Page 10 of Merry Ever After

“Where is she now?”

“Living in Canada. Calgary. She met a man at school, and they’re getting married in the fall.” I give her a look. “I might need a custom suit, if you know a good tailor.”

Another one of those pretty lip twitches. “I might.”

She takes one step forward. Another. Shifts the baby in a way that indicates she’s ready to hand him over. Trying not to let my relief show, I stand up and take Sonny in my arms, maneuvering the tiny infant until he’s against my shoulder, beginning a slow, bouncing walk under Evie’s watchful eye.

She has no idea I feel as though I’ve just won the lottery.

That exchange of trust wasn’t easy for her, but she did it. She trusts me.

I want more.

“What about your other siblings?” she asks, walking barefoot back to the stove, stirring the soup and putting together a second grilled cheese. “Where are they?”

“Spread out. Besides the one in Calgary, one still lives with my parents not far from here. One is still in school, and the other travels with a theater group. She’s the dramatic one.”

I pace closer to the kitchen, smiling inwardly when the baby blows a raspberry, his hand twisting in the collar of my shirt. “Do you have any siblings?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “No, but I always wished for a sister.”

“You can borrow one of mine—the dramatic one, preferably.”

I’m only able to see the side view of her smile. “Was it just natural for you to take over the farm because you’re the oldest?”

“Sort of, yes. But I don’t think the rest were born for it. Either way, I think ...” I find my throat getting crowded. “I think I might have come on too strong, trying to make them love the farm as much as I did. Maybe I even drove them in other directions—before I realized what I was doing, you know?” She meets my eyes. There’s no judgment or sympathyin hers, only quiet understanding. “I love farming. It’s in my blood. Something else is in theirs, and that’s okay.”

I’m watching her soften little by little, the tension leaving her shoulders, her movements at the stove growing more confident. “I keep waiting for you to ask me what happened with Sonny’s father, but you never do. It’s usually the first question people ask.”

“I reckon you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”

She places both sandwiches on the hot pan, the buttered bread beginning to sizzle. When I make myself grilled cheese sandwiches, I usually eat four of those suckers, but I’m not going to tell her that. One will have to suffice tonight—but thank God there’s soup, too.

There’s a chance I might live.

“We were together two years when I got pregnant. He wasn’t interested in having a family and left. Honestly, I didn’t want a child, either, at first, but ...” She shrugs. “I was an accident, too. My mom always called me her little silver lining. I guess maybe I felt bonded to Sonny right away and I just ... I wanted to try. I was ready.” She looks back at me over her shoulder, vulnerable. “To be the good in someone’s life.”

My throat tugs ... and keeps right on tugging. She’s going to be this kid’s hero.

“I’d say you’re going to be a lot more than that.” I pretend the baby is whispering in my ear. “Sonny confirms the bottles have been the perfect temperature. Mom of the Year.”

She laughs again. I could really get used to that sound. Thank God I stopped being too tongue-tied around her to make jokes. “How many grilled cheeses should I make you?” Evie asks me then, totally nonchalant. “Three or four?”

That seals it. I’m marrying her, come hell or high water.

Chapter Five

Evie

Luke holds the baby all through dinner.

He eats with one hand and cradles a sleepy Sonny against his shoulder with the other, and I’m starting to wonder if this man is even real. I’m sitting here at the table, telling him about my childhood travels with my mother and some of the funniest customer interactions I’ve had downstairs, but mentally I’m still standing at the window, looking down at the bike with the big red bow and the baby seat.

I’ve never received such a beautiful gift.

It checks so many boxes that I hadn’t thought to check myself. The bike gives me freedom, gives me options for traveling places. Sonny will get fresh air and sunshine and core memories on the back of that bike. It looks expensive, too. Brand new. Shiny. Gears on the handlebars. I shouldn’t accept the bike, but ...

I think maybe Iwantto be able to go see Luke more easily.

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