In a Book Club Far Away(82)

“Uh… did you want me to guess?” Logan chuckled.

“Yes, goodness. Anyway, it’s Sophie.”

“Whoa.”

“And guess who’s here now.”

“Um…”

“Jasper.”

Something sizzled in the background, and it filled the silence.

“Hello?” she asked.

“I’m…”

“I know, right?”

“He seemed okay?”

She frowned. She hadn’t expected for that to come out of his mouth. “Y-yeah. He’s fine. He’s retired now. But anyway. You don’t sound pissed.”

“Are you pissed?”

“I…” Next to her, Genevieve stood with a flourish and toddled toward the living room. Regina followed a step behind, and with the brief distraction, thought twice. “I don’t know how I feel, except weird.”

“It kind of brings it all back, doesn’t it?”

“It does.” Still more silence.

“Adelaide had some guts.”

Regina laughed. “I know. I was so mad, I even walked out until…” She paused just before she rolled right into her story about meeting Henry for the first time. “It’s been a week.”

“So what do you need from me?”

The question snapped her back from her previously comfortable state. A reminder that Logan did not comfort. For him, it was about who or what someone needed, a transaction.

As if sensing her change in mood, Genevieve got tired of the living room and went to the kitchen, to her standing easel. “I guess I wanted to discuss it, with someone who was there.”

“But there’s nothing to discuss. We’re divorced already. What more is there?”

“God, Logan.”

“I’m just saying. We’re years past this,” Logan said. “I’ve said sorry, and I’m doing my part to make it okay with my son. I’m not sure what you want to discuss.”

“Never mind. You’re right. There’s nothing to discuss.” It was easier for Regina to quit the conversation. They were exes, not friends. “Miko doing okay?”

“Yes. He caught a fish earlier today.”

“That’s great.”

“Yeah, it made it easier for me to tell him that I’m PCS’ing this summer.”

“What?” Regina’s voice echoed in the kitchen, so loud that Genevieve peeped from behind the easel to look at her. Logan moving was out of the blue. “You’ve only been in Georgia for a year.”

“It’s to the Pentagon.”

“Here?”

“Yeah. Funny, right? Actually, not funny, because I wish I didn’t have to be away from Miko. But the job’s a good one to have right before I retire, and there’s a civilian job I have my eye on that I can probably slide into after. After all, I can’t stop working—we’ve got a long way before our boy’s through college.”

And this was why, despite her annoyance with Logan, Regina had done all she could to keep father and son together. Logan took this responsibility seriously. “If this is a good move for you, for our son, then congrats. I just know that he’s going to miss you.…”

“Would you consider…” He heaved a breath.

Coming? Regina finished the sentence in her head. But Logan had gone silent, and so had she, and her brain was now running down a path that had suddenly unrolled in front of her. There was nothing defined about its destination, but she felt herself taking steps.

Her brain mulled the facts: She was already closing down the shop in six months. Logan was moving to the DC area. She’d always wanted to be stationed here. She loved the area now. And there was Henry.

Henry.

She was interrupted by Genevieve’s singing.

“It’s a berfday! My berfday!”

The Tupperware bowl, still on Genevieve’s head, was visible over the top of the easel and it rocked while she wiggled her hips. Like she was having a one-person party.

Except there was an actual party today.

Which Regina was supposed to be preparing for.

“Oh my God. I was so caught up. I have got to go.”

“Okay?”

“We’ll talk later. Tell Miko I love him.” She hung up. Then she texted all those who were involved with the party: Henry, Missy, and Sophie. Coast is clear! Come on over!

Finally, she sent a final text to her business manager, Alexis: Would it be bonkers for me to move the business?





CHAPTER FIFTY

Adelaide




Adelaide’s anticipated hour at her doctor’s for her follow-up had taken only fifteen minutes. She’d received a good bill of health, and she was ready to celebrate Genevieve’s birthday, now with an extra person, Jasper, in attendance. But Sophie had insisted that they go for a short walk to show Jasper a little bit of Old Town. At first, Adelaide resisted, but as soon as she stepped onto the cobblestone sidewalk, her spirits lifted.

While Adelaide still had a winter coat on, the sun was warm against her face. She felt the vitamin D seep into her skin. She stopped to admire the newest shop window dressings on Burg Street. She took in the sounds of the neighborhood as it relaxed into its Friday afternoon vibe.