Page 139 of Josephine and Clay

“There’s a bench in the shade. I was about to sit anyway.”

She doesn’t wait for me to answer fully, which saves me from refusing. She guides the stroller toward a bench beneath the awning, and I follow because my body has accepted what my pride hasn’t.

The shade helps.

I sit carefully, hands folded over my bag.

Tessa sits beside me and checks on Hailey, smoothing the blanket with the kind of tenderness that makes my throat tighten.

“She’s beautiful,” I say.

Tessa’s whole face changes. “Thank you. I still can’t believe she’s here half the time.”

“She came early?”

“A little. Scared us all senseless.” Her smile turns wry. “Especially Nash. He tries to pretend he’s recovered, but he checks if she’s breathing every twelve minutes.”

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It is.” She looks down fondly. “And sweet.”

Hailey makes a tiny sound in her sleep.

My chest aches again.

I don’t touch my stomach.

I won’t.

Tessa glances at me, then back at the stroller. “I saw you at the barn dance.”

“Yes.”

“With Clay.”

There it is.

Heat climbs my neck. “Briefly.”

Her smile says she doesn’t believe briefly is the right word. “He looked happy.”

I look down at my hands.

“He doesn’t always,” she adds gently.

“I’ve noticed.”

“Nash worries about him.”

“Everyone seems to.”

“He makes it easy.”

A laugh slips out before I can stop it. “That’s true.”

Tessa’s eyes warm. “You like him.”

I freeze.