Page 104 of Manhattan Kiss

“I’ve known you my entire life and I didn’t know that,” Avril says.

“Horror movies wouldn’t be my go-to either,” I confess, sufficiently distracted from my heartache to participate in the off-piste debate. “For anything. But definitely not for a post-breakup healing.”

“Real Housewives?” Avril asks.

“Maybe. But anything so long as I’m in bed with my best friend, Darcy, calorie-loading.”

“Amen to calories,” Poppy says.

“We should organize another girls’ brunch, or afternoon-in-bed-eating-ice-cream day or something.”

They’re kind to be concerned. Having these two as bosses is very different to the carousel of bosses I’ve had during my time at The Rookery. “I’m going to be fine. Honestly I will.”

“Of course you’re going to be fine,” Avril says. “I have no doubt about it. But it’s okay not to be fine right now. You’re a long way from home. You probably feel isolated.”

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” Poppy asks. “We could go over to Avril’s place and watch a movie.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I say.

“We know we don’t. We want to. So that’s agreed. We’ll do it on Thursday, your next evening off.”

“And don’t think we’re doing this because we want you to change your mind about the general manager position either,” Avril says.

“Well, we do want you to change your mind about that, but that’s not what a movie-and-ice-cream night is all about,” Poppy adds.

“I’m not going to change my mind,” I say. I don’t want to give them false hope. I’m counting down the days when I can go back to England. I might not have been delighted with where things were heading, but I wasn’t miserable. And I’ll take not miserable over how I’m feeling right now.

“That’s okay,” Poppy says. “But the job offer is on the table until you step foot on the plane to go back to the UK.”

A little bit of the darkness that had settled in me lifts. Even though I haven’t known Avril and Poppy long, and I don’t know them well, it’s nice to have people in my corner. Nice to be treated with kindness and empathy. I’ve enjoyed almost everything about working at Hotel on Ninth Street. If only Room 325 had been occupied by a different guest.

THIRTY-FIVE

Deacon

I have all Willow’s favorite things ready. I have a package of baby clothes for her favorite baby doll. I have some pink hair bows that I know she’ll love. I have a cupcake with a unicorn horn and three new books for us to read at bedtime. I don’t think I’ve missed anything. I just want to make sure I have all weapons in my arsenal after Gabby and I sit down with Willow after dinner this evening. I insisted that we tell her on a non-handover day so it doesn’t add to an already stressful time.

When Gabby insisted that Willow needed to know about the change in nesting arrangements as soon as possible, I insisted that it should be on a day when I was at the townhouse. I want to be the one who picks up the pieces if Willow falls apart because I know I have my daughter’s best interests at heart. I know Gabby cares about Willow. But she has a vested interest in making sure Willow has a good reaction to the news. I want to encourage an authentic reaction, no matter if it’s inconvenient for Gabby.

Gabby didn’t argue at my insistence over the logistics.

“Mommy’s going to be here any minute,” I say to Willow, as she eats her final forkful of pasta.

“Please may I have a yogurt?” Willow asks. She’s not even asked why her mother is coming around tonight. She’s acting like it’s perfectly normal for Gabby and me to be here together for the evening.

Before I can stand up, Lucia clears her plate and places a yogurt and a spoon in front of her.

“Thank you,” Willow says.

The doorbell rings and the sound of the key in the lock tells me Gabby has arrived.

“Is that Mommy?” Willow asks, grinning.

“I think so,” I say, a fixed smile on my face.

Willow pushes out her chair and goes running into Gabby’s arms. Even though co-parenting is easy with Gabby, compared to the horror stories I’ve heard, often I wish it was just me and Willow. But seeing her excited to see her mum sends a slice of guilt through me. I’ve been feeling so resentful towards my ex. But Gabby’s not a bad person, and Willow needs her mother. She needs us both.

“Hey, beautiful.” Despite being pregnant, Gabby still lifts Willow into her arms and brings her back over to the kitchen table. “Looks like you need to finish your yogurt.”