Chapter 70

Ian

The silence of the last few days had been eradicated. Sara told him about high school while he installed the new countertops in the kitchen, and he told her about their old friends over lunch. They moved the furniture in the living room, and she started painting the walls while he finished up in the kitchen. The rooms were close enough that he could read her facial expressions when he looked her way.

Ian’s phone rang at 4:30. It was Sissy, and she barely let him answer the call before she started in on him.

“We’re having lasagna. Be here at 5:30, and please don’t be late because I had no idea how hard it would be to make lasagna with a toddler and an infant.” A crash in the background was followed by a childish scream.

“I’ll be there.” He’d forgotten, but he refrained from thanking his sister-in-law for the reminder that he’d promised to stop by for dinner.

“Good. Bring some rolls. I’ll throw them in the oven when you get here.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ian caught Sara averting her gaze as h