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“Of course not. But as a parent and a grandparent, I understand that things are rarely black and white. Maybe the Andersons have changed, maybe they haven’t, but you owe it to yourself and Evie to find out. A court battle isn’t good for anyone. Yes, mediation failed, but that was all about schedules and logistics. Focus on motivation. The why of it all matters.”

I grimaced. Talking. So much damn talking. It went against my instincts, but what had Carina said? That communication was one of my issues, and I needed to learn how to talk openly and listen properly without shutting down? Now, my mom was basically telling me the same thing.

Maybe there was some truth to their advice. I’d almost lost Carina due to communication issues, and I’d only gotten her back after I let my walls down and laid it all out on the table. I wasn’t going to bare my soul to the Andersons, but I could at least try to understand them as people. To really listen in good faith, without defensiveness or knee-jerk hostility. Our relationship was already at rock bottom; one more attempt to avoid a war before we dragged things to court couldn’t hurt.

“Fine,” I said reluctantly. “I’ll call them tonight and try to set something up. I can’t guarantee they’ll agree.”

“No, but it’s worth trying.” My mom smiled, her eyes taking on a new sparkle. “One last thing, then I’ll let you brood in peace. I know how much you like your mopey alone time.”

I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my mouth nonetheless. She and Carina had been spending too much time together; they were starting to sound alarmingly alike.

“Have you told Carina you love her yet?” she asked.

I flushed, flags of heat scorching my cheeks. “Mom!”

“What? It’s a valid question. I’ve never seen you so smitten with a girl. Not that you’ve brought many home for me to meet,” she added drily.

“I…that’s not…” I stuttered, my thoughts and emotions suddenly tangling into hopeless knots.

Love. A four-letter word that was as remote as it was terrifying. I hadn’t experienced the romantic version of it in so long that the very concept of it was foreign to me. But for the first time in years, maybe even ever, it was within reach—and that terrified me even more. My relationship with Carina had been both a whirlwind and a roller coaster from the beginning—our work arrangement, the quick succession between us dating and the World Cup, our hasty departure from South Africa followed by our argument and reconciliation. I’d barely had time to breathe throughout it all, much less examine the vocabulary for my feelings.

Did I love Carina? I hadn’t allowed myself to ask the question before my mom brought it up. But, beneath all the fear and avoidance, I already knew the answer. I just hadn’t expressed it out loud yet.

My mom laughed when I continued to be tongue-tied. “I can see you’re still processing, so I’ll leave you alone. But remember, if you wait too long to have the important conversations, you might miss your chance to have them at all.”

Her words lingered long after she left.

I stayed in the living room for a long while, my mind turning over the day’s events. I felt like I’d lived a lifetime in the past twenty-four hours, but I had the presence of mind to call the Andersons before I lost my nerve.

Elizabeth answered. To my shock, she agreed to an informal meeting at their house that Sunday without pushing back. Her acquiescence felt suspiciously easy, but I tried not to assume there was an ulterior motive. I had to be on guard, given their history of pulling a fast one over me, but this was my last shot at avoiding a prolonged court battle that would drag my family through hell. I couldn’t go in expecting to fail.

I also couldn’t do it alone.

After Evie went to bed, I found Carina in the kitchen, searching for a late-night snack. She raised a questioning brow when I stopped in the doorway.

Have you told Carina you love her yet? My mom’s question floated through my head.

I could’ve answered it then and there, but it wasn’t the right time. Not when the moment would be tainted by the Anderson-shaped thundercloud hanging over our heads.

For now, I had another important question to ask.

“Are you free on Sunday?”

CHAPTER 52

CARINA

I spent an inordinate amount of time choosing my outfit for Noah’s meeting with the Andersons on Sunday. It didn’t matter much as long as I didn’t show up in a bikini or ratty gym shorts, but it was the one aspect of the day I had control over.

After an hour of indecision and advice from Noah’s mom, I settled on a simple white dress with cap sleeves and lace-up sandals. Elegant but casual, perfect for summer, and hopefully innocent enough to convince the Andersons I wasn’t the opportunistic gold-digger the media portrayed me to be. Still, I couldn’t stop the nerves from churning in my stomach when we pulled up in front of their house.

“Are you sure having me here is the best idea?” I asked. “I’m happy to join you, but I don’t want them to use me against you somehow.”

“Yes. I want you here. I don’t care what the Andersons think,” Noah said firmly. “You’ll be a part of Evie’s and my life no matter how this all turns out. I’m not hiding you, so they’d better get used to it.”

My heart melted at his fierce certainty. “Okay,” I said softly.

We hadn’t had a lot of moments alone since his mom and Evie were also in the house, but I didn’t mind so much. I loved spending time with them, and Noah and I didn’t need to be together every second to prove what we meant to each other. What mattered was showing up when it counted.