“I agree. We’ll figure it out in the morning.” She rolled over,facing away from Jacqueline. Her speech was starting to sound like one of those“let’s just be friends” moments. And Casey wasn’t sure if she was more afraidit would be or that it wouldn’t. Before tonight, she might have welcomedsmoothing their tension back into a friendly place. But waking to findJacqueline in her room had thrown her. Sean had assured her that he’d relayedtheir minor injuries and told Jacqueline she didn’t need to come home. But shehad. She’d chosen them.
Casey closed her eyes and shut out her own analysis of what thatmight mean for the two of them. She’d said they would talk tomorrow. Tonight,she’d fall asleep to the sound of Jacqueline’s breathing and the wonderfullyradiant heat of another person next to her in bed.
She still hovered at the edge of consciousness when she felt alight touch at her waist.
“Casey?”
For some reason, Casey didn’t respond. And when Jacqueline spokeagain, she suspected Jacqueline thought she was asleep.
“I love you.” After a few quiet seconds, Jacqueline inchedcloser, sliding her arm more fully around Casey’s waist. Jacqueline curved herbody around Casey’s, just touching her but not fully cuddling into her. Caseyheld still for as long as she could. When she heard Jacqueline’s breathingbegin to even out, she took her hand, eased it even more around her, and heldit between her breasts. She closed her eyes and let Jacqueline’s breath againstthe back of her neck lull her into unconsciousness.
Chapter Twenty-one
Casey opened her eyes to the distant sound of a cell phoneringing in another room. The ringtone wasn’t hers, so she was surprised she’deven heard it. A board creaked in the hallway, and she suspected Jacquelineleaving the bed had actually awakened her.
She threw her hands over her head, enjoying a deep stretch beforegetting up. She wished she could say waking this way felt unusual, but findingJacqueline gone to answer her phone had been pretty common. She’d been runningin circles trying to figure out if they’d changed enough to take anotherchance. Maybe this phone call, whoever it was, was the universe’s way oftelling her things remained the same. Jacqueline might have driven home thenight before, worried about their safety, but the moment she knew they wereokay, work took the front seat again.
She was both sad and a little relieved that it appeared herdecision was made. They should just go back to the way things were—cordial,responsible co-parenting, maybe even someday—friends.
She didn’t hear any movement from Teddy’s room yet, so she headedfor the kitchen to make some coffee. As she approached, she could hearJacqueline’s voice. She probably should have returned to the bedroom or atleast backed away to give her some privacy, but she could hear the stress in Jacqueline’stone, and curiosity got the better of her. She stood close to the entryway tothe kitchen, angled so she wasn’t noticeable but could see Jacqueline.Jacqueline had her back to Casey, looking through the window at the backyard.She clutched her cell phone in one hand, her other one braced against thecountertop.
“Owen, I can’t—” Jacqueline clenched her fist and shook her head.“Can’t anyone else cover it for me? Yes, I know other people had to come infrom out of town. It’s not like I planned to have an emergency.” She pantomimedslamming her hand down on the counter in front of her, stopping just short ofmaking contact. “Yes, everyone’s fine. But I can’t just turn around and leavethem again.”
Casey could hear Owen’s rapid speech through the phone butcouldn’t make out what he said.
“I know it’s my job, but this is my family.” Whatever Owen saidnext pissed Jacqueline off. She straightened and shoved her shoulders back.“Yes. You’ve always been able to count on me.” Her voice was ice cold. She tiltedher head to the left as if coming to a decision. “The problem is, you’re theonly one who’s been able to.”
Casey’s sharply indrawn breath filled the silence that followedJacqueline’s words. She grabbed the doorframe beside her. Jacqueline spun around,and her eyes filled with tears as they met Casey’s.
“I let her raise Sean basically without me, and I’ll be damned ifI’ll bail on them now. If that means making some adjustments to my career path,then so be it.”
Casey shook her head in disbelief. Had Jacqueline lost her mind?As prideful as Owen was, he wouldn’t stand for her speaking to him that way.She started to turn away to give Jacqueline privacy to finish her call, butJacqueline crossed the room quickly, grabbed her hand, and pulled her close. Caseywrapped her arms around Jacqueline’s waist and rested her cheek againstJacqueline’s.
“Shit, Owen. I don’t know. I need to figure some things out. Ican’t go back to Atlanta right now. In fact, I won’t be in the office the restof this week. Can we talk on Monday?” Jacqueline trembled in spite of herconfident tone. Casey held her tighter and pressed her lips to her jaw, just infront of her ear. She closed her eyes and concentrated, not on Jacqueline’sconversation, but on the love flowing through her own heart. The decision she’dmade in the bedroom only moments ago crumbled.
Even after Jacqueline hung up the phone and set it on the counterbeside them, Casey held on, not saying anything.
“Casey—”
Casey kissed her. Jacqueline’s lips moved hesitantly againsthers, but she didn’t mind. She wasn’t trying to escalate this kiss intoanything more than a simple expression of gratitude. Jacqueline sighed againstCasey’s mouth, then eased back and rested their foreheads together. She cuppedthe back of Casey’s neck in a way that had always made Casey feelsafe—protected.
“Don’t do anything rash, please. You’ve worked very hard for thecareer you have. I don’t want you to throw that away,” Casey said.
“I wasn’t making idle threats.” Jacqueline’s fingers tightenedand she pushed harder against Casey’s head, as if trying to get closer. “You,Dad, and Sean—you
