Page 97 of The Secrets We Built Together

Amelia let out a demanding squawk, reminding me that she was still covered in pureed pear and probably needed a diaper change too. The routine of caring for her settled me, grounding me in the present rather than the complicated past.

"You know what," I told her as I wiped her face, "I think we both need some fresh air. How about we go for a walk through town and find something nice for dinner while Mommy sleeps off the last of her flu?"

She blinked at me solemnly, as if considering the proposition, then broke into a gummy smile that melted my heart. Every time she looked at me like that, I fell a little more in love with this tiny person who'd crashed into our lives.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Twenty minutes later, we were strolling through town, Amelia securely fastened in the stroller Blake had finally consented to let me buy. The day was perfect—warm with a gentle breeze that carried the scent of fresh-cut grass and something sweet from Marie's bakery. Amelia was wide-eyed, taking in all the sights and sounds with that intense curiosity that seemed to define her.

As we passed the town square, I noticed a small cluster of people gathered around the community bulletin board. I recognized Pete from the hardware store and Emma who ran the flower shop, their animated conversation carrying across the green.

"I'm telling you," Pete was saying, gesturing emphatically, "my cousin in Denver says these rehabilitation centers are booming businesses. If the Farrington place takes off like they're expecting, we could see property values double in the next few years."

"It's already happening," Emma replied. "The Hendersons just listed their place for thirty percent more than it would've gone for last year, and they've already had three offers."

I quickened my pace slightly, not wanting to be drawn into a conversation about my family's business ventures, but their words stayed with me. The rehabilitation center wasso close to officially opening, yet it was already reshaping the economic landscape of Willowbrook. I'd been so focused on the medicalaspects and my own role that I hadn't fully considered the broader impact on the town.

"So, little bug," I said to Amelia, as if we were having a serious conversation, "I need some advice. What do you think about me asking my dad for help in finding your other Mommy?"

Amelia made a bubbling sound and kicked her legs excitedly.

"Yeah, that's what I thought too. It's for the best, even if it feels weird."

I realized I was narrating my thoughts to a baby who couldn't possibly understand, but there was something freeing about it. Amelia didn't judge. She didn't carry the weight of our complicated history or have any expectations. She just was, and that simplicity was a balm to my frayed nerves.

"The thing is," I continued, steering the stroller around a crack in the sidewalk, "I never thought I'd be here. Not just in Willowbrook, but...here. With you. With Blake. It was never part of my plan."

Amelia cooed, her tiny hand reaching up to grasp at the sunlight filtering through the trees.

"But now I can't imagine being anywhere else. How does that happen? How do you go from thinking you know exactly what your life is supposed to look like to realizing you had it all wrong?"

"That's a pretty heavy question for a morning stroll."

I startled at the voice, looking up to find Daniel from Books and Beans standing in front of his shop, sweeping the sidewalk. He looked at me with amusement, his eyes darting to Amelia, who was now happily gnawing on her fist.

"Daniel," I nodded, feeling oddly caught out, like I'd been overheard confessing something private. Which, I supposed, I had.

"Never thought I'd see the day when Xander Farrington was pushing a stroller and philosophizing with an infant," he said, leaning on his broom. "Times change."

"They do," I agreed, not sure what else to say. Daniel and I had never been close, even when we were younger. He'd been a few years below me in school, already working at the bookstore while I was still trying to figure out how to escape Willowbrook.

Daniel's gaze softened as it landed on Amelia. "She's a cute one. Looks a lot like Blake around the eyes."

I glanced down at Amelia, surprised. He wasn’t the first person to say that. There was something in the shape of Amelia's eyes that echoed Blake.. Maybe it was the way they both looked at the world—like it was full of wonders just waiting to be discovered.

"Yeah," I said, a smile tugging at my lips. "She does, doesn't she?"

"You know," Daniel said, his voice softer now, almost contemplative, "she's got real talent. The kind that doesn't come along often. Be a shame if she gave it up."

The statement caught me off guard. "What makes you think she's giving it up?"

He shrugged, his eyes drifting to Amelia again. "Life has a way of making us choose. Especially when there are little ones involved."

I felt a sudden protectiveness surge through me. "She doesn't have to choose. She can have both."

Daniel's eyebrows rose slightly at my vehemence, but then his expression shifted into something that looked almost like approval. "Good," he said simply, then turned back to his sweeping. "You folks have a nice day."

As I continued down Main Street, I noticed several storefronts that had been vacant for years now showed signs of renovation. A realtor I vaguely recognized was showing a young couplearound the old Wilson building, gesturing enthusiastically at the facade.

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