“Lauren’s gone,” Melissa said softly.
“But not forgotten.”
“You’re two healthy adults.”
“That doesn’t mean we should…” Sage stopped herself, realizing where her mind was going, where it had been going a lot lately.
“It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t,” Melissa countered.
“I’m not going to sleep with—”
“Your husband?”
“He’s not…at least not in the conventional sense.”
Melissa topped up their glasses. “I’m not saying you should sleep with him. Of course I’m not saying you should sleep with him. I’m just saying don’t be too quick to write it off. If the idea comes up, I mean. Like I said, you’re both healthy adults. And who else are you going to sleep with? I can’t see you having an affair.”
The words brought Sage up short. “I’m not going to cheat on TJ.”
The idea was appalling.
Melissa’s brows went up with an unspoken question. If Sage wasn’t going to sleep with TJ, but she wasn’t going to cheat on TJ, where did that leave her? Eli was nine years old. Heidi was only seven.
Years of celibacy stretched ominously in front of her.
* * *
The Seaside Festival was in full swing with hundreds of people, locals and tourists alike, out enjoying what had been a perfect late-August Sunday, with temperatures in the low eighties, breezes light and not a single cloud in the sky. TJ had been gratified to watch Eli participate in the kids’ games this afternoon. He and the pitcher on a local Little League team won their age group’s egg toss.
Heidi’s leg was improving quickly, and her brace had been removed, but it would be a while before she’d be running. She’d loved the art events and spent nearly an hour wandering among the artisans’ booths. TJ offered to buy her something, and she’d finally chosen a hand-painted ceramic bowl. It was brightly and cheerfully colored, and he took that as a good sign. She’d also visited the face-painting tent, coming away decorated as a black-and-white kitten. She looked adorable.
The sun had dropped behind the mountains, and the hamburger and hot dog barbecue was winding down. Both Eli and Heidi looked exhausted where they sat on a picnic table bench, Eli beside TJ and Heidi across the table beside Sage.
“I should take them home,” Sage said, smoothing Heidi’s braided hair and giving her a kiss on the top of the head.
“Kristy will take them.” TJ pulled out his phone.
Kristy was enjoying the festival with some of her friends, but she was on call and ready to take the kids home.
“I don’t want to bother her,” Sage said, rising.
“We’re paying to bother her,” TJ said, sending the text. “And she likes the job.”
Sage obviously decided she couldn’t argue with that. Kristy was a college student, and she wanted to earn as much as possible over the summer. She’d made it clear that she liked her job, and she loved the kids. There was no reason in the world for Sage to miss the dance and the fireworks tonight.
“Kristy says we can see the fireworks from the balcony,” Eli said.
The first fireworks show was at eight, with a bigger show at midnight to close off the dance.
“Baths first,” Sage said.
“What about my kitty face?” Heidi asked.
“It’s just for the day, sweetheart,” Sage said.
Heidi’s expression fell.
TJ’s compassion kicked in.
“The paint will smear all over your pillow,” Sage said.
“I’ll sleep on my back. I won’t move. I promise.”
Kristy arrived and seemed to take in the scene.
“What’s wrong, pumpkin?” she asked Heidi.
Heidi looked up at Kristy, tears forming in her eyes. “I want to be a kitty.”
“She doesn’t want to wash,” TJ told Kristy.
Kristy immediately produced her phone. “I’ll take a picture. We’ll know what it looks like, and we can put it on again tomorrow.”
Heidi’s face brightened.
“Or if you want,” Kristy said, “we’ll paint something else tomorrow instead. That way you won’t get bored.”
“I want to be a kitty,” Heidi said with determination.
“Kitty it is,” Kristy said cheerfully. “You can be a gray kitty tomorrow, or an orange kitty.”
“Orange,” Heidi sang out.
“Nice save,” TJ murmured to Kristy.
“Come on, kids.” Kristy patted Eli’s shoulder, then rounded the table to take Heidi’s hand.
“We won’t be too late,” Sage told her.
“Take your time.”
“Can I have watermelon bubbles in my bath?” Heidi asked as they walked away.