Page 63 of Designed for Disaster

“So fucking good.”

It was well into the evening by the time Trent dropped Stacy and me off. We stumbled into my apartment to debrief, both of us collapsing on my couch, too tuckered out to move any further.

“I don’t understand why I’m so exhausted. I didn’t have to wrangle any of the kids.”

“I think they siphon energy,” Stacy teased. “Like little, adorable leeches.”

“Speaking of adorable,” I said. “Vincent and Piper’s daughter.”

“Oh my god!” Stacy said. “I know. I want a Violet of my own.”

We both grew quiet. It had been a good day.

“I couldn’t help noticing that you and Trent mysteriously disappeared together for a while.” I looked over, and she waggled her eyebrows at me. I flushed bright red, but Stacy just laughed. “I’m glad you two are having a good time together. I’ve never seen you smile like that for anyone.”

“What are you talking about? I smile like this for you all the time.”

She nudged me with her shoulder. “I’m serious.”

What could I say? It had been areallygood day. I know Trent and I had started this by playing pretend for Nana Dee, but it didn’t feel like pretend any more. “I’m surprised you noticed anything the way you were staring at Dominic the entire afternoon.”

Now it was Stacy’s turn to flush. She put her hands to her cheeks. “I literally felt like I was floating all afternoon. He’s just…He’s so wonderful. And the way he treats Hailey. I’ve never met a better man.”

I was glad they were hitting it off. I knew how nervous Stacy had been this morning. “Do you think things are moving in a good direction?”

She drummed her fingers against her lips. “Well, I really like him. And Hailey is just the sweetest.”

“She really loved the dress,” I said. “So there was no need to worry about that.”

Stacy smiled. “She was thrilled, wasn’t she? And she warmed up to me faster than I expected. I know we need to move slowly. The divorce is still pretty fresh, and Hailey’s so young. I don’t want to make this process any more complicated for Dominic. But he doesn’t seem to be pushing me away. So, in terms of a direction, I guess I feel…” She inhaled deeply, letting it out slowly. “Hopeful.”

“You’realwayshopeful,” I pointed out. I don’t think Stacy knew any other way to be.

She shrugged. “It’s bound to work out one of these days. Why not today?”

I patted her knee. “Why not today?”

Stacy leaned over and pecked me on the cheek. “Exactly. I’m gonna go before I fall asleep on your couch. Text me later?”

“Sure,” I said. “Have a good night.” She got up, letting herself out of the apartment while I grabbed my laptop from the end of the couch to check my email. I had a message from 1stDibs. I opened it, my eyes widening as I read it.

This wasn’t a business request, but a personal one.

From a woman claiming to be Trent’s mother.

18

TRENT

“How’re things going?” I asked as Sofia greeted me at the door of Nana Dee’s place.

She shrugged, tucking her stethoscope into the pocket of her nursing scrubs. “She hasn’t had the energy to get out of bed yet. Sounds like maybe she overdid it at the party.”

I closed the door quietly behind me, not wanting to disturb Dee if she’d gone back to sleep. When Sofia had reached out this morning, it was to tell me that Nana Dee had a rough night. “How’s her breathing?”

“Better now. But I’m worried she’s developing a cough.”

I winced. I knew how dangerous it was for her to develop a chest infection when she was already struggling to breathe. “You think she picked up something at the party yesterday?”

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