Chapter One: Rosie

“Do you have everything you need?” Rosie asked as she looked at her son hauling his backpack out of the bedroom and into the hallway. At five years old, Elliott was the cutest thing she had ever seen as he sighed and nodded.

“Do I have to stay with Daddy for a whole week?” Elliott asked, his mouth turned down at the corners.

Rosie’s throat constricted as she went to her son and hunkered down, so she was at his height. “It’ll be fun.”

“It’s never fun,” he replied, his bottom lip trembling as he wrapped his arms around his mom and hugged her. “Why can’t I come with you?”

“Because I am working.” She held his small body against hers. “And it’s Daddy’s turn to spend time with you. He’s been looking forward to it for weeks.”

Rosie was glad her son couldn’t see her face because that was just an outright lie. When she called her ex-husband, Terry, a couple of days ago to arrange a time to drop Elliott over, it soon became obvious he’d forgotten all about his son’s visit.

Guilt clawed at her. If she hadn’t been going out of town, she might not have pushed so hard for Terry to live up to his responsibilities as a father.

No, that wasn’t true. She’d still have pushed for Elliott to go and stay with his father. It was important they had a relationship. A child needed a father.

As she held her son, Rosie’s heart ached. She wished things could be different. That Terry made more of an effort. But that was the way he was, and Rosie doubted that would ever change.

It sure hadn’t while they were married.

She pushed down her bitterness. Terry was still Elliott’s father, no matter what. Pulling back, she wiped the tears from her son’s cheeks and forced a smile.

“You’ll have fun, I promise,” she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. “Maybe you can teach your dad to play that new video game. You know, the one with the aliens?”

Elliott gazed at her with uncertainty, then gave a slow nod. The idea seemed to cheer him up a little. He was good at video games, and he loved it when adults didn’t understand them whatsoever. It gave him a chance to be the teacher for once.

Rosie squeezed his shoulder gently, mustering up as much cheerfulness as she could. “What’s it called again? Space Frogs?”

Elliott sighed and shook his head. “SpaceMonkeys.”

“Ah, Space Monkeys. How could I forget?” She chuckled as he rolled his eyes at her. “Come on, let’s get everything in the car.”

When she’d divorced Terry, they’d had to sell the family home, the place filled with so many memories. Not all happy. But the ones she had of her son were the best. Now she lived in a small two-bedroom apartment in a busy part of the city, far from the quiet suburban life she’d once known. A part of her mourned that loss, but another part—the stronger part—embraced the change.

Or at least embraced not being married to Terry.

Together, they carried their luggage out into the hallway. Elliott leaned into her thigh as she closed the apartment door, and she ran a hand over his soft, silky hair as she fought back tears.

This would be the longest they had been apart, and she missed him already. But she needed to get used to this new reality.

“Okay, let’s go,” Rosie said as she shouldered her purse and then pulled two suitcases along behind her. One for her trip and one for Elliott, since his overstuffed backpack contained what a five-year-old considered essentials. And clean clothes and a toothbrush were not on that list.

Elliott rushed ahead and pressed the button to call the elevator, and not for the first time since they had moved to the apartment she felt guilty that Elliott no longer had a backyard to play in.

Which was why she needed to work hard and build a better future for them. This apartment was temporary. That’s what she’d told herself when she moved in two months ago. She could have rented a bigger apartment in a quieter area, but the rent here was low, which meant she could save for a house. That was her plan.

A house of her own. A home of her own that no one could take from her.

Her jaw clenched. There were so many times she wished she’d never met Terry. Never gotten involved with such a man.

But every time she looked at the wonderful child they had made together, she took it back. She would not change a thing if it meant not having her son.

“In we go.” Elliott stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor.

Rosie stepped inside and the doors slid closed. “I’ll call Daddy’s cell phone and say goodnight every day.”

“I know.” He looked up at her with such belief that it made her throat constrict.

As the numbers counted down, her phone rang, and she dug her hand into her purse and pulled it out. When Terry’s name flashed up, she cursed silently. “Hello, Terry.”

“Rosie,” Terry’s voice came down the phone, barely audible against the noise in the background.

“Where are you?” Rosie asked.

“At a recording studio. Listen, can you go over to my apartment and…”

“Terry, we’re heading over there now…”

“Oh, good. Can you grab…”

Her stomach clenched, and she lowered her voice. “You’re having Elliott for the week. Remember?”

“That’s this week?” Terry asked.

“I called you two days ago to confirm,” Rosie replied, beyond exasperated.

“Right, right.” Terry’s voice was hurried, dismissive. “Look, I’ll catch up with him tomorrow. Can you just…”

“Tomorrow is too late. I have an appointment in Bear Creek this afternoon. I told you all this when I called,” Rosie said.

“Can’t you reschedule?” Terry asked.

“Terry, I need this job. I need to go to Bear Creek. There’s a festival there tomorrow night…”

“Then go tomorrow,” Terry began. “I should be finished by then. The afternoon at the latest. Bring the kid over then.”

