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I huffed out a laugh. I’d been worried that everyone would have the same cold attitude that Jade had. I’d deserve it, if they did. “Thanks for not hating me.”

“It’s the least I can do. We were all curious on how things are going anyway.”

“Not great.”

“Is that what brought you back here?”

“Yeah. You heard about the twins in the square, I assume.”

“I did. In the Facebook group. Do you know about that? I think it started after you left.”

“I . . . do.”

“So you didn’t totally forget about us.”

We were treading toward a topic I didn’t want to discuss. I’d kept my interest in this town a secret. As far as I knew, not even Atticus was aware of it beyond the things he would tell me. I needed to change the subject. “Anyway, those kids are mine.”

“I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but none of us saw that coming.”

“I didn’t either.”

“Still. Congrats. Or not. You seem a little . . . weird.”

“This is the first time you’ve seen me in thirteen years.”

“Yeah, but still. Most people smile when they talk about their kids.”

It was just another reminder of all the ways I’d failed as a parent. I got a lot of those.

“It’s been a long month.”

Mark hummed. “How’ve you been, kid?”

“I’m an adult now.”

“All of you are kids to me.”

I huffed, but thought about it.

It was different coming to a bar and talking to someone that I knew. If I wanted to do that back in the city, I had to ask someone to meet up. Over the years, I’d never found a friend as good as Jade was.

“I’ve been better.”

“Something big must have happened if it made you come back here. Plus, Atticus left not too long ago for a while. Usually, that’s for you.”

I had been lucky that Atticus was free. He put work on hold for me, which was a reminder that he did care, even if he did it in his own way. Hell, he’d shown me he cared tonight by showing up.

He’d shown up a lot.

At least when he came over for holidays, I got a little taste of home.

“Speaking of Atticus, is he giving you a break?”

“As much of one as he can. I estimate I have about an hour.”

“You couldn’t find a day care in the big city?”

“I hired four. They all quit on the first day.”