Bette thought about it, and the answer surprised her. “Three days ago. Playing dinosaurs with Carson. Watching Tina smile at something he said.”

“And that scares the shit out of you.”

“Of course it does. Because Carson isn’t just Tina’s son. He’s Darren’s son. He’s an eight-year-old boy whose world just imploded. He doesn’t need his mother’s ex-best-friend confusing things even more.”

“Or maybe he needs exactly that. Maybe he needs someone who loves his mother, who can help her heal, who can help them both build something better.”

“It’s not that simple, Jay.”

“Why not?”

“Because what if it doesn’t work? What if Tina gets scared again? What if she decides this is all too complicated? Carson’s already been abandoned by one parent. I won’t let him get attached to me just to have me disappear too.”

Jaylyn was quiet for a long moment. “Can I tell you something about kids?”

“You’re going to whether I want to hear it or not.”

“Kids are resilient. But they’re also perceptive. Carson can probably sense the connection between you and his mom. He can probably feel that you care about both of them. And right now, when his whole world feels unstable, that might be exactly what he needs.”

“Or it might be exactly what hurts him more when I have to leave.”

“Who says you have to leave?”

“I have a life in New York, Jay. I have a career, an apartment, responsibilities.”

“You have a job that you could do anywhere and an apartment that you could sell. What you don’t have is a family. What you don’t have is love.”

Bette stood up, pacing to the edge of the patio. “You make it sound so simple.”

“Maybe because it is. Maybe you’re the one making it complicated.”

“I’m being realistic.”

“You’re being scared.” Jaylyn joined her at the railing. “And I get it. I do. She hurt you badly. But Bette, people change. People grow. And sometimes, if you’re really lucky, you get a second chance at the thing that matters most.”

“And what if I’m not lucky? What if this is just history repeating itself?”

“Then you’ll survive it. Just like you did before. But at least you’ll know you tried.”

Bette was quiet, watching a hummingbird dart between the flowers in Jaylyn’s garden.