greenhouse?” Nicholas asks. “We should build one and fill it with butterflies like that Morris guy did.”
“I guess the greenhouse was torn down awhile ago,” I say. “When Dad and I bought this house, it was very rundown, on the verge of being demolished. But we wanted to bring it back to its original glory, so we bought it and fixed it all up. We wanted it to be our family home.”
“Like the Weasleys and the Burrow,” Nicholas says. “But without the magic.”
“We have magic,” Dean assures our son. “Just a different kind.”
I glance at him, then at the sun-catcher that is capturing the last rays of twilight, then back at Dean. He catches my eye and winks, and for a moment, the pain between us disappears into a flood of tenderness.
He’s still here, my warm, sexy Dean with his hint-of-wicked smile and brown eyes that crinkle at the corners. I just have to look harder to find him now.
Chapter 20
Olivia
Claire bounds into the café with Nicholas and Bella at her heels. She’s glowing with health, her blond hair caught in a messy ponytail and her cheeks rosy from the cold.
“Hey, Liv.” She bends to help Bella climb onto a stool at the front counter. “We just spent a few hours at the children’s museum. They were doing some fun experiments and art stuff up on the rooftop garden.”
“Thanks for taking them.” I reach over to brush Bella’s windswept hair out of her eyes. “We had a server call in sick, so if you don’t mind bringing them home, I’ll be back around six.”
“Sure. Do you need me to stop at the grocery store or fix dinner?”
“No, I’ll take care of it. But thanks.”
She turns to help Nicholas take the wrapper off a straw. I think—not without a bit of reluctance—that it is easier with Claire around. At least now, I don’t have to call Kelsey, Archer, or one of my mom friends to help with the kids if I need it.
I get Nicholas and Bella their after-school snacks before they leave with Claire. I go into the kitchen to fill several orders. Allie is at the service counter, arranging plates of dessert.
“I asked Gretchen to come in and cover for Sam,” she tells me as I reach for a clean teapot on a nearby shelf. “So you can go home.”
“It’s okay, I can stay. Claire is taking care of the kids.”
Allie glances at me. “How’s that going?”
“Fine. I mean, it’s helpful to have a nanny even when everything is normal, but now…well, Dean was right that it’s making things easier.”
“How long will she be with you?”
“Through the surgery, then we’ll reassess after that.”
“And when is the surgery?”
“January third.” I pour boiling water into the blue teapot and stir the tea leaves inside. “At least we’ll have a good holiday.”
“So you’ll still be working?” She concentrates on putting extra sprinkles on the rainbow parfaits.
“Yes, of course. I’ll need some time off after the surgery, but not too much.”
“Well, the first week of the year is always really busy,” Allie says. “With all the post-Christmas shoppers, and the New Year’s tea we hold for the senior center.”
“I know. But the recovery time for surgery isn’t supposed to be too bad. I should be able to come back within a week.”
“And if you can’t?”
“Then we’ll figure it out.”
“I’m sorry you have to go through this.” Allie puts the dessert plates on a tea tray and picks it up. “I really am. But we have to have a plan rather than figure things out as we go along. And it sounds like you should focus on getting well starting as soon as possible, which means taking all the medical leave you need. Brent and I will take care of the café.”
A bolt of hurt fires through me. I grab Allie’s arm before she can leave. She startles, steadying the tray.
“Look, you seem to be having trouble with my diagnosis,” I say, trying to keep my voice even. “I mean, I understand if you are. I’m having trouble with it too.”
A shadow passes across her face. “I’m sorry. I don’t deal with this kind of thing very well.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not going to go away. At least, not soon.”
“I know. That’s why I think you should focus on getting through treatment and leave things here to me and Brent.”
“I’m not going to stop working, Allie. I can’t. And I don’t even feel sick, so why would I want to stop?”