And it would be over and done.

He had done those things. And yes, she’d made mistakes, too. But she’d come here to this suburban wonderland to build a life for their children. She’d given up nearly all modeling and put her focus on them.

And what she’d built was amazing. Their girls were lucky for it.

He rolled to his belly and began to write again.

CHAPTER SEVEN

KELLY FLIPPED THE SIGN on the door and unlocked it to admit Stacey.

“I brought you a smoothie. It’s got that powder you like.” Stacey’s lip curled. “I have to be in court soon, but you’re on my way and I really need to get all the details about yesterday.”

“I don’t even know where to start.” Kelly took the smoothie with her thanks.

“Biggest news, then. Go with that.”

They hadn’t been able to really have enough time the day before to get the whole story out. All Kelly had been able to say was the engagement had been broken so she took a moment to get her friend up to speed.

Stacey’s mouth dropped open. “I get that he’d be a little jealous. Vaughan is one of those people everyone likes to be around. But this?”

“Right? I know they don’t like one another. That’s normal, for God’s sake. He sounded like a stranger yesterday. The words he used made me believe he meant them. I just feel nothing for him now. He killed it all. I don’t hate him. My overwhelming reaction is relief I’m not marrying him.”

“Well, jeez. You know my opinion of the engagement, but I’m sorry it was painful for you both. And yes, you can’t respect a person who’d do that to those girls.”

“How could he have trusted me if I’d have gone along with it? He’s got kids, too. How could he have wanted me to do that to my children?”

“Because he wouldn’t have asked his ex to do such a thing.”

“And I wouldn’t have asked. The world is full of parents who walk away. Vaughan didn’t walk away from them when he left me.” Kelly rubbed her hands up and down her arms a moment.

“What did Vaughan say when you told him?”

“I didn’t tell him any details, really. He asked if he was the reason. I said Ross and I were the reason. That we’d had a disagreement about something important and weren’t going to get married after all.”

“Did he believe that weak-ass response?”

“It’s true! Even if Vaughan...”

“Even if you weren’t still in love with him, you mean?”

“I’m not an idiot. I can’t help loving him, but I know what he is. Or maybe what he was. But I can have feelings for him and still not fall for his crap. Anyway, the last thing I want is for Vaughan to think I did it for him.”

“And why is that?”

“He told me he still loved me and wanted another chance. And I need to have it be apart from the Ross situation. I can’t run from one man to another. It’s a bad lesson for my kids and it’s stupid.”

“You’re not running anywhere. He said all those things and you said what back?”

“He said lots of things.” Kelly shrugged. “None of them was enough. He’s dancing around what happened. I get it. He doesn’t want to admit it out loud. But there’s no way I could even consider letting him close enough to maybe work things out unless he does.

“Anyway, I’m too busy. Maybe I should give up on the idea of settling down with anyone. I can buy one of those boyfriend pillows instead. I have a vibrator. It’s not like I don’t know how to take care of business when there’re no penises around.”

Stacey nearly choked on her coffee.

“I think it’s fair to make him come clean. That way you both go forward with a clean slate. Why don’t you see where this goes before swearing off men in favor of silicone and pillows first?”

Kelly wiped a fingerprint off the display case that surrounded a nifty point-of-sale hub that was all discreetly out of the line of customer sight.

“He says he wants to be a daily help with the girls. I have to admit, I sort of expected him to mess up today. I slept in Maddie’s room last night. Got up early to exercise and by the time I’d finished, showered and dressed, he was up, coffee was brewing. He got Kensey up at seven, though I thought I’d lose him a time or two.” Kelly laughed.

“That child is an absolute bear in the morning. She’s slept over at his house many times over. How is he just figuring this out?” Stacey asked.

“He’s been vacation dad. You know? At Daddy’s house they get up when they want. They go to bed when they want. He lets them eat too much crap and he hates to say no.”

“That’s going to be a cold hard slap in the face.” Stacey grinned as she said it. “Man, that puts a spring in my step.”

Kelly couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “He has it so easy. Shurley does everything for him.”

“You said I wasn’t fair because I called him a man-boy who lived with his mom!”

“He has his own house!” Kelly protested.

“Which can be seen by standing on the front porch of his mom’s house.”

“You’re going to make me pee my pants if I can’t stop laughing.” Michael and Sharon’s house sat at the highest point of the ranch, on a rise. They could probably see lots of houses from there.

Kelly continued, “Back to my point. He’s never had to manage their schedule. Never had to wake them up for school and get them there on time. This is going to be a challenge for him.”