My nerves began to get the best of me as I sat in the restaurant and waited for my mother and David to arrive. I’d not been able to completely finish with my office that morning, so rather than the two of us ride to the restaurant together, I’d spent the rest of the day downtown with a couple of movers packing things up.

They were both fifteen minutes late. While I didn’t know David all that well, Mom was never late for anything.

Just as I reached for my phone, they walked into the restaurant together.

Swallowing my panic, I smiled and stood to greet them.

Mom didn’t bother hugging me—she was doing enough of that at home. Instead, she just gave me a quick smile and sat down while David wrapped me up in the biggest hug I’d had in ages. Just like his son, David gave remarkably warm and wonderful hugs.

“You look good, Kate. How are you feeling?”

“Better. Most days I feel very good. I often still feel like that right arm is hanging around, but I’m told that’s fairly common.”

He smiled as he released me. His gaze couldn’t hide his pity, but it was something I’d grown accustomed to. Strangers were actually easier than people I’d known before. Those who knew me before the fire—their eyes screamed pity. It was part of the reason that moving to the past didn’t seem so daunting to me. At least there, nobody would be able to say they knew who I was before. They would only know me as I am now.

We sat down at the table as the waiter came to take our drink orders.

“Did you guys get stuck in the same traffic jam? I can’t believe you showed up at the exact same time.”

“We…” Mom hesitated and cast a quick glance in David’s direction. “We rode together. David picked me up.”

“Oh. That’s…” I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say. “That’s economical of you.”

My mother’s tone was defensive when she answered. “Laurel and Marcus have been friends for most of their lives, Kate. David and I have known each other a very long time.”

Her reaction confused me, but the way David softly cleared his throat as if to calm her baffled me even more. I could feel her getting agitated, and that was the very last sort of mood she needed to be in. I would sit around and ponder what could be going on with her later. For now, I knew I needed to lighten the mood.

“Okay, it’s no problem. I think it’s very nice that he offered to pick you up.” I smiled to ease some of the tension. “So, I’m sure you guys are wondering why I asked you both to come eat.”

My mother sighed and straightened up in her chair as she ran a hand through her long, dark, curly hair.

She was nervous, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why.

David leaned forward and smiled. “Actually, we have a pretty good idea.”

My mind immediately began to flip through everything I’d done today. How could they possibly know? “You do? How?”

Something in my mother’s worried gaze shifted, and before David could answer, she shot out her arm to squeeze my hand.

“We visited on the way over here. We have our suspicions. Why don’t you tell us what it is? Then we will tell you if we were right.”

I couldn’t stay up all night again tonight. My sleep-deprived brain was making it difficult for me to understand anything she was saying.

“Okay…” I started slowly as I carefully made sure to say everything exactly according to plan. “Well, it’s nothing for either of you to worry about. It’s a good thing.”

David smiled. “We know.”

I could feel my face shift into an expression of utter confusion, but before I could ask anything, Mom jumped in.

“Ignore him, Kate. Go ahead with what you were saying.”

I nodded and reached to grab my water glass, taking a quick sip before continuing. “Shortly after I got to my office this morning, I got a call from Laurel. They’ve decided to stay in Scotland for the rest of the summer.”

“Oh?”

I expected my mother to be stressed by the news. I knew she would feel the need to stay in Boston until Laurel returned, and such an extended trip would undoubtedly disrupt her life in Florida greatly, but the way her voice lifted at the end of her question made her seem rather pleased at the revelation.

I stared at her until she noticed my expression. “Are you okay, Mom?”

She answered—in my opinion—a little too quickly. “Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

I shrugged. “I just…I didn’t expect you to be so pleased with the news. You don’t really seem like yourself this afternoon.”

“Of course, I’m pleased. If Laurel and Marcus are planning to stay the summer, then it must mean that they’re having an excellent time. That’s all any mother wants for her children—for them to be happy.”

I had the strongest urge to whisper under my breath, Maybe some mothers, but I refrained. I knew, of course, that Mom did want that for both of us. She was often just too intense for that to show through.

Instead, I smiled, waited for the waiter to take our meal orders, and then once he was gone, continued with the rest of my plan.

“Well, good. If that makes you happy, I’m certain this will, as well. Since Laurel and Marcus have decided to stay the summer, and Marcus’ thirtieth birthday is as at the end of July, they’ve invited the three of us to visit them. Laurel’s treat.”

David’s eyes grew wide as he dropped the breadstick he’d been about to stick in his mouth. “You don’t mean she’s agreed to pay for it?”

I nodded excitedly. “That’s exactly what I mean. She was really insistent. She told me to visit with you guys and for us to pick a date that would work for all of us, as soon as possible.”

Mom’s eyes welled up with tears. “Let’s go now. First thing tomorrow. I can pack tonight.”

David laughed and reached out to gently squeeze Mom’s shoulder. “I would love to leave tomorrow, too, Myla, but I’m in the middle of the first summer session. The earliest I could possibly leave is three weeks, and that’s only if I can get another professor to take over my second session summer course.”

I couldn’t deny being a little disappointed. My eagerness to leave was nearly equal with Mom’s, but three weeks seemed sound. There were still many things I would have to take care of.

“But you do think you can find someone to take over next session’s course?”

“Kate, if you’ll book the flight, and Laurel’s paying for my ticket, then I’ll go with you one way or another. If I’m unable to find someone to cover it, I’ll quit.”

I could say nothing to him, but if I was right about all of this, quitting, whether he realized it or not, was exactly what David would be doing.

A flash of familiar dark hair and broad shoulders in the doorway caught my eye, and every ounce of blood drained from my face as I watched Dillon walk into the restaurant. I was directly in his line of vision. There was no way he wouldn’t see me.

I briefly contemplated diving beneath the table, but his head turned my way before I could make the move. His eyelids did this odd fluttery thing as if he was trying to process what he was seeing, but then his gaze changed to one of anger. I knew I had no option but to go to him and face this situation head on.

“Excuse me for a second. Dillon is here, and I need to speak with him.”

“Dillon!” Mom nearly jumped out of her chair in excitement. She loved Dillon—probably more than I did. “Invite him over.”

Shakily, I lay my napkin down on the table and stood.

“I don’t think he’s in the mood to talk, Mom. I told him I was sick. He didn’t know we were going to be here.”

She looked horrified.

“Why would you do that?”

“It doesn’t matter. You two finish your meal. I’m going to take Dillon back to his apartment. See you in a bit.”

Dillon’s expression was unlike any I’d ever seen on him, but he kept himself collected in the restaurant as I approached him.

“You lied.”

“I know. Why don’t we walk back to your apartment? We need to talk.”