Her Name Was Annie by Beth Rinyu (the little red hen read aloud txt) 📕

life since then. And that’s the truth.” I knew it was. There was something in his eyes that told me so. “I don’t know why I did it…”

“I do,” I whispered, taking him off guard. “Because I blamed you for something that wasn’t your fault, and I let it fester and chip away at our marriage with each passing year. I’m sorry to have done that. I know you were hurting over it just as much as me.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. It was my fault. If I had just—”

“It wasn’t, and I’m sorry for making you feel like you needed to bear that burden all these years because of it. And I especially don’t want you to feel like you have to put your life on hold right now to play bodyguard to me because you’re afraid something like that will happen again.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.” His head inched closer to mine, skimming my lips with his. Was it possible to still get butterflies in your stomach at forty-eight years old, kissing a man you’ve kissed a thousand times before? The answer was yes. My stomach fluttered out of control when we finally connected into a full-blown kiss. I closed my eyes and every single memory we shared together played through my mind at warp speed—the good, the bad, the happy and sad. I had shared so much of myself with this man. I knew him better than almost anyone and vice versa, yet as we sat there together lost in our embrace, everything seemed so new.

I pulled away first and rested my forehead against his. “We’re finally at a good place. I don’t want to mess that up because as much as I hate to admit it, I kind of enjoy being able to have civilized conversations with you again.”

He let out a frustrated sigh and hesitantly nodded. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“You really should get going. You have to drop the truck off at your parents’ house and then you’ve got to still drive home. I promise I’ll arm the alarm as soon as you leave, and I have the fearless paper towel eater to protect me.” I glanced at Max curled up on his bed in front of the fireplace. I sensed Jack was reluctant to leave me alone, but he finally gave in and stood up. We walked to the front door and there was an awkward pause. “I promise I’ll call if there are any more strange cars creeping around in the area.” I finally spoke to kill the silence. “Thank you so much again for taking up your whole day to do this.” I motioned to the tree. “Kara is going to be so surprised.” I paused for a moment. “She’ll be home Tuesday night if you want to come over and help her decorate it. I mean…no pressure. I just thought—”

“Sounds like a plan.” He cut me off. “Don’t forget to set the alarm.”

“Will do.” I nodded.

“Night, Steph.”

“Good night.” I stood in the doorway until he got into his dad’s truck and started it. This night could’ve ended so differently. If I had allowed that kiss to go further, would I be standing here watching him leave? Just like so many other times in my life, that was another what-if moment.

Chapter 18

THERE WAS SOMETHING deafening about a classroom void of twenty-plus third graders. It was as if the pandemonium they’d bring each day became a fabric of that room. As I sat there entering grades into the computer at the end of the school day, I was finding it difficult to concentrate without the disorder or constant interruptions I’d become so accustomed to. The knock on my door broke what little concentration I’d managed to muster. I had been doing a good job of avoiding Michael since our date, and I almost thought he had been avoiding me as well, until I saw him standing in the doorway. “Hey, what’s up?” I managed a smile.

“Not much, just wanted to pop in and see what you’ve been up to.”

“Nothing really.” I’d spare him all the real details like, I had found out I was adopted…I kissed my ex-husband. I’m sure since none of it focused on him, he wouldn’t care less anyway. “You know, same old boring stuff.”

“Yeah, sorry I haven’t been in touch. I’ve been busy looking at property at the beach. I figure if I have to stay here until retirement, why not enjoy a beach house.” He boasted.

“Why not?” I said with a cynicism that he was too arrogant to catch on to. “Where at? My parents have a house on Long Beach Island right on the beach. It’s absolutely beautiful.” Two could play at his little bragging game.

“Oh well, I was looking a little more at the beaches up north, possibly new construction. You know, it’s a little bit more old money up there. The people who own property there don’t need to rent out their homes in the summer to out-of-towners to be able to afford them.”

“Actually, my parents never rented out their home. My father was a very successful surgeon, so he was able to afford it just fine. You know, not like a lot of people who like to talk the talk, but when it comes to walking the walk, it’s a whole different story.” Take that, you boasting windbag.

“Well, I really don’t care to live in an old house.” He carried on as if he hadn’t even heard a word I just said. Given how self-involved he was, he probably hadn’t. “But my realtor says there’s not much new construction going on around there, so I may be forced to do a resale.”

“Which towns?” I wasn’t letting up.

“Excuse me?” I could sense he was getting flustered.

“Which towns are you looking in?”

“Oh, I looked in so many different little beach towns up there, I don’t even remember. They all seem to run into one another after a while.”

“Oh, yeah, for sure.” I nodded, trying to hold