Declan looked around the empty house in Maryland that he’d rented for himself and the girls. “It’s big, Daddy.” This from Meli, his impish twin. “Do we have our own rooms?”

“Of course.”

“Want to go see ours, Morgy?” she asked her sister Morgan. They both had blond hair and blue eyes, like him. His oldest was the spitting image of her mother.

Dec held out two hands, which his kids clasped. “I’ll show you.”

They climbed the open oak staircase, made their way around the railings. Declan led them down one hall. At the end were two doors. “Let’s go in here first.”

Once in the room, the girls scanned the wide windows, the ceiling fan and then their gazes landed on a doorway. Morgan rushed over and yanked it open. “It’s a bathroom.”

“With another door on that side.”

The girls burst through both entrances. Screeches. Proclamations like “Oh, this is so cool,” and “Just what we need!” Their rooms were connected by a Jack-and-Jill bath like the Marinos third-floor quarters built for Whitney and Connor.

Declan leaned back against the wall, grateful that he could please these two munchkins after he’d uprooted them. Thankfully, they were going to have middle school in Lakeville and would have to change buildings anyway. “Uncle Nick scouted this area for us, which is close to your uncles, and when he saw the rooms with an adjoining bathroom, he thought the place would be great for you two.” It also had a master suite.

Meli went to a window. “Oh, look, a big back yard.” She turned to her father. “For our dogs. Right dad?”

He’d bribed the girls when they left Lakeville: if they cooperated in the move, they could each get a dog. He wanted one, anyway. “Yep, and they yard is fenced in.”

Morgan said, “Does the house have a room for Maggie?”

“You bet. This is her home, too.”

His oldest was at the orientation for college right now only forty minutes away at American University where she’d live on campus, but she also had a her own space here. He hoped she’d use it.

“Where’s yours?”

“I’ll take you to it, but Maggie should see her own first before you do.” They’d been staying with Gabe and Macy, and he’d dropped her off at orientation before they came here.

When the girls had their fill of house touring, they settled in the kitchen. Declan had ordered a pizza so it was piping hot, the scent of spicy sauce and cheese filling the expansive area. They sat on the stools left by the previous owners at the bar and dug in. Before they finished, the doorbell rang. “That’s our furniture,” Meli declared, sliding off her seat, and raced to the foyer. Morgan followed, and Dec went after them.

Meli threw open the door. “Oh. I thought you were our delivery.”

Lila smiled at the girls. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” Dec recognized the uncertainty in her voice.

“Yeah, Mommy, we are.” Morgan hugged her then Meli took her turn.

Lila raised her gaze to Declan. “Hi.”

Just the sight of her upset him. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

“I got excited about the girls being so close, I came out on my lunch break.”

All Dec said was, “There’s pizza left.”

“Oh, well, can I have a tour of the place first?”

Meli grabbed her arm. “Wait till you see our rooms. There’s lots windows, a bathroom that connects us, and even skylights.”

Her mouth thinned. “How nice.” She looked at Dec. “I always wanted skylights.”

They’d lived in apartments at first then bought a home in Lakeville, which was nice but old, like most of the houses in town. “You’ve should put a couple in your place.”

“It’s a colonial. Skylights were non-existent in a house based on the colony’s dwellings.”

Ignoring her comment, he said, “So, take Mommy on a tour.”

When they left he went back to the kitchen and sat on a stool. He picked up a half-eaten piece of pizza, but now it tasted like cardboard. So he scanned the room. High ceilings, granite countertops, big enough for a table by the fireplace. Lila would probably love this room. But he hadn’t rented the place with her in mind. No, she had a new guy, a new house, a new life now.

Ten minutes later, the girls raced through the kitchen to the backyard. Their mother went outside with them then came back in alone.

“This is lovely.”

He turned. She looked pretty even a yellow summer sundress and strappy sandals. Her hair was up in a knot befitting the hot August day.

“Thanks. Not sure we’ll buy it.”

“Why?”

“The house in Lakeville would have to sell first.”

Taking a seat one stool down, she ignored the food. “So you moved down here.” There was a cutting undertone in her voice, but he knew why. And she was entitled.

“My parents said it was a deal breaker.” Like it had been, in the end for them, though he didn’t know it at the time.

Her mouth got tight. “Did they buy something?”

“No they’re staying with Nick now. They’ve had offers to stay in four different places. We don’t know if they’ll want their own.”

“Four?”

“Sure, here. There’s a first floor den for them. Nick and Gabe both have another suite and you should see the house Connor and Calla built. It’s got a guest house behind the main one.”

“Befitting a princess.”

“And the heir to the throne.”

