Page 83 of Comeback
We shared a small laugh.
My phone chimed with an alert. I picked it up and read Jack’s text message. It read, “Be home in ten,” and was followed by three heart emojis.
“Can’t wait!” I replied.
I passed the announcement on to Austen. “They’ll be home in ten minutes.”
“Eeee!” Austen squealed with excitement. “I’m so excited for you two!”
“Me too!”
Mackenzie set her book down on her chest and peeked up at me. “Excited about what, Mom?”
Crap.Normally, when Mackenzie reads, she’s completely immersed in her book and can’t hear a word we say—but not this time.
Austen ducked her head and mouthed the word ‘Sorry,’ to me.
Not the world’s best liar, I stammered. “I’m excited … because Dad will be home soon.”
Mackenzie narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “That’swhat you’re excited about?”
“Aren’tyouexcited to see him?” I countered.
“Well,yeah,” she said, playfully rolling her eyes.“Daddy’s been gone for over aweek.”
Instinctively, she clutched her blue kyanite necklace in the palm of her hand. It was the same one Nicole had given her three years ago, back in Bayfield. Mackenzie really loved that necklace and everything it symbolized. She always asks me to recount the story of how Jack and I met in Bayfield—and she never gets tired of being told thatshewas instrumental in us meeting each other. She really loves Jack so much, and she couldn’t be more proud of her role as the cosmic matchmaker.
“Exactly! Eight days is a long time to be gone,” I said as I defiantly raised my chin. “And so Austen and I are merely excited to see our husbands. That’s all.”
“Hm …” It was obvious that Mack didn’t quite buy what I was selling—I could see it in her narrowed eyes. But, losing interest in trying to figure outthismystery, she buried her nose in her book and went back to solvingCam Jansen’smystery.
And boy, was that a relief. Because these days, my daughter is getting harder to outsmart—she knows when things don’t quite add up, and she can tell when I’m hiding something from her. Jack calls her his “smart cookie.” Regardless, our days of worrying about her development arelonggone. She excels in school, has plenty of friends, loves to read, and takes figure skating lessons. (Sorry, Jack, that’s as close to playing hockey as she’s willing to get!)
A short while later, the rustle of turning magazine pages was interrupted by the sound of a key inserted into the front door lock.
“He’s home, he’s home!” Mackenzie bolted to her feet and raced to the door. Jasper and Ines went with her, their tails excitedly swinging back and forth.
The door opened, and my husband stepped in with Dane right behind him. As always, both men were sharply dressed in suits and ties.
Mackenzie jumped up and down, waiting for him to pick her up. “Daddy, Daddy!”
“Hi, sweetheart!” Jack dropped his bag on the floor, picked her up with a bear hug, and gave her a big ol’ kiss on the cheek. “I missed you. Were you good for Mom?”
“Yes, Daddy!”
“Good girl.”
Patiently, I waited formyturn to be in Jack’s arms. He caught my eyes, and I fell short of breath. God, he was so handsome—even after all this time, he still put butterflies in my tummy.
Jack set Mackenzie down on the floor. “Mack, say hi to Dane.”
“Hi, Uncle Dane.”
Dane ruffled her hair. “Hey, kiddo.”
Jack pulled me near, his big hands spanning my waist, and pressed his lips to mine.
“God, I missed you,” he growled in my ear, sending tingles down my spine.
