Page 55 of Jay Bird

If it were mine, I would extend this patio out to meet the pool.”

“I see that the pool is definitely staying in this imaginary renovation?”

“Absolutely. With the room you have out here, you could even do a custom design with rocks and work the landscaping around them, bringing out some color with flowers and foliage. Oh! And you definitely need a space for a fire pit.” Then she pointed toward the spot he had been talking about. “And your playset could go over there. It would be far enough from the pool that you wouldn’t have to worry about kids running straight from one to the other.”

“Kids?”

She grinned. “Well, I assumed kids since you said you were a little big to be playing on a playset.”

Jay Bird chuckled. “Now who’s being the smartass?”

Heat crept into her face. But then she shrugged. “Again, that is just my opinion.”

Jay Bird nodded slowly as he looked across the yard. “It doesn’t sound bad.”

“That’s practically a glowing endorsement from you.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Willow smiled and took another drink.

For a while, neither of them spoke, but the silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable. Willow was starting to realize it rarely was with Jay Bird.

Finally, he leaned back in his chair. “How are you doing?”

Willow knew exactly what he meant. She could have given him the easy answer—just a simple fine and left it at that. But with everything he’s done for her and Lily, he deserved the truth.

“Overwhelmed, but grateful.”

He nodded as if understanding.

She looked at him. “I feel like I need to ask you again. Are you really okay with Lily and me using your last name? I mean, I don’t want you waking up tomorrow morning thinking, ‘what in the hell have I done.’”

Jay Bird turned slightly toward her. “That won’t happen. One thing you should know about me is that when I offer something, I mean it.” He paused for a moment and then continued. “

Willow, I was serious when I said that nobody here is going to make you do something you don’t want to do. Not Tink. Not Derek. Not me. If something makes you uncomfortable, say it. If you change your mind about the name tomorrow, we figure out another way.”

Willow swallowed. “You make it sound easy.”

“The saying-it part should be.”

“For me, it’s not.”

“I know.” Those two words were spoken without judgment.

Willow stared toward the creek. “Sometimes I don’t even know what I want anymore.”

Jay Bird’s voice softened. “You will.”

She turned toward him, only to find he was already watching her.

“Fuck, Willow, you survived three years with a man who spent every day trying to take your choices away. Then you got yourself and Lily out, and crossed half the damn world.” His jaw tightened slightly. “That’s not somebody who doesn’t know how to make decisions. You’re a hell of a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

Tears started to build in Willow’s eyes. “Sometimes I don’t feel strong.”

“That doesn’t mean you aren’t.”

Jay Bird rested his hand palm-up on the arm of the chair between them. He didn’t reach for her or ask anything. He just left his hand there, open and waiting, giving her the choice without pressure.