“Seriously? She’s pregnant?”

“Before the wedding.” He lasered her with a look. “Just like us.”

“Are they happy about having a baby so soon?”

“Yes.”

“Unlike us.”

“I know we were wary at first, and especially when I was away those six months, but when she came we were happy, Lila.”

She shook her head releasing a few more tendrils. “I know. I guess what followed, what brought us to where we are is too much in the forefront for me.” She shook her head. “I thought we were invincible.”

“I did too. What happened to those kids?”

“They grew up. And modern life was too much for them to withstand, I guess.”

“How sad.”

The children burst back through the door at the end of the kitchen. “Daddy, they left their jungle gym. It’s got a fort, and a slide and swings.”

“I was thinking about tearing it down. That you’re too old for it.”

Their faces fell. Until Lila laughed. “Daddy’s kidding.”

“Oh, oh, good.”

The bell rang again.

Dec stood. “That has to be our furniture.”

“Yay! Mommy, can you stay and help us set up our rooms.”

She looked to Dec. He said, “Sure, I’ve got my hands full with the rest of the stuff. Can get out of work.”

“I just have to make a call.” She looked down. “And I have workout clothes in the car.”

“Then it’s settled.”

The caller did bring the new furniture. And right behind them was the moving van from Lakeville. Dec signed papers and Lila headed to her car. Halfway down the sidewalk she looked over her shoulder and said, “I can’t believe you’re here.”

He didn’t know what to say. Or if he could even speak around the sock stuck in his throat. Had he made different decisions, if life and circumstances had gone their way, they could be buying this house together, settling in together, building on a life they made through the years.

But that was a fairytale, and he wasn’t a doctor marrying a princess, like Connor. He and Lila were two soldiers who just couldn’t merge their lives.

Again, he thought, How sad.

When Lila reached her sporty civic, she took a deep breath. Declan had moved down here. For his parents. When he refused to move for her when she got her dream job. The notion galled her but she had to keep her head. She’d made mistakes that hurt her family too, and bitterness wouldn’t help either of them. Sitting in the front seat she called work. The recording switched on- You’ve reached the VA Benefits Division. If you know your party’s extension, please connect now .”

Lila punched 418 and waited for the secretary. Instead, she heard, “Director Vance.”

“Robert, hello. I didn’t expect you to answer.”

“Mable went to lunch. What’s up?”

“I’m going to take some of my comp time this afternoon, if that’s all right.”

“Let me check the main calendar.” She waited. “You’ve got an appointment at four with one of the veterans.”

“There was a message on my cell that he canceled. I forgot to change the calendar online.”

“No problem. Everything okay?” He knew she was heading out to see her family.

“None. But the kids are settling into their rooms and I’d like to help.”

“Of course. What time will you be home for dinner? I have a late meeting, but should be there before eight.”

“I’m sure I’ll be home by then, but why don’t you grab something to eat? I will, too.”

A pause. “All right. See you then, honey.”

After she clicked off, she wondered why she’d not committed to dinner. Her emotions were in a tumult because of the conversation she had with Declan and because this move pulled the scab off old wounds. Stop it, Delilah. Your life’s good now.

Yes, it was. She worked at a job she loved, though she’d left the army reserves at thirty-six when her commitment was over. Unlike Declan who couldn’t seem to give it up and still went on specialty missions. Stop thinking about him. To that end, she whipped open the door, got her bag out of the backseat, and headed back inside.

A furniture store employee was carrying in a double bed of oak. She followed him inside and upstairs to Meli’s room. Her daughter was practically jumping up with glee.

“You got a new bed?”

“Yep. A big-girl’s bed.”

Lila had bought her a white canopy bed with covers sporting unicorns for her house. “Did you get new bedding?”

“Yeah.” She raced to a box and pulled out a spread and sheets. Lila crossed to them.

“Who are those people?” she asked.

“Mommy! Those are singers.”

“Current pop stars?”

“Uh-huh.”

She wondered what Dec planned to do when they went out of fashion. And what had she done by picking baby things for her almost adolescent girls?

Morgan popped in from her bedroom through the bath. “Mommy. Come see my bed.”

“Okay. Then we’ll set up a plan for placing furniture and unpacking other stuff.”

If Meli’s room was big girl, Morgan’s shouted teenager! Twin beds, a bit oversized, graced the spot between two windows. Bedding was stacked on the mattresses. The quilt was zebra print only in purple. The sheets a lighter lilac. “This is very sophisticated, Morgy.”

“I’m going to be thirteen soon.”

How had that happened? It seemed like only yesterday that they were born. Though they’d been totally unexpected, like Maggie, Lila had loved them unconditionally.