Page 143 of Homecoming

Kelly gestured for Matt to come closer. “Connor, this is your aunt Kara and uncle Dan. Can you say hi?”

The adorable blond boy buried his face in his father’s coat as he said a soft hello.

Kara smiled and ducked her head to waggle her fingers at him. “It’s nice to meet you, Connor.”

He smiled and so did she, because how could she not?

“Thank you,” Kelly said tearfully.

Kara nodded, hooked her arm through Dan’s and walked away from them, feeling as if a massive weight had been lifted that she hadn’t even known she was still carrying.

“Un-fucking-believable,” Dan said in a low, gravelly tone. “That’s what you are.”

Kara laughed. “Who, me?”

“I’m so incredibly proud of you. That was gutsy and ballsy and all the things.”

“Thanks. It felt pretty good to put it out there, and I’m glad we got to officially meet Connor.”

“Just when I think I’ve seen all the sides of my beautiful wife, she goes and shows me something new.”

“I like to keep you guessing.”

“You do that so well. How do you feel?”

“Relieved. I can run into them now, and it won’t be a big deal. And our children can grow up knowing each other, even if they won’t be close. That’s something anyway.”

“That’s everything.”

In the parking lot, they joined the others, who were eagerly awaiting an update.

“All good,” Kara said.

“Tell me you didn’t forgive them,” Renata said.

“No, I didn’t. But it felt good to say a few things and to meet Connor.”

“She wasmagnificent,” Dan said.

“He has to say that,” Kara replied, smiling at him.

“No, I don’t. It’s the truth.”

“I was prepared to call 911 if it came to blows,” Renata said.

Kara laughed. “No chance of that when I’m seven months pregnant.”

“You’re my hero,” Renata said. “The way you went marching back there to confront them. Amazing.”

“I’m tired of the fighting. It’s exhausting carrying around all that outrage. Now she knows where we stand, and I got to officially meet my nephew. It’s over and done with as far as I’m concerned. In other news, I’m starving and ready for dinner.”

“How does pizza with the others sound?” Renata asked.

Kara glanced at Dan, who nodded. “That sounds perfect.”

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

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