Page 72 of Old Habits

She nods. “I will.”

“He’s a cute one.”

“He takes after his dad,” she says, lowering her voice. “Sara was never that cute.”

My lips curl. “And thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome.” She takes a deep breath while her eyes wander my face. “You, on the other hand, look more like your mother than ever and she was the most gorgeous woman I ever met in my life.”

I pause as my smile fades. “Oh, wow.”

“Wow, indeed.” She tilts her head. “Did I ever tell you about the time she and I started a book club?”

“No.”

“This was ages ago, obviously. Everyone was doing it. Oprah was doing it, so naturally, we started one, too. Every Wednesday morning, a few of us moms would get together at my house, shove you little kiddos in a playpen, and talk about whatever book was hot at the time over a box of wine.”

I laugh. “Sounds like fun.”

“It was while it lasted.” She smiles. “Joanne... well, she had different tastes than the other moms. They were more Mr. Darcy and she was more Mr. Grey, if you know what I mean.”

“I might.”

“Anyway, after a few months, things got a little rough for her and she started showing up less and less. Hank was no help at all so she would bring you over from time-to-time and I’d watch you while she went to her doctor appointments.”

“I don’t remember that,” I say, thinking back.

“You were still so tiny at the time,” she says. “Whenever she brought you over, Sara would throw little fits. She was so envious of you, even back then.”

I roll my eyes. “Sounds about right.”

“But William...” She smiles. “He’d plant himself on the floor next to you and he wouldn’t move again until Joanne came to pick you up. He adored you from the moment he first saw you.”

I look out the window, quickly finding him in the crowd across the street. He stands tall with Andy balanced on his shoulders and a pointy party hat on his head, laughing and screaming along with the other kids.

“To be honest,” Rachel continues, “it was a little disappointing when the two of you split up. I thought you were in it for the long haul.”

“I figured you’d be among those who pegged me a bad influence on him.”

She waves a hand. “It’s not like you two shared needles or went on killing sprees together.” Her brow arches. “Right?”

“Of course not.”

“Well, then, I don’t see anything wrong with a little harmless mischief now and again. You were just kids and you grew up eventually. No harm done.”

I sigh. “I wish everyone else saw it that way.”

“Listen, Clover might not be a big fan of second chances but I am... and with the way my son has been eying this place for the last hour, I think he is, too.”

“You might be right about that.”

She reaches out and lays her hand on mine. “Welcome home, honey.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you, Rachel.”

She pats my hand and winks before stepping toward the door. “Oh,” she pauses in the doorway, “and Jovie...”

“Yeah?”