“So your father was Chelsea’s dad, but she never met him, which makes you Legend’s aunt and stepmother? And Gwendolyn, or Dottie, is not only your grandmother; she’s my son’s great-grandmother? For a Chase, that sounds awfully reprehensible and totally preposterous—not to mention, a tad trashy.”

I couldn’t tell if he didn’t buy it or he was so dumbfounded that reality hadn’t quite hit him. So I stood there with my arms crossed over my chest, my hip cocked to the side against the dresser, and a death glare on my face while I blinked slowly in his direction. He continued to move about our room getting ready for bed, and still, I said nothing—waiting for it to register. When he finally stopped, presumably because I hadn’t made a peep, I pursed my lips and raised my brow, daring him to make another joke.

“Baby, what do you want me to say?” He patted the mattress next to him, but I remained firmly planted. “I can’t begin to wrap my mind around any of the twisted pieces in the puzzle or how none of the wires ever crossed in thirty-plus years. It’s like a perfectly played game of Operation.”

My arms dropped to my sides, and my fists balled in agitation as I pushed off the dresser. “You don’t even seem to care. Like it’s just another day in Geneva Key.” I threw my hands in the air, exasperated by his indifference.

“That’s not true. I just don’t have a clue what to do with the information. It’s like you found out your entire life was a lie, and the people who could answer questions aren’t around anymore. I know you’re struggling with letting go of the contempt for Gwendolyn, so I’m stuck mentally as to how to give you any advice.”

I finally joined him on the bed and leaned against his shoulder. “That’s not true. I think after everything she told me, that portion of my story doesn’t warrant grasping much less clinging to as the gospel. If everything Gwendolyn says is true, then I haven’t been fair to her. Unfortunately, I’m reluctant to believe what she said about my dad, either. He can’t defend himself; he can’t justify his actions—he was a good man, James. I just can’t make heads or tails out of any of this. And worst of all, my grandmother has taken the fall for so many years, and we now have a son that we will have to explain this mess to.”

He kissed the top of my head and wrapped his arm around my waist. “You know what’s great?”

I shook my head.

“He’s not going to ask anytime soon, and we have time to figure that part out. However, we’re coming down to the wire on making a decision about staying here or going back to New York.”

“I thought we’d made the decision.” I didn’t bother looking up, I just drew circles on his knee with my fingers absentmindedly.

“I wasn’t sure if this stuff with Gwendolyn changed anything for you.”

“If anything, it solidified my resolve to stay.” I pulled back to meet my husband’s gaze. “I’ve wasted a lot of years believing she was something she wasn’t. I get that she still made mistakes, but she’s the only Chase I have left in my life. I think I owe it to her to give her a chance, and maybe the two of us could be friends.”

His brows came together and three little creases formed between them. I loved how he looked when he was thinking about something. “I’m surprised you’re not more upset than this.”

“I was.” My shoulders rose in a half-hearted shrug. “But all the tears I cried didn’t change my past or Chelsea’s or Legend’s…or even Gwendolyn’s. And no matter how far I walked, the only solution I came up with was giving her the chance to prove my dad wrong.”

“Never in a million years did I envision our life this way.” He fell to the mattress on his back with his arms spread out.

I followed suit and then curled onto my side with his forearm under my neck. “You and me both. If it’s the hand we have to play, might as well go for broke.”

“That’s entirely possibly moving to Geneva Key, but I’m all in.” He winked at me and chuckled.

It was a scary truth. We had a house to sell and a business to deal with. Not to mention, our two best friends lived in New York and had followed us there. I dreaded telling Hannah we weren’t coming back to live.

“Have you thought about what you’re going to tell Neil?”

He turned to me, straight-faced, and said, “I assumed you’d tell Hannah, and she could break it to Neil.” The humor danced in his eyes, and I playfully swatted at his chest.

“So I get to be the bad guy?”

“Girls are way more forgiving.”

“Hardly, they hold a grudge forever. Guys slap each other on the ass and forget what was said in the previous sentence. This one’s on you.”

He sat straight up and leaned over to the nightstand to grab his phone. “No time like the present.”

“You can’t call him now. James, it’s ten thirty at night.”

“Yeah, and he probably just got home from the office.”

“Oh, that makes it so much better. I’m not having any part of this.”

“Where are you going? I thought this was for better or worse? In sickness and in health?” He was incorrigible.

“I’m going to take a shower. You can tell me how things go with Neil when I get out. I’ll call Hannah tomorrow at a respectable time of day.” And I sauntered off to the bathroom, closing the door just as Neil answered.

I couldn’t stand the thought of losing our friends, even if it was just distance—they’d been our family when we thought we had no one else. And now it seemed we were abandoning them. Regardless, no matter how I worked the scenario in my head, doing what was best for Legend remained our greatest responsibility…I just hoped they understood.

