16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Sunday Evening
Danielle pulled into her driveway, unloaded a huge haul of groceries, and—for the thousandth time—rechecked her phone. After a two-hour delay, the kids’ flight landed in Sea-Tac at one, and a mile-long text chain began. Seems they browbeat their dad into driving them straight to Trappers Cove since their promised SoCal beach vacation had been cut short. They’d get their traditional family Fourth of July after all. Minus Jason, of course. As far as she was concerned, Jason could go pound sand, as long as he pounded it far away from her.
Danielle nibbled a nail. They should be here any minute now. No reason to be nervous—just another hand-off between divorced parents. Her new reality. She’d already made up their bedrooms, noted times and locations for all the 4th of July events, and straightened up the house after her book club’s visit. What she hadn’t done was tell Matteo.
This sudden change blew her cautious, rational plan all to hell. They were bound to bump into Matteo in town, or else one of the many locals she’d met would see them, and the news would get back to him. He was already hurt by this situation—she couldn’t add to his pain by keeping secrets. Even if their affair proved impossible to hold, she owed him this call.
So why was she sitting on the deck, staring blankly at families streaming to and from the beach? Her phone pinged in her hand. Noah’s number.
Be there in fifteen
She gulped several deep breaths, then texted Matteo.
Jason’s bringing the kids here
No response. Must be busy at the gelato shop. Shaky with nerves, she paced the length of the deck. Much as she’d like to ream Jason out, she couldn’t do it in front of the kids. They’d been through enough the past few days.
A moment later, Jason’s Lexus rounded the corner and pulled into her driveway. Though it’d only been a week since she hugged them goodbye, a bubble of emotion blocked her throat and pushed tears to her eyes when the kids tumbled out and charged up the stairs.
“God, I missed you guys.” She folded them into her arms and inhaled their kid scent—sweat and sweets and fruity shampoo.
Bouncing on his toes, Noah chattered a mile a minute. “Missed you too, Mom. Look, we got Velociraptor hats. This dude on the plane worked on two Jurassic Park movies! CGI stuff. So cool! I totally wanna learn that. Dad says he’ll get me a better computer.”
She grasped his shoulders and gave him the suspicious mama once-over. His sandy hair was travel-mussed but clean, and his cheeks and nose glowed bright pink.
“Forgot your sunscreen?”
He shrugged. “No one reminded me.”
Olivia sucked her teeth. “Did so, baby bro. Every. Single. Day.”
Noah snorted and shoved his sister’s shoulder. “You’re not my mom.”
“No, but I am. Go get your bags.”
Jostling and giggling, the kids trotted to the car, where Jason lifted bags from the trunk. He looked the same—handsome in a WASP-y way, though his blond hair was thinning on top. In his powder blue polo and chinos, he’d be right at home on a golf course or at a corporate picnic.
Funny, their last face-to-face meeting left her weepy for hours, still mourning what they’d lost. Now? All she felt was irritation over his shitty judgment.
He loaded the kids with suitcases and shopping bags, then pulled out several more and started up the stairs.
She planted herself in his path. “Whoa. How much crap did you buy them?”
He kept his ice-blue gaze down. “Too much. It’s what divorced dads do, right?” He flashed her a half-smile she once found charming. Still nada. Interesting. “This is my stuff.”
Her mouth went Sahara dry. “Your stuff?”
He set down his bags and closed his eyes for a moment. “Look, Dani, I know I screwed up. I didn’t mean to leave you stuck with the cost of this rental. Let me pay half, and we can give the kids a nice 4th of July, just like we always—”
“Have you lost what’s left of your mind?” She darted a glance at the house to make sure their kids were out of hearing range.
Jason’s lips thinned in that smarmy, I-know-what’s-best expression that made her jaw clench. “I’ll take Olivia’s room. She can bunk with you.”
“No.” She shoved a suitcase with her foot. “Take your stuff and go.”
His gaze tightened. “Don’t you want what’s best for the kids? After that mess with Sharla’s boys, they need some normalcy in their lives.”
“Are you flippin’ kidding me?” Her eyebrows reached for her hairline. “You caused this mess, Mr. Can’t-keep-it-in-his-pants. And this—” She waved a hand toward the house. “This is our new normal, thanks to you. Separate vacations. Separate lives. Sharing the house would give the kids hope that we’re getting back together.” Glowering, she poked his sternum, hard. “And that is not ever happening. Now go home.”
“You need help, bella?”
Both their heads snapped toward the sidewalk, where Matteo stood holding a paper bag. Sharp steel glinted behind his casual half-smile. “I brought gelato for your kids. Limoncello and pistachio, right?” He took a stepforward and held out the bag. “And amarena for you.” His gaze darted from her to Jason.
Well, shit. This was not at all how she wanted to handle this situation, but…What did her mama always say? It is what it is, darling. Don’t mope, act.
Like a wet Labrador, she shimmied the tension off her shoulders and trotted down the stairs. “Thank you, Matteo. That’s very thoughtful of you.” She took the bag, linked her arm through his, and faced her ex. “Jason, this is my friend Matteo.” Just to be mean, she stroked Matteo’s firm biceps.
Jason gaped. “Your—friend?”
Taking his cue, Matteo kissed her temple. “You okay here?” he murmured.
“I will be. Come on, I want you to meet my kids.” She led him up the stairs, past her spluttering ex.
When she opened the screen door, both little lurkers sprang backwards, eyes wide.
This was it. Her future with Matteo would turn on this moment. She smoothed the tension from her voice. “Olivia, Noah, I want you to meet my new friend. You remember Sal from the gelato shop? Matteo is his nephew.”
Olivia’s startled expression eased toward a knowing grin. “Wow. Um, pleased to meet you, Matteo.”
Noah only had eyes for the paper bag. “You brought us ice cream?”
“Yeah. Should I dish it up?” He moved toward the kitchen.
The screen door slammed open. Red-faced, Jason snarled, “Kids, outside.”
She raised her hand palm out, like a traffic cop. “No, go get your gelato. Your dad and I will discuss this outside.” She shot Jason a sharp glance. “Like grown-ups.”
On the deck, Jason lost his shit, alternately flapping his hands and clasping his skull as if the top might fly off. “So this is why you don’t want me to stay? You’ve been sharing the house with that gigolo? That’s a fine example for your children.”
A veil of calm determination descended. “You’ve got nothing to say about it, Jason. You left me, remember? I don’t have to put my life on hold for you. And no, Matteo won’t be staying with us, but he is a part of my life now.”
Jason glared for a long moment, then stomped to the door and hollered, “Kids, come on. We’ll go to the Freedom Fair in Tacoma. There’s an air show, fireworks—it’ll be fun.”
Clutching their ice cream bowls, the kids conferred in low tones. Noah spoke up. “Naw, Dad. We had fun with you and Sharla, but now we’re gonna stay with Mom. We’ll see you when we get back.”
Relief fizzed through her veins. The moment she’d been dreading was over. “They’ll call you every day, Jason. Right, kids?”
“Totally,” Olivia answered. “Just like we did with Mom.”
Take that, vacation stealer .
Because her kids were watching, she bit back a grin of triumph until Jason tossed his bags into his car and drove off.