Pinky stomps at him, but I’m on her from the sidelines. “Remember to keep your eye on the ball!”

  I’m also starting to realize how much Adam keeps the peace being on the field with them.

  “Shouldn’t she be using a tee?” Jessica’s brow is furrowed. “She’s not even five yet.”

  Nobody answers as the little players assume their positions. Pinky holds the bat over her head, elbow high, and Ryan stands in profile studying her little self.

  He turns and tosses the ball underhand, and she rears back, lifting her leg and swinging with all her might…

  It connects with a loud Crack! Only, the ball shoots straight up in the air. She’s running as hard as she can to first, but Ryan positions himself under the foul ball, easily catching it.

  “You’re out!” the catcher growls, and Pinky charges at him on her way back from first.

  He’s twice her size, but she’s not intimidated. Ryan races forward from the pitcher’s mound, grabbing her around the waist and lifting her off the ground. “Easy now!”

  “I’m going to pull that mask off his face!” Pinky yells, and I start to head out there and break it up.

  Then I hesitate, glancing at Jessica. “Did you want to take this one?”

  “No…” She pulls back startled. “Please take it!”

  Relief washes over me, and I run through the fence, taking a struggling Pinky from Ryan and walking her back to the dugout. She’s a little spitfire, and I love it. Still, in that moment, sitting with her in the dugout, making her drink water and walk it off, I realize with painful clarity.

  Pinky is never going to know her mother until I remove myself from the situation. My stomach cramps, but I know what I have to do.

  CHAPTER 25

  ALEX

  “That Drake Redford is making a royal nuisance of himself.” Britt’s grandmother sits across the picnic table from me on Aiden’s back deck. “I’d like to turn him into a donkey.”

  When my brother invited us over for dinner, he failed to mention that Britt’s mother Gwen and grandmother Edna, a.k.a., Eureka’s mayor, would be joining us.

  Not that I mind. They’re just a lot with all the magic and supernatural elements.

  “I ran into him when I left your office this morning, Aiden,” I quickly tell my brother, who’s pulling hot dogs off the grill for the kids. “He was so stunned I didn’t support him in all this.”

  Edna’s brow furrows. “Why would you support him?”

  “He’s trying to use the distillery as the major attraction. What he doesn’t know is I don’t need him. I’m having a hard enough time meeting demand now that Ben and Chip are spreading the word.”

  “William Cartwright is good people.” Edna nods. “He was always a friend of your father’s and your grandfather’s.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about Redford Park.” Gwen sits beside her in a swirl of paisley fabric and clinking gold bracelets. “I met with the Fireside Ladies Club this afternoon, and together we put a protective spell over the town.”

  A laugh coughs up from beside me, and the skin on my neck tightens.

  “You don’t really believe that, do you?” Jessica snorts in her beer.

  Gwen levels cool hazel eyes on Pinky’s baby-mama. “The spirit world has never let me down, no matter how many years it requires.”

  Jessica’s eyebrows rise, and she holds up her hands. “I meant no disrespect. I guess I’m just confused about why everyone is so against having a hotel in Eureka. It would’ve come in handy for me last night.”

  “So Jessica, where have you been for the last five years?” Britt sits across the picnic table from her, smiling in that sunny way that removes the potential rudeness of such a question.

  “Well, let me see.” Jessica picks at the label on her bottle. “For the first three years I was in Africa covering the rise of the Sudanese rebels. Then the war broke out in Ukraine, and I made the trip north to document that…”

  “Wow!” Britt’s eyes are wide. “Was it for a particular paper or magazine?”

  “I’m freelance, so I shop the photos around. Whoever offers the highest price wins.”

  “I had no idea that’s how photojournalism works.” Britt wrinkles her nose at me.

  “It’s one way,” Jessica replies.

  Britt looks at me. “I guess I see where Pinky gets her fearlessness.”

  “She’s also four years old in a town where no one has ever told her what she couldn’t do.” Adam walks up, joining us at the table.

  That makes me laugh. “Not that we haven’t tried.”

  He and Aiden swap a bro-hug. “Heard you had to drive to Kiawah today.”