The kid. The phrase hung in the air like a foul odor. Rosie’s stomach churned as she looked down at Elliott, who was watching her with wide eyes. Her heart ached.

“Okay, thanks, gotta go. If you could just go over to my apartment and…”

Rosie tuned him out, her heart sinking into her stomach as she fought her rising anger. She tried to force a smile as she ended the call. “Goodbye, Terry.”

“Does this mean I get to go with you to Bear Creek?” Elliott asked hopefully.

Rosie stared straight ahead as the elevator doors pinged open. Was there any way she could make this work?

“Let me make a call.” Rosie stepped out of the elevator with Elliott close behind, her mind racing through her itinerary for the week. Then she tapped her phone screen and dialed.

For a long moment, she held her breath, composing her thoughts. This was a big ask. But she didn’t know what else to do apart from delaying her trip. But with Terry being so unreliable…

“Hello, Rosie,” Camille’s cheerful voice came down the phone. “I’m making a beautiful peach pie for you to try.”

“Camille,” Rosie began but then paused as her voice wobbled.

“Is everything okay?” Camille asked with concern.

“I’m about to leave, but my ex-husband can’t have Elliott…” Rosie began.

“Then bring him with you,” Camille suggested. “I can look after him. And if I’m busy, Ezra’s mom is brilliant with children.”

“Are you sure?” Rosie asked. “I hate to impose.” She closed her eyes and blinked back tears. She also hated feeling as if she were pawning her son off on people. Elliott deserved so much better.

“You’re not imposing,” Camille assured her. “Elliott is more than welcome. And it’ll give me some practice for when I have a child of my own.”

“Is that a subtle announcement?” Rosie asked.

“No. At least, not officially…” Camille paused. “I haven’t taken a test or anything…but I am late.”

“Oh, Camille. I’m so happy for you,” Rosie said.

“Please, don’t say anything. Ezra’s mom is so looking forward to having her first grandchild, but I don’t want to get her hopes up. I need to be sure.”

“Shall I pick up a pregnancy test on my way to you?” Rosie asked. She and Camille had become good friends over the last few weeks since they had met at the farmers’ market close to Bear Creek.

“I don’t know,” Camille whispered. “Until I take the test, there’s a chance I am pregnant…”

“But once you take the test, you’ll know for sure, and you don’t want to be disappointed.” Rosie could completely understand how Camille felt. She’d once experienced the same feelings. Only she’d hoped she wasn’t pregnant. She wasn’t secure enough in her relationship with Terry.

But that all changed when she took the test, and it was positive. From that moment on, she’d loved the child growing inside of her.

And loved him even more from the first moment she held him in her arms.

She’d often hoped for another child, a brother or sister, for Elliott. But that was not to be. Which in some ways was a good thing.

“Pick up a test,” Camille said. “I’ll take it.”

“You can always change your mind,” Rosie told her.

“I know.” Camille sucked in a deep breath. “But it’s better to know the truth of things, don’t you think?”

“And sometimes it’s nice to dream,” Rosie said.

“Mommy,” Elliott said. “Are we going?”

“Someone sounds impatient. I’ll see you soon,” Camille said.

“See you soon, and thank you,” Rosie replied and ended the call. “Okay, we need to stop for some snacks. Is your game charged?”

Elliot held up his game console. “Yes. Me and the Space Monkeys have to battle Stink Man.”

Rosie laughed. “Sounds like quite the adventure, Elliott.” She ruffled his hair as she checked his seatbelt was secure and got in the car.

Rosie inserted the key in the ignition and started the engine, then she closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat.

Tears threatened and her throat constricted. She forced herself to swallow down the bitter disappointment she felt toward Terry.

She should be used to it by now. Every time she thought she could trust Terry, every time it seemed he might step up and be a real father to Elliot, he let them down. Always with an excuse, always promising it wouldn’t happen again. But it always did.

For a moment, she allowed herself to feel the sting of her unshed tears, the burn of betrayal. But just for a moment. Then she blinked back the tears, straightened up, and put the car in gear. The gravel crunched beneath the tires as she maneuvered out of her parking spot.

“Let’s go on an adventure,” Rosie said, glancing at Elliot in the rearview mirror.

“Let’s do it!” He clutched his game console tightly as he raised it above his head in excitement.

“Where to, Captain?” she asked in the voice of one of the game characters, a small smile playing on her lips.

“To the moon!” Elliot exclaimed, his finger pointed toward the sky.

“Yes, sir.” Rosie gave a mock salute and pressed her foot down on the gas pedal.

The car surged forward, and Elliot’s giggles filled the air, sweeping away the lingering bitterness of Terry’s latest behavior.

They were going to be all right. She would make sure that she built a good life for them both. She was smart, and one day she would buy them a house in the suburbs with a yard to play in.

She’d do it on her own terms. She was her own woman now she did not want… No, she did not need a man.

Not now. Not ever.