Chapter 19

Hailey

I’m barely awake when the front door chimes. Addison is not back on her previous schedule yet, and she was up throughout the night, though now, of course, she’s sleeping. The clock glares 7:17 a.m. at me, and I know it can only be Dana. She’s the only one who’d come by at this ungodly hour without a call first. We’ve been home for a few days, and Dana has restrained herself from coming by so far. Wrapping my robe tighter, I shuffle to the door and open it.

“Hey,” Dana says, stepping into the living room with a cardboard tray of coffee cups and a bag from our favorite bagel shop. “I heard Christian got called to the hospital in the middle of the night. I thought you might need some company.”

“Thanks, Dana.” I smile, taking the warm tray from her hands and setting it on the kitchen counter. We settle on the couch and arrange the feast before us.

“Everything okay?” she asks, biting into a cinnamon-raisin bagel.

“I’m fine,” I assure her. “Christian woke me when he left,” I explain, cradling the coffee cup in both hands. “I couldn’t sleep after that, just kept tossing and turning. I feel so bad for him. He can’t catch a break.”

Dana nods. “That’s rough. But I’m more worried about you right now.”

I force a smile, though it feels brittle on my lips. “Why? It’s not like it’s the first time he’s been called away in the middle of the night. He used to not come home at all. And Addison’s infection is no fun, but it’s so much nicer to be home now.”

She opens her mouth but doesn’t respond to that. I busy myself with my bagel, and we sit in silence for a few minutes. Then, biting the inside of my cheek, I decide to broach the subject that’s been haunting me all week. Franklin was mostly quiet while we were in the hospital after I told him in no uncertain terms to buzz off, but now that he knows we’re home, he’s back to full throttle.

“I’ll tell you what has been a little stressful, though,” I begin, watching as Dana raises an eyebrow. “Franklin has reappeared and is acting weird. Like, more than his usual oddball self.” I take a deep breath. “Something’s not right.”

“Weird how?” Dana sets down her bagel.

“Edgy, paranoid,” I explain. “He didn’t seem to realize I’d moved out of the apartment. Then he said he left something there and insists that I have it. But I have no clue what he could be talking about because he took everything before I moved out.”

“Does he think something you bought together is his?”

“I keep asking him what he’s missing, but he’s being very vague.”

“Sounds like we’ve got a mystery on our hands.” Dana’s eyes gleam. “We should go through those boxes, see what’s got Franklin all wound up. There’s got to be something fishy there.”

“Could be nothing…” But even as I say it, I feel the certainty in Dana’s intuition. She has a way of sniffing out trouble before it fully emerges, a trait that has saved us more times than I care to count. Besides, there’s no good reason Franklin would be trying to get in touch with me again.

“Or it could be something big,” Dana counters, finishing her coffee with a decisive slurp. “Either way, we won’t know until we look. What do you say? Ready to play detective?”

I just dumped everything in the storage unit initially since I was short on time that day. A reluctant smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. Despite my reservations, I find myself nodding in agreement. “Let’s do it,” I say, stretching out the stiffness in my limbs. “But first, another bagel. I’m going to need all the energy I can get if we’re going to sort through that mess in storage.”

“This is the perfect chance to straighten it all up,” Dana says.

Dana follows me upstairs so I can change and she can see Addison. Sunlight filters through the blinds in my room, where Addison’s just starting to stir, casting a lattice of shadows over Dana’s concerned face.

“Okay, little munchkin,” Dana coos. “Let’s get you ready for your big day out.”

I hand her a fresh diaper and a change of warm clothes for Addie.

I pull out my own clothes, quickly putting on a bra as I realize I need to hide small but damning evidence of last night’s indiscretion.

Dana’s hand pauses mid-air, her eyes zeroing in on the purplish blemish staining my skin. “Hailey,” she says slowly, “what’s that?”

“Uh, nothing,” I stammer, pulling my shirt down hastily. “It’s just a birthmark, you know?”

“Birthmark?” Dana raises an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. “We lived together for nearly two years. I think I’d remember if you had a birthmark that looks like a hickey on the side of your boob.”

I bite my lip. If I tell her the truth, that Christian left this mark on me, she’ll be so upset.

“Actually, it’s not a birthmark,” I confess, feigning nonchalance as I lie my butt off. “Ray and I… We’re seeing each other.”

For a moment, I almost believe it myself. Dana’s eyes widen, her usual enthusiasm bubbling up, and I know I’ve dodged a bullet—for now.

“Ray? Since when? Why didn’t you tell me? I want details!”

I force a smile, pretending to be casual, but my chest tightens. Part of me wants to tell her everything, that it’s not Ray I’m seeing, that it’s Christian. That I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. But I can’t stand the thought of disappointment in her eyes, the ‘I told you so’ on her lips.

I’m not ready for that conversation. Not yet. So, I lie. Again.

“Oh, you know me,” I say with a forced chuckle, avoiding her probing gaze. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Come on,” she presses, leaning against the doorjamb with folded arms. “Since when?”

“Trust me, there’s not much to share,” I deflect, hoping my smile looks more genuine than it feels.

“Fine, keep your secrets.” Dana sighs, though her eyes glint with mischief. “But promise me one thing. You won’t let any guy distract you from what’s important. We’re going to go to Europe.”

“Promise,” I assure her, grateful for the change in topic. I can’t afford to lose Dana’s trust.

I zip up my jacket as Dana lifts Addison into her arms.

“Are you sure this is okay?” Dana asks.

“The doctor told us not to expose her to people who are sick, but I think we’re fine at the storage unit. I’ve never seen anyone else there when I’ve been there before.”

“Good. Let’s do it,” Dana says.

