Page 55 of Long Road Home

Would you ever consider leaving? I was smart enough not to ask the one question I was dying to know.

“We live in a suburb called Friendswood. I picked it because it sounded nice.” She flashed me a grin that was shaky at best. “I wanted a good place to raise Toby and he has so many friends, Jordan. He’s really smart. I mean, it’s only fifth grade, but everything comes so easy to him. He taught himself to read before Kindergarten. One day he just picked up a book and read it—”

“He’s a good kid.” I leaned forward, almost resting my elbows on the edge of the table. “But I wasn’t asking about Toby’s life. I’m asking aboutyours.”

“Oh. Um.” Her brows pulled together in that cute way she had, and she reached up, fiddling with her ponytail, twisting it around her hand before letting it drop into her lap. “Well, I’m a mom, and I work. That is my life. I mean, you know about Paul, and I don’t think you want to talk about him, so…”

I didn’t. I didn’t want to hear a thing about the guy who had her for years and couldn’t seal the deal, but I’d chew nails if she would open up to me for once.

“Do you like your job? Friends? You have to give me something here, Des.”

She squeezed her eyes close harshly and when she opened them, fear swirled in her rich hazel eyes so brightly it almost mademewant to cry. “I’m trying,” she gritted. “It’s not easy for me.”

My stomach curled. This was the easy shit. And if we couldn’t talk about this, what hope was there for anything else? For a moment I wondered if I was kidding myself. If the girl I thought I knew had always been a mirage, just a pretty girl I fantasized about and a mold I tried to fit Destiny into.

At that thought, I reached for my beer and took a long drink.

She shocked the hell out of me when she started talking.

“I work for a graphic design firm, which you know. Allison, my boss, is a good friend of mine. She and her husband Drake have a huge sailboat and on the weekends, sometimes all weekend, Toby and I join them, fishing in the Gulf and hanging out. It’s fun, to be out on the water. I never had that here and the first time I got so seasick from the rocking I threw up over the edge of the boat. They still tease me about it even though I got used to it eventually.” I returned her smile, encouraging her to continue when she shrugged again. “I don’t know, Jordan. I work. I like my job, love it. I get to be creative and help people even though I’m not saving lives or anything. Toby’s happy and healthy. I have some mom friends from his sporting teams, but it’s not like we hang out all the time. Toby and I go to Kemah every few months, and I try to take him to a Houston Texans or Rockets game once or twice a year, but that’s really it. I’m a mom, a good one, and thatismy life.”

I didn’t doubt she was a good mom. And she was successful if I could base it on her style of clothes and the Acura MDX she drove. Maybe I was looking for too much. A decade of life condensed into a dinner conversation.

Trying to settle my stomach, I asked, “What’s Kemah?”

“Oh.” Her eyes lit up. Finally. “It’s this cute little town, with a little boardwalk—almost a miniature amusement park with roller-coasters and carnival games. It’s right on the Gulf Coast, so when you’re at the top of the rides, all you see is water on both sides. It’s really cool. Nothing fancy, not huge like a Six Flags or anything, but they have thisamazingsteak and seafood restaurant that Toby loves. It’s sort of expensive, which is why we don’t go there very often, but they have this bacon wrapped lobster…”

Her eyes glazed over as she kept talking, mostly about the food. This was what I needed, though. It was small, but it told me about her. I was wrapped up in every word she spoke, telling me about the trips they’d taken there, the first time Toby rode a roller-coaster and cried and how horrible she felt afterward.

And I realized she was right. She was a mom. She had this life completely wrapped up in her son, in the best kind of way. She wasn’t out partying with friends or living some high-life. She was responsible, taking care of our son, taking care of herself in the small ways she could through work and a few close relationships. This was what adulting looked like, like Andrew and Brooke’s life or even Kelly and Ryan’s without the kids. It was settled, comfortable, but good in the most fulfilling way possible.

I was so wrapped up in her telling me about the last Rockets game she went to, where they got there early for a fan-signing event after warm-ups and Toby was able to get most of the team to sign a jersey that I didn’t notice our food arriving, or who was bringing it until Christa was at the table.

“Hey there, Jordan. Fancy seeing you here.” She slid my burger in front of me and Destiny’s chicken pot pie to her side.

“Hey Christa, you remember—”

Destiny’s face paled. All the laughter and excitement she showed talking about Toby went up in smoke as she recognized Christa.

“Destiny. Hi,” Christa said, slowly but friendly. Not the least bit shocked she was sitting with me either, which meant people were definitely talking even though I’d forgotten all about other people in the restaurant. “I heard you were in town. I’m really sorry about Tillie, she was a great woman. One of the best.”

Christa’s smile went soft, but it was genuine which made it hard to understand why Destiny’s had been wiped clean. “Thank you. Nice to see you, Christa.”

She sounded like she was spitting nails. What the hell? Christa wouldn’t hurt a fly. Literally. Sometimes when there was a fly in the restaurant while I was eating there, she begged me to take care of it…without injuring the thing. Destiny’s sudden reaction made no sense.

“You too,” Christa replied, although her own easy smile was gone, too. “Are you going to be in town long?”

Destiny’s gaze came to me and she shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I have things to finish up here.”

What the fuck was going on?

“Oh. Okay.” Christa’s head swung my direction and she asked. “Are you going to Rebecca’s tomorrow? She said they have a surprise. But you have to tell me…are they having a baby?” She clasped her hands together. “Please tell me she’s pregnant.”

“Not that I know of. And trust me, I don’t even like thinking of my sister and Cooper in that way.”

“Jordan—”

Nope. There were things brothers didn’t need to know. “But, I will say the surprise is pretty awesome. I know I love it.” I winked at Destiny, who was watching the interaction so closely it was a wonder her eyes hadn’t popped out of her skull. “We’ll both be there, actually.”

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