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“No. About four months in, I knew I’d made a mistake.” He drew in a breath. “And that’s my story. There are no excuses for what happened, and I’m sorry I hurt you. I acted badly. I regret that.”

He hesitated as if there was more, then surprised her by standing. “I won’t keep you any longer. Thanks for hearing me out.”

She walked him to the door.

“I feel as if I should say something,” she told him as he put on his coat. “Maybe profound or bitchy or funny.”

He chuckled. “You have my number. Text me when you decide what it is. I’ll be around through Christmas.” He bent down and kissed her cheek. “I am sorry, Reggie. More than you know.”

He opened the front door and stepped outside. After he was gone, she stood in the entryway, her mind swirling. What on earth was she supposed to think of everything he’d told her? There had been too much information and no time to process it. She needed a way to clear her head.

Taking Belle for a walk was the obvious solution, but she decided to wait at least ten minutes. She didn’t want to leave only to run into Jake somewhere.

She walked back to the family room, thinking she would flip channels until she felt it was safe to go outside. She needed something to distract her and—

Her phone buzzed with an incoming text. She pulled it out of her pocket and saw it was from Toby.

Immediately guilt bubbled up inside, which was ridiculous. They weren’t involved. Yes, there had been that great dinner and the kiss that had followed, but he’d made it clear he wasn’t interested in an actual relationship. Besides, she and Jake had only been talking. No guilt was required.

That established, she read the text.

Harrison has something he wants to talk to you about. Can you come by tonight around seven?

The only possible topic that came to mind was Harrison getting stuck in the closet. Was he afraid she was going to tell people that he’d screamed and cried? She wouldn’t, but better to tell him that.

I’ll be there.

Thanks. See you then.

Every part of Toby wanted to tell his son he was making a mistake. Protecting his son was his primary job, and watching him walk into a dangerous situation had him on edge. But Harrison was insistent and Toby had been unable to change his mind.

“It’s okay, Dad,” Harrison told him. “I want Reggie to know what happened.”

The obvious question was why, but Toby had already tried that. His son trusted Reggie, and that was the end of the discussion.

So here they sat, waiting for Reggie’s arrival at the house. Toby couldn’t help wishing for a call from her, saying she couldn’t make it. But right on time, the doorbell rang.

“Don’t worry,” Harrison told him, sounding far older than eight. “She’s not like Lori.”

Something Toby could only hope was true.

They let her in. Usually the sight of Reggie’s easy smile kicked him in the gut, but not tonight. Instead there was only unease. He knew he should trust her, but he was a father first.

They exchanged the usual greetings as Reggie took off her coat and hung it, along with her scarf, then they went into the family room. Reggie hid her curiosity well, only smiling when Harrison told her where to sit. Toby took a chair across from her so he could watch her and jump in if he needed to. Harrison remained on his feet.

“I wanted to tell you what happened in the closet,” Harrison said. “At the community center.”

“You don’t have to tell me anything,” Reggie said, her voice gentle. “I mean that, Harrison.”

He nodded, his expression serious. “I know, but I want you to know.” He looked at Toby, then back at her. “When I was six, Dad had a girlfriend. Lori. She and Dad were going to get married.”

Reggie’s eyebrows rose slightly, but otherwise she didn’t say anything.

“Lori told Dad that she liked me a lot, and when it was the three of us, she was really nice, but when it was just her and me, she was different.”

Toby was watching closely, so he noticed the subtle stiffening of Reggie’s shoulders and the tightness around her mouth.

“Sometimes she was mean,” he continued, his voice matter-of-fact. “There were a lot of rules, and when I didn’t follow them, she punished me.”