“Ready for our treasure hunt?” I ask.

“More than ready,” Dana says with a grin.

Downstairs, we pile into the Range Rover and make our way across town to the storage unit. My thoughts keep drifting back to Christian. I try to focus on Dana, on Addie, on the task at hand, but it’s impossible not to feel his presence lingering.

His words from last night still echo in my head. “We’ll figure it out together.” The way he held me after putting Addison to bed, the steady reassurance in his touch—it felt like more than just comfort. It was a promise. And that scared me, in the best way. Because as much as I try to keep this casual, to tell myself it’s just physical, there’s a part of me that wants more.

“So, what’s it like dating while you’re someone’s nanny?” Dana asks, her voice cutting through my thoughts.

I hesitate, my mind flashing to Christian. Last night, the way he kissed me, the way his hands found their way under my sweater—it felt like he was erasing everything that had come before him. But I can’t say that. Not to Dana. Not yet.

“It’s fine,” I manage, forcing a smile as I park. “You know, nothing serious. I didn’t see him much while Addie was sick, but I do get some time off, especially now that she’s back at home.”

Dana nods, seemingly satisfied, and we head inside and up to my storage unit, rolling Addison in the stroller. I open the lock and roll the metal door up with a clatter, revealing the clutter inside—stacked boxes and furniture draped in my old bed sheets like ghosts of the past. We start with the boxes, methodically opening each one to sort through its contents. It feels good to be doing something tangible, even if it’s just organizing old things. We dig and organize, looking for anything that could be Franklin’s. There’s an old bottle opener that might be his. His tax file. But nothing that should make him so upset.

A little while later, I pause to check on Addie, who’s playing with her doll in her playpen. But then I’m right back to being knee-deep in trinkets, papers, and memories. Dana is rummaging through a drawer, her brow furrowed as she sifts through antique silverware. She pauses, gasping as she unearths the tarnished locket my grandmother always wore.

I take it from her and put the necklace on.

We talk about mundane things—the rain that’s pouring from the sky, how we’re adjusting to Addison’s post-infection life at home, Dana’s job, and eventually her boss.

Dana’s expression hardens. “Can you believe Tate’s ex? Just drops the kids off and scampers away whenever we have plans.” She huffs. “This last time the boys were so excited to see their dad, and we thought they were just stopping by to get something. Then we realized she’d left them with us, without saying a word. Tate didn’t discover she was gone until nearly an hour later.”

I stack a pile of old books, carefully aligning their spines. “Sounds like she knew exactly what she was doing,” I reply. “It’s terrible to manipulate people like that.”

“Exactly!” Dana slams the drawer shut in a side table. “I swear, it’s like she has a sixth sense for ruining our nights together. And she’s using her kids as pawns.”

My heart goes out to her. “You know dating a man with kids means dealing with his past, and that includes his ex.” I hesitate, choosing my words with care. “Maybe it’s time for a real talk with Tate. Then you two could sit down with her, no kids around, and lay some ground rules that work for everyone.”

She bites her lip, considering. The thought seems to weigh on her.

“Is that what you want, though?” I prod gently. “To be in the middle of all that? Does that work for you?”

She leans against a stack of boxes, crossing her arms. “I don’t know. I really don’t. But if he’s worth it…”

“Then you’ll figure it out together,” I assure her. “But only if you’re both serious about making it work. Otherwise, you might need to reconsider where this relationship is going.”

Dana nods slowly. “Thanks, I needed to hear that.”

We turn back to our sorting, and I sift through yet another box.

“Nothing here but old records and a few books,” Dana announces. “And a bag of clothes you should give to the thrift store.”

“Same,” I reply, holding up an antique lamp that doesn’t likely belong to Franklin either. We’ve been at this for hours, and the only item that’s raised an eyebrow is a small baggie with a single joint inside.

“Franklin losing his mind over this?” Dana asks, pinching the baggie between her fingers. “Doubtful.”

“Right?” I chuckle, shaking my head. “There’s got to be something else.”

But there isn’t. Not that we can find, anyway.

We finally give up, the mystery of Franklin’s possessions still unsolved. But the storage unit is better organized. The furniture is neatly arranged on one side, and the boxes are labeled and stacked on the other. If nothing else, I feel like I accomplished something.

Locking the storage unit behind us, I push the stroller to the parking lot. The crisp air outside bites my cheeks, and Dana slips her arm through mine. “Europe is going to be so much fun, you know?” Her eyes twinkle with excitement. “Just you, me, and endless adventures. No Ray and no Tate!”

I smile at the thought. No Ray is no problem. It’s no Christian—and even no Addison—that will be an adjustment. “I can’t wait.”

We return to Christian’s townhouse, and as we reach the door, Dana leans down to kiss Addie on the head and pulls me into a hug, a fierce one that seems to convey all her worries and affections without a single word.

“Listen,” she says. “I’m sorry we didn’t figure this out today, but no matter what happens, I’m here for you.”

I nod, grateful for her presence in my life.

Dana gives my hand a final squeeze before stepping away. As I watch her leave, I unlock Christian’s door and step inside with Addison, who is babbling away.

“Europe,” I whisper to myself. “Adventures await.” And for a moment, I let the possibility of all the places I want to go wash away the complicated mess of feelings in my current life. But then it all comes crashing down.

“What the hell am I doing?” I murmur to the empty room. I can’t imagine just picking up and leaving at the end of this year. But I have to. Everything I’ve done has been so I have the means to explore and have fun and get on with my life.

But even as I remind myself, I wonder if I’m already too far gone—too entangled in the thrill of whatever this is with Christian, too invested in Addison—to find my way back to solid ground.