  “They were short-handed.” Adam leans down to me. “Heard you had a surprise last night.” Then he holds out a hand to Jessica. “I take it you’re it?”

  “Jessica Meade.” She gives his hand a firm shake. “I’ve heard a lot about Alex’s brothers. You look the most like him.”

  “Seriously?” Adam gives me an incredulous look. “That’s a first.”

  “I guess I was sort of channeling your energy the night we met.” The night I slept with a woman I didn’t know.

  “Not me.” My younger brother slaps me on the shoulder. “I might’ve been a player, but I always wrapped it.” He leans closer to Jessica. “Not that I’d trade anything for that little girl. She keeps us all on our toes.” Straightening, he looks around. “Where is she anyway?”

  “I’m not sure.” I answer. “She’s with Cass somewhere, I think?”

  That gets me a pointed look from Aiden, who puts a platter of hamburgers and hot dogs in the center of the table.

  Britt hops up and heads for the house. “Be right back with all the fixins!”

  “What brought you to Eureka, Jess?” Aiden asks. “We’re nowhere near as exciting as Africa.”

  “Maybe not.” Jessica exhales deeply. “But I don’t want to bore you with my story.”

  “Nonsense.” Edna smiles. “We’re all family here. We’re very interested in what brought you to Eureka, especially since it concerns Patricia’s granddaughter.”

  Also known as my daughter, and speaking of which, I stand and scan the yard for her or Cass. They pretty much disappeared as soon as we got here, and I’d hoped to talk to Cass with everyone occupied. She’s been distant all afternoon, and I’m sure she’s wondering what’s going on. I’d like to tell her I’m still figuring out what’s going on myself.

  “I guess I’m getting older.” Jessica studies her thumbnail. “The world is changing. My jobs are getting harder to come by, and with all that’s happened in the last few years, I felt like I needed to know my daughter.”

  “So you’re planning to stay in Eureka?” Adam leans back, studying her.

  She blinks up to him, shrugging. “I guess we’ll find out.”

  His eyes twitch, and he nods. I can tell he doesn’t like that answer any more than I do. It’s the main reason I’m not telling Pinky this woman is her mother.

  Not yet, anyway.

  “Ready to eat?” Britt calls out, returning with a platter of buns and a big bowl of potato salad.

  Behind her, Cass follows with giant squeeze-bottles of mustard and ketchup. She’s also holding my daughter on her hip, and Pinky has her head on Cass’s shoulder. She’s carrying a plastic bottle of mayo, and her little lips are pulled down like she’s upset.

  I’m on my feet at once, going to where they are. “Everything okay?” My voice is quiet, and the sadness in Cass’s pretty eyes is a punch to the gut. “What’s wrong?”

  Her lips press into a sad smile, and she passes the mustard and ketchup to me. “I’ll tell you later. Let’s eat.”

  I take the mayo from Penelope, and she puts her now-empty hand around Cass’s neck, snuggling closer to her.

  Cass slides her hand up and down my daughter’s back. “Come on, now. It’s time to eat.”

  “I’m not hungry.” Pinky’s pouty tone has me concerned, but I carry the condiments to where everyone is waiting.

  We prepare hamburgers for the adults, hot dogs for the kids, potato salad and chips for all, and the remainder of the meal is spent discussing the upcoming school year, Adam’s volunteer work, and the informal baseball team.

  The boys are in the yard playing with Britt’s bloodhound, and my eyes keep drifting to where Pinky has crawled into Cass’s lap. The most interesting person at the table (to me), rocks my daughter gently, smoothing her hand up and down her arm. It’s her left hand, and I’m relieved to see my ring is still on her finger.

  When it feels like enough time has passed, I stand. “I don’t know about you people, but I have to work for a living.”

  That gets me the response I expect from everyone—playful groans and whatevers.

  “Are y’all coming to the movie in the square Saturday?” Britt is on her feet beside her friend, tickling Pinky’s side. “It’s Finding Nemo!”

  Pinky nods her head, which is pressed against Cass’s shoulder, and Cass gives her friend a kiss.

