Page 112 of Sweet Thing

Lars nodded and stepped aside to let me through.

“Bye, Duckman! Bye, Mabel!”

“Bye, Tilly,” Lars said.

I closed the gap between us and my mom.

“We’re gonna sing about tadpoles, Mommy!”

My mom smiled at Tilly. “That’s exciting.”

She met my gaze, her own filled with concern. She knew I’d lied about it being merely a fling, but she had never pressed or talked about her conversation with Lars that day in the hospital. And I hadn’t asked.

“Are you okay, sweetie?”

“I will be.”

ChapterThirty

Adeline

My mom dida silent count of the various sides. “Addy, could you bring the sweet potatoes in?”

“Maybe Conor could stop sexting and help out.”

My brother looked up from beneath his too-long hair. “You’re so obsessed with my sex life.”

Mom grimaced. “La la la, my son does not have a sex life.”

Conor chuckled. “Yes, Mom. I’m still a virgin.”

I made a face at him. He stuck his tongue out at me. Parity restored.

As much as I loved Thanksgiving and especially loved that the entire Kershaw brood was under one roof for the first time in two years, I was still out of sorts. This morning, my mother had asked if I’d be okay with Lars’s presence at the table and I’d acted like this would be my favorite thing in the world.

Of course! I miss Mabel so much! I can handle passing the onion and sage stuffing to the guy I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with. Bring it on!

My mom had given me a sad smile. She knew the wounds still festered, but I needed to be a big girl about it. The new nanny was visiting her family in Michigan, Lars and Mabel were at a loose end, so of course they were welcome for Thanksgiving dinner. I wasn’t a complete monster.

Bringing the sweet potatoes out to the table, I tried not to cast my gaze through the French doors to the living room where Aurora was happily bouncing Mabel on her knee and Lars, my dad, and brothers—except Conor who was too busy texting whichever girl he’d charmed this week—were all watching the Bears suffer against Green Bay.

I fussed about with the table settings and moved the place cards so Lars was down at the other end of the table. Moments later, I heard the door squeak open. I didn’t dare turn.

“Anything I can do to help?”

“No, we’re fine.” Hauling a breath in deep, I pivoted and got a good look at him. He appeared drawn and tired. That should have cheered me, but I was concerned that Mabel might not be getting a caregiver in tip-top condition.

“How’s Mabel doing?”

“Aurora is spoiling her with Aurora kisses, which she claims are the best kind.”

A distant second to yours.

“She loves babies.” I moved a fork. “How are things with Janet?”

“I don’t see her much. It’s weird having a stranger in the house.”

“She hasn’t tried to jump you then?” I forced a chuckle, but it died on my lips at the look on his face. “Sorry, too soon?”

---