Page 26 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

“It's just some family stuff I have to deal with regarding my aunt’s will,” I say, putting the envelope aside. I give her what I pray is a convincing smile.

The concern in her eyes lifts as she smiles in return. Knowing I was convincing deepens the ache rather than relieving it.

I’m getting so tired of doing all of this alone.

“Hopefully she left you a ton of money,” she teases, and I can’t help it, I snort. She winks, and a genuine grin crosses my face. “I’ll let you get back to calling Finn Mitchell.”

Finn. Yes. I’ll call Finn first.

I reach for my phone through a haze, the weight of being betrayed by the person I trusted most nearly overwhelming me.

“Not now, Cat,” I whisper. “Later.”

Later, I’ll read why the person I depended on the most would do the second worst thing to me.

Chapter Eleven

David

Aloudsqueakingnoisegreets me as I walk through the front door. Ava’s flight left for LA this morning, so Duncan has been babysitting this afternoon. Scanning the room, I scrub my face, and a burst of uncontrollable laughter pulls from me.

Bending down, I pick up the stuffed purple dragon I stepped on and give it a squeeze. I hang up my duffel bag on a coat hook. I need to make sure Emmy doesn’t have an opportunity to put another hole in a pocket.

“Daddy!” Scarlett comes running from the kitchen with Emmy close at her heels. Scarlett leaps into my arms, and Emmy sits staring at me expectantly, tail wagging slightly. Handing Emmy the toy, she runs off, a high-pitched squeak echoing throughout the house. “Uncle Dunky is making dinner.”

“Good, ‘cause I’m starving.” I nuzzle my chin on her neck, delighted at the squeals it elicits.

“Daddy, Daddy, stop!” Her giggles draw Emmy, who wants in on the fun, and barking fills the house. The combination of laughter and excitement causes a lightness to spread across mychest. And for the first time in a week, I’m not regretting my decision to honor Fiona’s wishes.

Looking around the room, a sinking feeling settles in my stomach as I take in the mess. Ava is amazing at keeping everything in order. Duncan? Not so much.

But beggars can’t be choosers, and I am grateful for his help. I begin picking up the toys and dropping them into Emmy’s toy bin while Scarlett hangs on like a spider monkey.

Yes, the dog has her own basket, but if the current overflow is any indication, we'll need a bigger one.

“Emmy,” Duncan yells from the kitchen, immediately quieting the hound who sprints away.

“Uncle Dunky has been trying different recipes,” my daughter says proudly as she looks toward the front of the house. “He said she isn’t the best taste-tester because she eats everything.”

“Is that so?” I ask, putting her down and moving the toy bin from the middle of the room, where someone could trip over it. By someone, I mean me.

“Yeah.” She leads me to the kitchen, where my brother pulls out the baking trays with squash, broccoli, and bell peppers. On the stove is a tray of breaded chicken.

A grin slides across my face at the purple apron he’s wearing, and a huff of laughter ripples through me.

“Doesn’t your daughter have great taste?” He asks, pointing to the message on the apron. It has a custom photo of Duncan’s head on top of a cartoon body standing in front of a grill with the words, ‘Mr. Good Lookin’ Is Cookin’.”

Duncan’s mouth twitches. “You’re a better man than me,” I murmur.

“Not true,” he laughs. “Ava sent me the picture of you in your fuzzy pink slippers with bunny ears. You were sleeping on the couch, your feet resting on the table.”

Heat creeps up the back of my neck, and laughter explodes out of me. “Have I told you how much I hate that I don’t have secrets from you anymore?”

“Oh, we have secrets,” Duncan winks, and I roll my eyes.

Having your brother married to your best friend sounds a lot better in theory than it is in real life. My stomach growls, which is ironic since seconds before it turned sour. “Anything I can do to get dinner on the table faster?”

“Do you want to tell your dad what he can help with, Red?” Duncan asks Scarlett as he places the tray of vegetables next to the chicken before turning off the oven. Reaching into the cabinet, he pulls down a serving plate.

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