Page 89 of Fierce-Baker

“I know more than most. She never said she didn’t want what he wanted, but looking back, he admitted that she never contributed much to the conversations. She had ample opportunity to say she wasn’t ready and didn’t. He’d been talking about moving and getting engaged for a solid year and she was even looking at new places with him. He said she talked about rings.”

“Then I don’t get it.”

“No one does. She didn’t have anyone else on the side, but I think the more she thought of things, the more she realized she wasn’t ready to settle down. Baker doesn’t know this, but she’s in a relationship now. I still follow her on Facebook. I hadn’t even realized it and she doesn’t post much, but she posted that.”

“Good for her.”

Brittany laughed. “You don’t really mean that, do you?”

“I do. I don’t know her. I can’t judge her. She wasn’t ready or Baker wasn’t the person for her. As someone who was willing to settle a few times, I realize now that you can only do what feels right for you. She hurt him, but she did him a favor. I won’t hurt him like that.”

“And that is all I wanted to know,” Brittany said. “Here they come. They are both laughing. Emme is good at relaxing just about anyone. It looks to me as if you are too.”

26

SOMETHING UNEXPECTED

“Thanks for doing this,” Baker said on Tuesday. “I know you worked today, and with school starting next week…”

“Stop.” Tasha checked the pork roast in the oven, then the pan of roasted potatoes beneath it. “I know you wanted to see your sister one more time before they leave, and Brittany really wanted to meet Micah.”

He’d worried his sister might push her own agenda where his relationship was concerned, but Tasha didn’t seem fazed by it one way or the other.

“I wanted to see her,” he said. “But it’s a lot for you. You were busy today.”

“So were you.” She stepped into his arms and pressed a quick kiss to his mouth.

“Bakerrrrrrr!”

The shout came from the living room, long and dramatic, like Micah had just realized his presence with his little head turning fast in excitement.

“Hey, little man,” he said. “Are you watching cartoons?”

Micah sat on the floor, legs crossed, a small bowl of Goldfish crackers beside him. “Bluey.” He pointed at the TV, launching one cracker through the air by mistake, then laughed and sent another flying, just because.

“Oh boy.” He bent down, scooping up the first cracker, then the second. He caught the third midair. “Looks like a game you don’t want him to discover. No throwing food, Micah.”

Tasha walked over, calmly removed the bowl, and set it on the counter. “Now you lose them. You know the rule.”

Micah’s bottom lip trembled. His mouth opened, and the wail that followed was instant, loud, and damn impressive.

It was the first time he’d heard the kid cry. Let alone likethis.

“Mom told you not to throw them,” he said evenly. No reason to wince when the next wail came. The last thing he wanted to do was let Tasha know he was feeling slightly helpless now.

Micah grabbed his hand with surprising strength, tugging hard while pointing at the counter like the crackers were his lifeline.

He looked to Tasha. She shook her head. “Sorry, bud. I listen to your mother. She said no.”

“If you don’t stop crying over crackers,” she said as gently as she could while staying firm, “you won’t get to watch your show either. I can turn it off.”

“No,” Micah said sharply, bouncing once and clenching his tiny fists.

Having not spent a lot of time around kids, it looked like he was going to witness his first tantrum.

She inhaled slowly. Then again. “This isnothow I want the night to start before your sister and Emme get here.”

“What can I do to help?” he asked.