Page 62 of Single Mom's Guide to Love

Really? Using Simon’s six-month-old as an excuse? She’s lucky we aren’t FaceTiming so she can’t see the look I’m shooting her right now that screams “I don’t believe a fucking thing you’re saying.”

“Really, Quinn? That’s what you’re going with? Be real.”

“I am,” she says. “And aren’t you the one always begging me to move back? More visits should please you.”

She’s right about that. I miss my sister like crazy. But that’s not the point here. “Iamhappy. It’s just suspicious.”

At that moment, I see headlights turning into the driveway. And I let out a deep breath of relief.

“They’re home. We’re pausing this conversation for a future time.”

“Oh no. I’m so sad,” she deadpans. “But please call me back later if there’s new information about the marriage. I’m now leaning toward her being pregnant.”

Oh God, I never even thought of that. “Quinn! Why would you say that?”

“Shit. Sorry. Call me back!”

My sister hangs up the phone as now my brain rushes into a whole different direction.

Jayce with a half sibling? I never even considered that.

But my brain can’t fixate on that for too long as I hear the rattle of the front door handle being jiggled open by Jayce.

“Mommy!” he yells as he drops his backpack at the doorway and sprints to me. He doesn’t even take his boots off and istracking water all through my clean house, but I don’t care. My boy is home.

“Hey, buddy,” I say, wrapping him in maybe the biggest hug I’ve ever given him. “Did you have fun?”

“I did!”

Jayce begins a rapid-fire rundown of all the rides he rode, and the shows they saw. He’s about to start going into detail of every meal he ate when I see Josh staring at us from just inside the doorway.

Josh and I have only ever had two good communication styles in our life—in the bedroom, and silently with our eyes. Which is probably another reason why our marriage didn’t work.

The silent conversation is going something like this:

Me: “Why are you standing there?”

Him with a stare and a head nod: “We need to talk.”

Him shifting his eyes to Jayce then a head nod toward his room: “Alone.”

And frankly, Josh and I talking alone isn’t the worst idea right now. Vivian isn’t here, and I don’t hear his car running, so I’m guessing he didn’t leave her in there.

If Quinn were in the room, she’d be making a crack about him leaving the window open for her. But as the oldest sister, I’ll take the high road and just think it to myself.

“Jayce, I want to hear all about the trip. But we also have school tomorrow. So how about you go upstairs, put all your dirty clothes in the hamper, get in your pajamas, then come back and tell me everything else.”

His excitement still at a high, he doesn’t say anything as he sprints out of the living room. God, I love having an agreeable, and sometimes oblivious, son.

“Did the trip go well?”

I don’t invite him to, but Josh takes it upon himself to sit on the chair across from me on the couch. “Really well. Thanks for letting us do this.”

I don’t know if letting is the right word. More like court ordered, but that’s neither here nor there.

“I’m glad you guys had fun. But I don’t think you’re sitting down here so you can recap your trip to the Smoky Mountains.”

He nods and takes a second to look down at his clasped hands, elbows resting on his legs. His position is giving me pause. The last time he looked like this is when we sat down and decided it was best that we got a divorce.

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