  “I’ll text you,” I hear her say softly, and my stomach tightens.

  “Is she sick?” Jessica’s brows pull together like she’s trying to read a foreign language. “She was so active at the ballpark today.”

  “She’s probably exhausted.” My voice is even, and I go to where Cass is holding her. “I can take her if she’s getting heavy.”

  “It’s okay.” Cass blinks up at me and smiles briefly.

  Fuck. This isn’t good.

  We don’t speak on the drive home, and Jessica retires to her bedroom suite when we arrive. Cass takes my daughter upstairs, and I wait at Pinky’s bedroom door as she brushes her teeth, changes her into her nightgown, and tucks her into bed.

  She hangs at the bedside a moment longer, singing that sad lullaby I’ve heard so many times.

  I think my daughter is asleep, but when Cass starts to stand, chubby arms wrap around her neck. Cass hugs her back, and I hear Pinky whisper, “I love you, Mama Cass.”

  “I love you, too, baby.” She kisses my daughter, and stands, turning to me.

  I cross the room to kiss and hug my little girl. “Goodnight, Princess.”

  “Night, Daddy.” She turns away, pulling Piglet to her chest, and I feel like a failure.

  Cass is gone, and I hustle down the stairs to find she’s not in the kitchen. My throat tightens, and I charge into the garage and up the stairs to where I find her in her room, stacking her already-packed crates at the door.

  “What’s going on?” My voice comes out sharper than I intend.

  Lifting a crate, her shoulders drop as she looks up at me. “I have to go.”

  I walk across the room and take the crate from her hands. “Where are you going?”

  “Britt’s apartment in town is empty, so I’ll stay there for now.” She turns and picks up another crate.

  I put the one I’m holding down and take the new one out of her hands, stacking it on top. “Why are you doing this?”

  Her eyes flash at me. “Are you serious?”

  Clearing my throat, I take a breath to calm my emotions. “I know Jessica’s appearance was sudden and unexpected, but it doesn’t change anything.”

  “It changes everything!” Cass’s voice rises, but like me, she looks down, doing her best to calm it. “Jessica wants to know her daughter. Penelope needs to know her mom. None of that’s going to happen if Pinky’s constantly running to me the minute things get hard.”

  “So you’re leaving us?”

  “I talked to Pinky about it tonight at Aiden’s. I told her it was time for me to go. Patricia will be back in a week, and Jessica needs this time to get to know her daughter.”

  My chest is tight, and I want to smash something. I want to yell this isn’t right. I didn’t ask for this.

  Instead, I slide my hand over the ache in my stomach. “What about us?”

  Her chin drops. “There is no us. Not really. It was all pretend, and now it’s time to stop pretending.”

  I wasn’t pretending. Was she?

  “I don’t want you to leave.” My voice is rough. “But if that’s how you feel, I won’t force you to stay.”

  “This needs to happen, Alex.” Pleading blue eyes meet mine. “You know I’m right.”

  “I don’t know that you’re right, but I respect your wishes.”

  “Will you help me load my car?”

  Reluctantly, I carry her suitcase to her waiting Subaru. She follows behind me with the crates just like the day she arrived. It feels so long ago. We’ve come so far. How can she say it was all pretend?

  She hesitates before getting into her car, and I watch as she works the ring off her finger. “I should give this back to you now. I’ll tell everyone what happened, and I won’t let you be embarrassed.”

  “Keep it.” Lifting my hand, I block her attempt to return the ring. “You can tell them what we agreed to say. I work too much, or I don’t give you what you need.”

  “But—”

  “I want you to have it.”

  It was meant for her.

  “Thank you.” Her voice is quiet. “You were wonderful to me. I’ll tell them the truth. I told a lie, and you tried to help me.”

  I’m not sure that’s the truth—at least it’s not the whole story. The whole story is much deeper and longer than that.

  Standing in the garage, I watch her drive out of our lives too soon after she drove into it, and an emptiness I can’t describe expands in my chest. I’ve never felt this way in my life, not even when Pop died. The color faded out our lives, and now we’re in cold sepia.