I’d have to wait until tomorrow to find out. When I emerged from the shower turned bubble bath, my husband was fast asleep on top of the comforter. It was the only time I usually saw the boy I’d fallen in love with. When his features weren’t marred with stress or the pressure of a day, the years fell away, and the James of our youth was there. And while I wanted to run my thumb over his eyebrow and caress his jaw, I simply kissed his forehead and covered him with a blanket. And silently thanked God for delivering me my own piece of perfection when I’d so desperately needed him.

***

Having joint custody of a young child was exhausting. We weren’t obligated by court order to give Gwendolyn any time, but Legend loved her, and it gave me an excuse to spend time with her out of perceived obligation. I didn’t have to admit I was anxious to get to know her or that I had questions. I didn’t have to tell her I’d done nothing besides think about all the ways I’d missed out over the years. I got to use Legend as an excuse to have lunch with her during an exchange or walk on the beach while he played in the waves, or sit on a park bench when he climbed on a jungle gym like a monkey. And each opportunity opened the door to a relationship I’d never imagined I’d have, much less crave. Day by day, I realized what I would have missed out on had I not given her the chance. And I tried not to dwell on all I’d lost in favor of all I had to gain.

“I’m going to miss you tonight, buddy.” Legend was tall and lanky, much like the pictures I’d seen of James at his age, and he gave the best hugs in the world. “You be good for Dottie tonight, okay?”

He gave me a look to indicate I had nothing to worry about, and it dawned on me, I was acting like a mother. Not just any mother, but Legend’s. I ruffled his sunny, red hair, and then popped him playfully on the bottom as I stood. I handed Gwendolyn his bag as though he was her guest instead of ours, yet she took it graciously and didn’t point out that he had everything he needed at her house.

“You two have fun.”

“Bye, Cora.” He turned to wave over his shoulder, as did Gwendolyn.

I just stood there, wondering why his departure left a gaping hole in my chest. I’d see him the next day—my grandmother, too. His absence suddenly seemed unfamiliar, and I wondered if this was how all mothers felt when their children were away—just before it dawned on me that I wasn’t really his mother.

Although I wanted to be.

I stood on the pier, basking in the sunshine and watched the two of them walk into the distance. When I couldn’t see them anymore, I finally turned around and went home.

“Where have you been?” James’s panicked voice worried me.

“Legend and I had lunch with Gwendolyn, remember?” My brow furrowed, and I wondered how he could’ve forgotten.

“I didn’t think you’d be gone this long. When did you stop carrying your cell phone with you?” He held up the device in question like I was being interrogated.

I shrugged and stepped past him to get water from the kitchen. “When we relocated to an island I can scream across, and I no longer had a job.” I couldn’t fathom what had him in an uproar. Even with the chaos of finding out he had a son, meeting him, and staying at his parents’ house, I hadn’t felt so stress-free in years.

“Cora, we needed to leave for the airport fifteen minutes ago.”

I glanced at the clock and realized just how late it was. “Okay, so let’s go. I’ll apologize when we get there.”

“To them or me?”

I lifted up on my toes and placed a kiss on his jaw since it was the only thing I could reach. “Them of course. You already know I love you.”

His inability to stay irritated with me always played in my favor—not that I took advantage of it. As I lowered my feet, his arm snuck around my waist, and his face nestled into the crook of my neck when he bent down. His whiskers were rough on my skin, although coupled with his fingers tickling my side, I broke out in gales of laughter. The harder I tried to escape, the more brutal his assault became until I wasn’t convinced I’d walk away without peeing in my pants. “James—” His name was a breathless syllable between two giggles.

“Say it.” The humor in his voice only spurred my silliness.

“Uncle.”

“Try again.”

“I surrender.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I love you?” I knew what he wanted, but this was so much more fun. Even if it just made us later to pick up our friends.

“Nice, but no.”

As my back arched and he didn’t relent, I finally gave him what he silently demanded. “I’m sorry.”

He immediately ceased fire and secured me in his embrace. With a quick peck to the nose, he let me go and grabbed my hand to pull me out the door. “I love you, too.”

The smile hadn’t left my lips since the first poke in the ribs, still, hearing those three words from James Carpenter’s mouth never ceased to make me feel like a teenager falling for the first time. I’d keep that goofy, love-struck grin plastered to my face until my cheeks hurt and the muscle refused to maintain it.

It didn’t take all that long to get to the airport. Thankfully, traffic was light, so there would be no more apologizing. Neil and Hannah had no idea we’d been late since their plane hadn’t landed, and we now waited on them.

