Page 23 of Reconcile

The little boy looks up at me with bright, happy eyes. “Swearer is the bestest!”

I stare at him in surprise because there’s no doubt from his tone that what he said is true. Vivienne wraps her arms around him. “He and Baz connected quickly. Sawyer’s really great with him.”

I don’t know what to say. The Sawyer I knew was a child, and the one I’ve had a glimpse of lately isstilla spoiled child. “So, he’s not home?”

She shakes her head. “More than likely, he got held up at work. Linc likes to run him ragged, but I’m sure he’ll be home soon.”

I look at my cellphone for the time. I asked Angela to stay a little later with Audrey tonight, but I don’t want to be too late. “Damn.” I look at the little boy. “Oh, sorry. Darn.”

He giggles. “She swears too!”

Vivienne shakes her head, smiling and clearly full of love for her little boy. Who knew the super serious Vivienne Crenshaw would grow up to be a great mother so full of joy? I haven’t seen even a glimmer of a frown on her face.

Of course, kids have a way of making things seem brighter, until some asshole comes swooping in and threatens to take them away from you.

“Do you want to wait at our house? It’s right down there.” She points down the street, and as much as part of me craves adult conversation that isn’t about real estate, I’m reluctant.

“Oh. No, thank you. I really need to get home.”

“I’m sure he’ll be here very soon,” she adds, and I relent.

“Okay, sure. Thank you.”

I walk with her and her son to their home, and we go in the front door. I smile when I look around, having expected a sterile, fancy home from what I saw on the outside. But when we go inside, it’s readily apparent a child lives here.

The home is kept up, but there are toys spread out and lots of artwork. “Come on in.” Viv directs me toward the sofa in the living room, and I take a seat. She turns to her son. “Why don’t you go back to drawing some pretty pictures, Baz? I’m going to talk to Piper for a few minutes.”

“Not pretty, Mom!” Baz whines in an adorable way with his little hand on his hip. “Cool.”

Vivienne holds up her hands in mock surrender. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Cool pictures.”

He’s satisfied with that and heads to a small table in the corner of the living room that’s covered in paper and crayons.

“So, Sawyer told us what he did.” That grabs my attention as I stare at her, trying to decipher what exactly she’s talking about. She adds, “The ultimatum.”

“Oh.” I feel the frown lines forming around my mouth. “Yeah.”

I wait for her to defend him. I know they had a thing before Asher and she married, and clearly she’s fond of him. “He’s such a dick.”

I gape at her. “What?”

She laughs and shakes her head in disbelief. “I mean, I know why he did it, but Jesus.” She shakes her head again. “He’s an idiot.”

I’m not sure if this is a trap or not. “He is.”

She laughs effortlessly. “I know it came from a good place, Piper. Which I’m sure you don’t want to hear right now.” I don’t, but I don’t interrupt her. “He wants to be a good dad.”

“By threatening me?”

“Yeah. But don’t worry, I reamed him out for that and told him that’s not the way to go about it. I think he’s scared and horrified he wasn’t around.”

“I didn’t want him around.”

She nods knowingly. “I can’t blame you.”She can’t?I thought she would hate me for keeping this from him. Her hand touches my shoulder gently. “But aren’t you kind of tired of doing it all alone?”

I’ll never admit that out loud. “I’ve been fine. I can handle it.”

She nods reassuringly as she places both her hands in her lap. “I have no doubt you can, but for what it’s worth, I do think Sawyer would make an excellent father.” She looks over at her son and smiles. “You should see him with Sebastian.”

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