Page 113 of Finders Keepers

“Even you?” She sniffles, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

“Even me,” I assure her with a smile. “Secrets are hard to keep when you’re excited.”

Her shoulders relax a little. “So you’re not mad?”

“Not even a tiny bit.” I smile at her through the rearview mirror. “And now I can be extra excited about whatever the surprise is. That’s actually better.”

Her smile slowly returns, relief washing over her features.

The last birthday I celebrated was four years ago, before Matt started isolating us from friends and family. Before the controlling behavior escalated to…

No. I won’t go there. Not now.

I pull into Gavin’s driveway, parking beside his truck. “Okay, let’s go see what surprise Gavin put into dinner tonight.”

The house smells amazing when we walk in. Chicken, garlic, butter, something else I can’t quite place. Gavin’s in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he stirs something on the stove. He looks up as we enter.

“Hey there, you two.” Gavin’s face lights up when he sees us. He’s wearing a dark blue apron with ‘Kiss the Chef’ written across it in faded letters. “Perfect timing.”

Sophie rushes toward him, her little legs carrying her across the kitchen floor with impressive speed. “Mommy said you’re making chicken with a surprise!”

Gavin chuckles, setting his wooden spoon down to give Sophie a high-five. “That’s right, and it’s almost ready. Just about three more minutes.” He glances up at me, and something in his gaze makes my stomach flutter. “You two should go wash up, and then we can eat.”

“Come on, Mommy!” Sophie tugs at my hand, pulling me toward the hallway bathroom.

I hesitate, caught in Gavin’s warm gaze. He smiles at me—not just any smile, but one that reaches his eyes. It’s the kind of smile that feels like a conversation all its own, telling me that we’re okay.

My cheeks warm under his attention, and for a brief moment, I forget about everything else, about Matt, about running, about the constant fear.

“I’ll be right there, Soph,” I call, my eyes still locked with Gavin’s.

She disappears down the hallway, and Gavin takes a half step toward me, then stops himself. “Go on,” he says softly. “I’ve got everything under control here.”

I nod, finally breaking eye contact. As I follow Sophie to the bathroom, I can still feel the warmth of his smile on my back.

Iwatch as Sophie pushes the food around her bowl, her tiny nose wrinkled as she discovers the green spheres hiding in the creamy sauce.

“Peas?” She pokes at one with her fork.

“That’s the surprise ingredient.” Gavin winks at her from across the table. “They’re magic peas.”

“Magic?” Her eyes widen, fork pausing mid-poke.

“Absolutely. They’re swimming in the alfredo sauce, which makes them taste like…” He taps his chin, pretending to think. “Well, why don’t you try one and tell me what they taste like to you?”

I hide my smile behind my napkin, watching their interaction.

She carefully spears another pea, examining it closely before putting it in her mouth. Her eyes light up. “It’s yummy!”

“See? Magic.” Gavin grins, shooting me a triumphant look.

The dinner conversation flows easily. It feels…almost normal. The kind of family dinner I’d always dreamed of giving Sophie.

“So,” I clear my throat, “I hear there might be some birthday plans in the works?”

Gavin chokes slightly on his sweet tea, and Sophie’s eyes go wide with panic.

“It’s okay, sweetie.” I reach over to squeeze her hand. “Remember what we talked about in the car? It’s okay that I know.”

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