“Are you excited to see Hannah?” We sat on a bench near the baggage claim.

I loved airports. People from all over the world moved seamlessly through space and time going from one destination to another, completely oblivious they were being watched. I could see people from all walks of life, countries I’d never been to, who spoke languages I didn’t understand, and all had a purpose and a destination.

“Of course. It’s only been a few weeks, but I haven’t talked to her much. It’ll be good to have a few days with them. Are you sad about the business?” I’d asked this question repeatedly and kept getting the same answer, yet I worried James had made a decision he’d regret just to please me. I had to continually remind myself that he made it for Legend.

His mouth twitched just before it opened. “Not really. I mean, I hate that I’m just dumping it on Neil, but a lot’s happened, and it’s just not where we’re meant to be right now. That might change down the road, unfortunately, I have to focus on today.”

“Do you ever think about how odd it is that your story and my dad’s could have been so similar?”

“No, do you?”

The cart carrying elderly people flew past us, honking its horn, and a late passenger was called over the intercom, derailing my thoughts momentarily.

“Yeah.” And it bothered me. My dad, not James.

The man who’d left Chelsea’s mom alone wasn’t the same guy who’d raised me or been the husband to my mother. I hadn’t fathomed any of these things when he was alive and had never even met my half-sister. I couldn’t stop thinking about how odd it was that he’d left a child who ended up having a child who never met him to be raised by my grandmother. And had James decided not to be a part of Legend’s life, Legend would have met the same fate his mother had. Somehow, Gwendolyn was left holding the hands of all those involved.

“Cora!”

Down the escalator came my best friend and her boyfriend. I jumped up, not bothering to elaborate on the topic James and I were discussing, and took off toward them. We met in the middle of baggage claim in an embrace. When she finally pulled back, her hands remained on my forearms like she was appraising me.

“Unemployment looks fantastic on you, and so does that tan. Are you living in the sand and sun?”

When she took my hands in hers, the light bounced off her finger and the giant diamond perched on the fourth one. “Oh. My. God. When did this happen?” I let go of her to use all ten of my fingers to inspect the engagement ring she’d waited so long for.

When I could finally focus on something other than the blinding sparkle from the two carats set in platinum, I glanced at James to show him her hand before meeting her eyes. They glistened with tears of happiness.

“He proposed two days ago. I was going to call you, I swear. Neil thought it would be better to tell you in person so we could all celebrate. Don’t be mad.” She poked out her bottom lip just slightly. I couldn’t have cared less that she hadn’t called—I was just grateful she was here.

James clapped Neil on the shoulder. “It’s about damn time. You’re lucky she waited. How many years has it been? Nine? Ten?”

“Eleven. Eleven years,” Hannah answered for Neil with a chortle. Even if he’d never proposed, she wouldn’t have left. They were as right together as James and I were.

“At least my girl didn’t take a two-year, international hiatus.” This was an ongoing ribbing between James and Neil, and thankfully, they usually left me out of it—even though I was the one who’d left.

“I hate to tell you, Mr. Carpenter, your stats aren’t much better. We had a decade under our belt when you finally got serious.” I loved to jab him.

“High school hardly counts, and again, you left for two years—so by default, those two things take off three and half years. I should get credit for having the ring even if it wasn’t on your finger.”

“Hard to wear a rock without a setting.” Hannah giggled, clearly proud of her smartass insertion into the conversation.

“I’m wounded, Hannah. Here I thought we were pals, amigos, compadres—the first chance you get, you throw me to the wolves.” James was so melodramatic.

However, it all felt so normal. The four of us. Together. I’d have a hard time when they left, but I was determined to enjoy them while they were here.

By the time we’d grabbed their bags and driven back to Geneva Key, the afternoon had gotten away from us. Together, with our best friends, we strolled the beach and picked up shells. We had dinner on the patio of a restaurant I didn’t know existed even though I’d walked by a dozen times. With dessert and drinks, we ended the perfect evening listening to the waves crash against the shore and the few lone gulls cry into the night. As the breeze blew strands of hair against my face, I watched the tiny flame in the centerpiece flicker, yet never go out. The sounds of friendship lingered around the table, and my heart was full.

The next day, James sold his half of the company to Neil. They’d spent the morning with the Carpenters’ attorney, and we hadn’t heard from them. I worried what frame of mind James would be in when he and Neil got back. Although, I had to admit I hadn’t been prepared for the smiles and overall joy that lit up his features.

When I got a second to pull him aside, I whispered, “Are you really all right with this?”

He kissed my lips and smacked my ass. “Baby, I’m thrilled. Life is good.” And the truth was written on his face.

***

“So when do we get to meet the little urchin?” Neil was excited to meet his best friend’s son.

