I love Harper too. I can’t leave her either.”

Seeing her deep devotion to Harper meant everything to him. “I don’t want you to leave either. Neither one of you. But there’s nothing we can do about it. Not today.”

“Not today? What do you mean?”

Would he be willing to fight for primary custody? Is that what he wanted? Would he even have a chance at winning? That would be a major challenge. And in all reality, it wasn’t something he could take on until the season was over.

He knew Mari wanted him to fix this, and he wished he could, but he shook his head. He didn’t want to give her false hope. “I didn’t mean anything.”

* * *

A gentle sigh slipped from Mari’s lips. All hope was lost. Unless she was willing to give up being Harper’s nanny—something she wasn’t willing to consider—she would have to say good-bye to Hank. At least she would see him again. Harper was scheduled to come back for a visit at the end of October. She could wait that long to see him, couldn’t she?

Looking at him now, her body tingling with the memory of being in his arms, of having his mouth on hers, she wasn’t sure she could.

“Come here,” he said.

She went into his arms eagerly, laying her head against his shoulder, feeling safe and secure in his powerful embrace.

Holding back the sobs that wanted to erupt from her throat, she savored this moment, drawing on the warmth from his body and the strength from his arms to buoy her up. They would enjoy these last hours together, and then they would say good-bye. She could do this. She could do hard things.

For the rest of the afternoon and into the evening, the three of them played together, ate dinner together, and just spent time together. Mari told Harper that in the morning they were going to her other house, that her mother would be there, and she seemed excited about that. It was only Mari who was struggling. At least, she thought it was only her. Hank seemed to be handling everything just fine.

Maybe she was more wrapped up in him than he was in her.