Buddy and Lucy stopped off for an early dinner at Lucy’s favorite restaurant after her first day of school. She seemed full of energy, telling him all about her day, but Buddy could tell his little girl was exhausted. He was unsurprised when she fell asleep almost instantly on the drive home. She didn’t wake when he got her out of her booster seat nor when he put her in her pajamas. Now, a few hours later, it seemed Lucy was going to sleep through the night, and Buddy took advantage of Lucy’s early bedtime for some quality alone time on the back deck of their small ranch.

He was watching the last fireflies of the season flit around the small backyard pond when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the number and, with an irritated huff, answered.

“Hello, Natalie. Nice of you to call.” He couldn’t keep the crossness from his voice, as much as he tried.

“Well, hello to you, too, Buddy. Since you are obviously in a rotten mood, you don’t even have to talk to me. It’s Lucy I wanted to speak to anyway.”

“She’s asleep, Natalie.”

“Asleep? This early?”

Buddy glanced at his watch. It wasn’t that early anymore, but who knew where Natalie was calling from.

“She’s worn out from school today, and besides, it’s after eight. She’d be in bed anyway.”

“School? What do you mean she’s in school?”

Buddy sighed. He’d sent her emails and texts and left voicemails about the start of school, and they’d even had a conversation about her being in town to attend the open house. Of course, that hadn’t happened, and Lucy’s disappointment had been palpable. But, as it always was with Natalie, it was best to just move on to the next thing.

“She started school today. I know, silly to start on a Thursday, but I don’t make the district calendar.”

“But it’s just the beginning of August!”

“That’s when they start school these days. I told you, Natalie. I sent you a copy of the calendar, and for heaven’s sake, we had a long discussion about the open house. You promised you’d be there.” So much for moving on, Buddy.

“So I’ll come to the open house.”

“It was yesterday, Natalie.”

“Oh.” He heard her sigh. “Oh, Buddy. I am so sorry.”

“You’re always sorry. But you should be apologizing to Lucy, not me.” Buddy rubbed his hand over his closed eyes. “I’m sorry, Natalie. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. Lucy’s starting school is hitting me a little harder than I expected. She’s growing up so fast.” He swallowed the lump in his throat.

Natalie sighed. “Considering how our conversation started, I was going to wait . . .”

“But?” Buddy removed his hand but kept his eyes closed, anticipating what Natalie was going to say.

“I’m coming home, Buddy.”

“Why?” he blurted.

“It’s just like you said, Buddy: Lucy’s growing up so fast. I’m missing it.”

“Yes, you are. And I’m glad. Um, not that you’re missing it, but that you’re coming home.”

“Yeah. Um. I’ll be back next week. I’ll call when I get settled.”

Buddy sucked in a deep breath and asked a question he wasn’t quite sure he wanted an answer to. “Where will you be staying, Natalie?”

“Oh, Mom and Dad have that condo in Buckhead. I’ll be staying there until I find someplace closer to you and Lucy.”

“Sure. That’ll be good.” I’ll believe it when I see the lease.

“So. Um. Yeah. I’ll call when I get things firmed up, okay?”

“Sure. And you can call anytime. You know that, right? We’re supposed to go out with some families from the fight club tomorrow night, but we’ll be around all day on Saturday. Why don’t you give her a shout then?”

“Sure, if I get a chance.”

Buddy grunted. If the positions were reversed, he’d damn well make a point to call. But Natalie wasn’t Buddy, and as much as he’d like to, he couldn’t force her to call her daughter.

“I’ll call on Saturday, Buddy. I promise. I’ll just have to make sure I get my timing right.”

“Where are you, anyway?”

“Cabo. I was doing a shoot in Baja and stayed for a while.”

“Uh-huh. Well, it’s getting late, and we have an early morning.”

“Oh, sure. Um. It was good talking to you, Buddy. I’ll see you two soon. Tell Lucy I love her.”

“I will, Natalie. Have a good night.”

Buddy ended the phone call and set the phone on the small patio table. He scrubbed his hands over his face. He felt very conflicted about Natalie’s announcement of her return to Atlanta. As much as he wanted to believe that she truly desired to be an active part of her daughter’s life, he was skeptical of her reasons for returning. More likely, she’d not secured a new beau in Mexico and was at a loss for what she was going to do for money.

He picked up his phone and thumbed through the gallery until he found the most recent photo of Natalie and Lucy, which really wasn’t recent at all. After all, eight months was a long time when your child was only five.

The last time Natalie came into town and then left again, Lucy had been distraught. It had taken weeks for her to get back to her regular routine. Buddy didn’t ever want his little girl to have to go through that again.

“Daddy?” Buddy turned to see Lucy blinking at him, standing just inside the back door. “I think I need a second dinner.”

“Sure thing, sweet pea. Maybe not a full second dinner, though, but a big snack.”

She nodded, her eyes still sleepy. “Cheesy eggs?”

“Cheesy eggs coming right up, baby.”

Buddy got up and went into the house, and Lucy perched in a chair at their little kitchen table. He and Lucy talked more about their days while he scrambled eggs, adding a generous helping of cheddar cheese and a few diced tomatoes before he took the skillet off the stove and spooned the eggs onto two plates.

Buddy watched Lucy as she chattered away, happily eating and dancing in her chair, wearing her Wonder Woman jammies. He didn’t mention her mother’s call, not wanting to get her hopes up in case Natalie was delayed or changed her mind. Seeing his daughter’s animated grin as she told him all about the classroom lizards brought an unexpected swell of emotion.

“Daddy? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, sweet pea. I’m good. I’m just really glad you had a good day.” Buddy winked at her.

“I did have a good day. I got to sit next to Maude, and we listened to Miss Mayhew read the monkeys-on-the-bed story. And tomorrow we get to go out to the garden.”

“The garden?” Buddy picked up their empty plates and put them in the dishwasher.

“Yes, we get to help grow plants. It’s going to be so exciting. I hope we get to grow bunches and bunches of flowers.” Her gray eyes sparkled, and then she yawned hugely.

“Okay, munchkin. Teeth-brushing time and then back to bed.”

“Teeth-brushing time! Teeth-brushing time!” She popped off the chair and scurried into the bathroom while Buddy turned off the lights in the kitchen and living room. Hopefully, Natalie would tell him when she was coming so he could ready himself and Lucy for her arrival. He had a feeling he was going to need all the preparation he could get.