Chapter 18

18

The family stayed in Haven to watch the town’s Christmas parade, which had a reputation, Ophelia gushed to Tahlia, for being spectacular. Jed managed to find a good spot on the sidewalk where they could watch without too much interference from other people. The crowd was quickly growing, though, and the kids wanted more hot chocolate so Tahlia and Matt were dispatched to the nearest coffee shop for hot drinks while Jed and Ophelia kept guard over the twins.

Kept guard indeed, Tahlia thought wryly, witnessing Ophelia scowl darkly at another group who were getting too close to their spot. She was just as bad at Jed when it came to spoiling the kids, the only difference being that she was more subtle. And deadly, able to turn an unruly collection of teenagers away with a mere look.

Tahlia was thinking fondly of that when she checked her email while Matt ordered the drinks. Thinking of the family she’d quickly come to love when she saw that she got the interview for the job with Bowen Engineering. Athena Bowen - the CEO herself - responded with enthusiasm. With enthusiasm . Tahlia couldn’t believe it. The interview was set for right after the New Year but, as Athena put it, was more of a formality.

They would love to work with her.

Holy shit. Tahlia stared at the email without blinking, not daring to look away for fear it might disappear. Ecstatic didn’t begin to describe her feelings. The position was perfect; no, Bowen Engineering wasn’t the biggest firm out there but they were passionate and had an excellent reputation. Tahlia didn’t know if there was a better place for her in the whole universe.

“They ran out of marshmallows so I got whipped cream. Do you think the kids will care?”

The kids.

Tahlia looked up so fast she almost got whiplash and whatever expression was on her face made Matt step back.

“Are you alright?” he asked, brows flying up his forehead. Tahlia did not know how to answer that.

“Yep,” she managed with a croak, swiftly turning her phone off and sliding into her coat pocket. Time to think about what to do about the interview later. “Um, the kids will be fine. They prefer whipped cream anyway.”

Matt observed her for a second before he gave a slow nod. “Okay. Are you ready to head back?”

“Of course, yes,” she spluttered, reaching for one of the drink carriers precariously balanced in his hands. “I’ll take that.”

“Thanks,” he said, still eyeing her carefully even as he opened the cafe door for her with his now freed arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Tahlia had always had a terrible poker face. “I’m fine,” she insisted, stepping past him to the already crowded sidewalk. When he didn’t seem satisfied she decided she needed to tell him something . “I saw a picture of my ex on social.”

It wasn’t a lie. She’d been scrolling through her social feed before checking her email and saw Dale tagged in a picture by one of their mutual friends. And she didn’t explicitly say the picture was the cause of her sudden off-ness.

That didn’t assuage her guilt one bit.

“Your ex?” he asked, a certain lilt to his tone that indicated he was trying not to sound as interested as he actually was.

“Yes,” Tahlia shot him a side-long look. “We broke up in the spring.”

Matt nodded a little too much and Tahlia wanted to laugh but didn’t know why. “Sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. He cheated on me. He was an asshole and I’m not sorry to be rid of him.”

Even while trying to walk through a mass of humanity, she could sense the burst of rage that radiated out from her boss.

“He cheated on you?” he exclaimed, stopping short and forcing multiple people to walk around the sizable obstacle suddenly in their way. Tahlia supposed Matt’s own experience with an unfaithful spouse was the reason, but she hadn’t expected such a strong reaction.

“Yes, but it opened my eyes to who he really was.” She moved out of the way of the other parade-goers and faced Matt with a timid smile. “He’s part of the reason I’m here now. Which I’m very happy about.”

When she met his eyes, Tahlia’s stomach flipped. He was doing it again, looking at her in a way no one ever had. With such gentleness and warmth she wanted to cry and kiss him at the same time.

“I’m happy you’re here, too.” She might have stopped breathing for the few seconds before he added, hastily and casting his eyes to the ground, “because the kids love you.”

It didn’t matter how she felt about his dodge or what it meant. Him mentioning the kids brought back that email and her potential new job. Fresh guilt made it difficult for her to breathe. Thankfully, the eruption of the parade’s drum line prevented either of them from saying anything else.

“We should get back,” Matt said loudly and strode forward without waiting for Tahlia.

She stood still for a moment and stared at the two cups of cocoa in her hands. One for Maddy, one for Kaiden. Her two favorite kids in the whole world.

Was she supposed to be this torn about wanting to pursue her career? About possibly leaving them?

And him?