402 A Plan Comes Together

(Winona)

I’m pacing the family room at the cottage, running through all the last-minute details in my head before Jayden comes home. The kids are excited, and the whole place is buzzing with energy.

Even shy, reserved Sarah has been talking a mile a minute, making sure I know she has ‘a million billion things’ to tell her dad when he gets here.

You and me both, kiddo.

Lisa plops down onto the sofa, a mischievous grin playing at her lips. “You know,” she starts, “instead of drowning Jayden in chaos the moment he walks through the door, maybe you two should have some alone time. The kids will be fine with me for a couple of hours.”

I give her a skeptical look. “The kids are dying to see him. We’re a family—this reunion shouldn’t be just about me and Jayden.”

“There wouldn’t be kids without you and Jayden, would there. Of course it’s about you and him first.”

“I’d feel selfish.”

Lisa rolls her eyes, but it’s all in good humor. “Yeah, yeah, family bonding is important and all that. But le