“Cora’s grandmother is bringing him home around lunch.”

“How’s that going, Cora?” The concern on Neil’s face was endearing.

“Really well. It’s not going to fix itself overnight, even so, I think we’re both trying. And that’s about all we can do right now. Legend makes it a lot easier.”

“Does anyone have any idea why his mom gave him such an…odd name?” Hannah had chosen her words carefully as not to offend James, but he’d wondered the same thing.

“We haven’t asked.” I wanted to. However, with everything else going on, it seemed to be at the bottom of the list of things to question.

Before the conversation of namesakes could continue, the front door flew open as the doorbell rang. Gwendolyn tried to respect the Carpenters, while Legend had already made himself at home.

“Daddy, look what Dottie got me.” He flew through the foyer and into the breakfast area where the four of us sat, bypassing Neil, Hannah, and me, in favor of launching himself into his father’s lap.

I realized when I saw Neil’s expression change how odd it must be for other people to hear Legend call James “Daddy,” but it didn’t sound foreign to my ears—it sounded like magic.

“What is it?” James stared at the toy as though he’d never seen one before, playing into the wonder of his son’s amazement.

“A Nerf gun!”

Before anyone could warn him not to shoot it in the house, he popped off three right in a row, one of which bounced off my chair.

He bowed his head as though he were ashamed. “I’m sorry, Cora.” He wasn’t able to hide the grin that made his cheeks round, and I could tell he was trying to disguise his amusement.

It was easier to laugh and see him smile than to try to scold him when he was so cute. Thankfully, Gwendolyn had joined us, and she had no problems telling him not to shoot the gun at anyone or in the house. I mouthed, “Thank you,” in her direction, and she waved me off as though it was nothing.

Remembering my manners, I jumped from my seat. “Hannah, Neil, this is my grandmother, Gwendolyn Chase—affectionately referred to as Dottie.” The words had come out before I realized who bore witness to them.

No one else noticed, except Legend. “Hey,” he dragged out the word the way only kids could. “I didn’t know my Dottie is your grandma. That means you’re in my family.” And as quickly as he’d considered it, he’d moved on to another subject. “Is my grandma here? I wanna show her my gun.”

“She’s upstairs, Legend,” I said, trying to lead him away from the conversation we weren’t ready to have, and he took off in compliance.

“It was nice to meet you both. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

I showed Gwendolyn out with an unexpected hug and returned to the table to a conversation already underway.

“He doesn’t look anything like you. Other than the fact he clearly got your height and weight issues.” Neil and James had been friends their entire lives, and he apparently remembered him as a child. “You look way better as a redhead,” he joked.

“You just said he didn’t look a thing like me. Make up your mind, man.”

“Well, DNA doesn’t lie.”

James threw a dish towel at his friend while Hannah and I merely observed their stupidity. We’d all known each other for a lot of years, and some things never changed—I wouldn’t have it any other way. When I’d been in Paris, Hannah had painted a mental picture of a James I never cared to see, and I’d feared that was who I would find when he came to France. Thankfully, we’d healed, and their friendships had mended.

Four days hadn’t been nearly enough time to soak in each other’s company. They were completely enamored with Legend by the time they left and begged us to bring him with us when we sold the house. I never thought I’d see a day when any of us had wanted to spend time with kids. Life had a funny way of throwing curveballs that ended up being the perfect pitch.

When the three of us said goodbye to Neil and Hannah at the airport, it was with the assumption we’d see them again soon, nevertheless, the pain was still staggering. We only had one more thing to do before our lives had come full circle—and that was sell our house. I refused to consider that we needed to buy one here or pack or move—those were all chores for another day. I had a hard enough time saying goodbye to the only girlfriend I had. I loved James and Legend both, but Geneva Key was a far cry from New York City, and making friends would be a challenge.

Maybe the portal down on Main near the grocery store would spit out some of the girls it had swallowed after high school and shoot them in my direction. It’d be great if one of them had managed to have a kid during their time in the black hole that existed in the population here. James had joked about it for years, and now that I was back, I realized just how truthful he’d been. We’d spent so little time here after graduation that it hadn’t occurred to me that people left and never returned or that there was a generation consistently missing from the census in Geneva Key.

Now that we were here, I had to find a way to make it a home. I couldn’t count the days until I left for college or the number of weeks before I turned eighteen. We’d made a commitment for Legend, and this was our new life. Geneva Key, not the bright lights of the city.

Standing in the airport, watching our friends go through security, James put his arm around my waist, and Legend stood in front of us waving. It wasn’t the life I pictured, yet now, I couldn’t imagine a world without that little boy in it. James bent down and kissed the top of my head.

“You ready?” he asked me.

And I was—for whatever came next.