Nearly everyone was impressive but her.
Lillian leaned close. “You’re looking very introspective, my dear. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Harlow squeezed her hand. “I’m mulling over my options,” she said quietly. “Thanks to you, I’m figuring out how to be a better person.”
“I think you’re already delightful and someone I always look forward to seeing.”
Harlow suddenly found herself fighting tears. “You’re so good to me, Aunt Lillian. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.”
Mason gave her a quizzical glance. “You all right?”
She smiled at him. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen.
So your aunt’s house. Is it really big and weird looking with a long, long, long driveway?
She jumped to her feet, waving her phone. “I think Kip’s here.”
Austin groaned. “Man, then it’ll be three of us sharing a bathroom.”
“The lovebirds can move to another part of the house,” Lillian told him.
“Yeah, on the third floor,” Austin muttered. “Where all the sex is happening.”
Mindy flushed. “You knew?”
Payne appeared more smug than upset. “The headboard bangs into the wall.”
Mindy covered her face with her hands. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be,” Lillian murmured, picking up her wine. “Your enthusiasm was impressive. Made me miss my darling Leo.”
Harlow excused herself and hurried to the rear of the house. Kip had come here? She wasn’t sure what to think about that. Shouldn’t he have told her he was coming? Shouldn’t they have talked about it?
Only the second she stepped outside and saw him, duffel bag in hand, sheepish grin on his face, all her concerns faded. She rushed to him, arms outstretched.
He caught her and pulled her hard against him.
“I missed you so much,” he said, burying his face in her hair. “Harlow, I can’t make it without you. I’ve screwed up so bad, and I know I need to fix that, but don’t be done with me. Please.”
She breathed in the scent of him and felt the rightness of being with him. After raising her head, she kissed him.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said with a laugh. “I should have invited you myself.”
“Yeah?” His gaze was hopeful. “I wasn’t sure I should just show up like this.”
“It’s the best surprise. Come in. You’ll never guess who’s already here. My mom’s friend Mindy arrived about seven days ago, then her husband. Then my dad showed up earlier today. That was a much bigger shock than seeing you.”
He picked up his duffel, then put his arm around her as they walked into the house.
“Are you upset about Zafina?” he asked.
“I’m not sure I can even grasp it. She’s pregnant?”
Kip shrugged. “That’s what she told me. Mom and Dad don’t know. I think she wants to figure things out with your dad first.”
Harlow thought about her father claiming the baby might not be his. “I hope he doesn’t disappoint her.”
Harlow tried to imagine what her future in-laws would say when they learned their twenty-six-year-old daughter was pregnant by a man two decades older. The father of their future daughter-in-law.
“We’re like a bad TV script,” she said, looking at Kip. “For a show no one wants to watch.”
He set down his duffel and leaned close. “I think parts of it would be great to watch.”
“Don’t say that too loud. Both my parents are here. How’s that for something you never thought you’d see?”
“I’m happy to see you.”
She kissed him, then drew back. “Are you hungry? There’s lasagna, if Austin hasn’t inhaled it all. And salad and garlic bread.”
“I’m starving.”
“Then come meet everyone. After dinner, we need to find a different bedroom. Otherwise, we’ll have Austin right next door, and given how sound travels in this house, we sure don’t want that.”
* * *
Despite staying up late the night before, Robyn woke before dawn. Mason was still asleep, so she crept out of bed and made her way across the balcony to her own room. The morning was cold and foggy. While she couldn’t see the vast ocean, she could hear a distant foghorn and seagulls complaining about the weather.
Once in her own room, she showered and dressed. Breakfast for nine would take some planning, she thought. As would lunch and dinner. Hopefully Mindy and Payne would head home soon, and there was no reason for Cord to stay. Whatever he was looking for wasn’t here. Unless he had a need for a used but beautiful grand piano. Or maybe a few teacups.
She was smiling at her own joke when her phone rang. It wasn’t even six in the morning, she thought, reaching for it.
Her heart sank. Jase. Why?
She thought about not answering, but knew she would have to deal with him at some point.
“Hello?”
“Robyn. I wasn’t sure you would take my call.”
She gave herself a second to see if she felt anything when she heard his voice. But instead of regret or wistfulness, she only felt impatience. The man needed to stop calling her.
“It’s pretty early here, Jase.”
“Oh, the time difference.” He paused. “I apologize. Did I wake you?”
“No. I was up.”
“Still on Florida time.” He chuckled. “You should probably think about coming home so you don’t lose that.”
“Jase, why are you calling?”
“I miss you.”
“That’s not possible. We were never that close, and now we’re done. It’s over.”
“Robyn, please.” There was a hitch in his voice. “I made such a mistake, letting you go. Please give me another chance. I’m in love with you.”
Unexpected. She sank onto the bed she hadn’t slept in.
“Jase, don’t say that. We—” She didn’t know what to say, then settled on the truth. “I’m seeing someone.”
“What? How is that possible? Were you cheating on me?”
“No. I met him here, in Santa Barbara. He’s…” She realized Jase didn’t need the details. “I met him here,” she repeated. “I don’t want to hurt you, but we’re finished. Stop calling. I won’t answer you again.”
Actually, when they hung up she was going to block him, but saying that seemed cruel.
“I see.” His voice was curt. “All right. You’ve made your point. I’m sorry I bothered you.”
Guilt swamped her, but she ignored it. If she was advising her daughter on a situation like this, she would tell her not to engage. That being friendly would only make him think she was playing a game rather than stating facts.
“Goodbye, Jase.”
She hung up before he could say anything, then tossed her phone on the bed. She had breakfast to prepare and a day to plan. She didn’t have time for her past—not anymore. There was too much present to be lived.
twenty-eight
ROBYN HAD BARELY finished breakfast cleanup when she started planning dinner. She figured everyone could grab lunch on their own. The morning fog had cleared, leaving the day warm and beautiful. Mason, Harlow and Austin had gone sailing. Mason had joked he was going to have the kids teach him some moves so he could impress her the next time they went out. Cord, Mindy and Payne were in their rooms. Lillian was watching CNN and talking back to the reporters.