  “She left?” Jessica’s voice interrupts my thoughts.

  Turning, I see her standing in the doorway in leggings and a long-sleeved shirt. Her curly red hair is tied at her neck, and I have zero interest in speaking to her.

  “She said it was the best thing to help you to get to know P.”

  “She was wearing the ring.” Jessica’s voice is quiet, and I look up at her. “The one you bought in Hawaii… that you never gave to me.”

  “It was for her.”

  “Then why did you let her go?” Her brow furrows as if she’s confused.

  Pop once told me it’s sometimes best not to say what you’re thinking if it might cause more harm than good. I’m not pleased with my unexpected visitor, but standing here right now, I’m not ready to burn any bridges.

  I’m also not ready to concede defeat when it comes to Cass.

  So I walk past her into the house with a simple, “Good night, Jessica.”

  CHAPTER 26

  CASS

  My phone buzzes on the nightstand, but I stay hidden under the covers.

  I’ve been here since I left Alex standing in the garage.

  Since he held my hand and told me not to give his ring back.

  Since I took out my heart and tore it in two.

  I had to go. It was the right thing to do.

  I’m helping Pinky know her mom, and I’m taking responsibility for my own mess.

  If only I could get this piano off my chest.

  My lips press together, and I hug my knees tighter. Pretending was so easy, and he wanted to pretend with me.

  But when Jessica came back and he didn’t talk to me, I was reminded so vividly of my place. I wasn’t his fiancée. I was only the nanny. Or worse, I was the nanny with benefits.

  Squeezing my eyes shut, I don’t want to believe that. I don’t want to spoil my memories of him that way. So I stay under the covers, taking a time out until I can get back out there.

  The noise of the door opening and closing stops my breath, and for a half-second I imagine Alex coming here to find me, to tell me it wasn’t a game, and he can’t live without me. Then he’ll lift me in his arms and carry me back to his place.

  Instead, I hear my best friend’s voice.

  “Mail delivery!” The door closes, and she crosses the space, crawling onto the bed and sitting on the covers. “Aunt Carol has been calling for you to stop by the house. Piper has been texting you for two days. Adam was organizing a rescue party, but I said I’d get you.”

  I don’t move, and I don’t answer.

  I continue hiding from my sucky reality.

  “Cass?” Britt pokes me through the blankets. “Paging Cassidy Dixon.”

  “No.” My voice is as pitiful as my insides.

  The covers rustle and lift, and Britt’s light hair and bright blue eyes appear beside me on the pillow. “Why are you hiding under the covers in my old apartment?”

  “I didn’t want to go to Aunt Carol’s.” I sound pouty.

  “Are you and Alex fighting?” She makes a sad face. “Aiden told me he didn’t talk to you about Jessica. You know, sometimes it takes men a minute to realize they have to share things with us—even after you’re married.”

  “He didn’t do anything wrong.” My voice is quiet. “He was good to me from the beginning all the way to the end.”

  Saying the words makes my eyes heat again. Can I call it the end if there was never a real beginning?

  Her brow furrows, and she props on her elbow. “You broke up?”

  “No.” Sliding my hands over my face, I can’t look at her when I confess. “We didn’t break up because we were never together.”

  “I’m confused.” Cool hands wrap around my wrists, moving my hands off my face.

  “It was all a lie.”

  “What was a lie?”

  “All of it.”

  “I can’t breathe under here.” Britt pulls the covers off us and sits with her back to the headboard. “Explain to me what you’re talking about. The nanny job?”

  “The engagement. We were never engaged. I lied, and he covered for me.”

  Her nose scrunches, and she tilts her head to the side. “You lied about being engaged to Alex? But why?”

  “Ugggh!” I climb out of bed and stomp around the room. “It was at your wedding. Everyone was dancing and having a good time, and stupid Drake Redford showed up. I told you he was going to ruin the night.”

  “What does Drake Redford have to do with you and Alex?”

  “Drake is obsessed with Alex. He thinks he’s some kind of business genius, and he wouldn’t stop talking about how much luck had to do with it. He was practically drooling all over himself.”