Fortuity (Transcend 3)

Blowing out a long breath, I open my suitcase and start unpacking my clothes, pausing when I see the soft silk.

“You’re not here,” I whisper, closing my eyes and hugging a white lace and silk nightie to my chest.

I will never wear this nightie. It should go in the trash, not traveling everywhere with me, but I can’t let it go. I can’t let him go. Not yet. Running my hands over the delicate material, I mold it to the curves of my breasts, imagining what I would have looked like wearing it. Imagining the look on his face.

The sandpaper of a deep voice causes me to jump, and my eyes fly open. “Where do you want this box?” Nathaniel asks, eyeing the sexy lingerie pressed to my body over my white tank top.

I wad up the nightie and shove it in the pocket of my pants. Yes, my pants. There are dresser drawers and a suitcase where I could hide it, where it wouldn’t seem like a big deal.

Nope. I shove it into my pocket where it doesn’t completely fit, leaving one of the spaghetti straps hanging out in plain sight.

Whoever said you can’t be single, in your forties, and completely awesome at the same time … well, they were right.

Nathaniel drags his gaze from my bulging pocket to my bugged-out eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s fine. I was just …” I fold my hands in front of me to hide the bulging pocket. “Just, uh … deciding what to keep and what to give away. I’m undecided on this.” I pat my pocket. “So I’ll just keep it…” I rub my lips together to prevent myself from laughing as my cheeks burn “…in my pocket.” The last three words squeak out.

Nathaniel plants his teeth into his lower lip and nods slowly, his gaze flitting between mine and my pocket. “Okay, but I assume you don’t want this box in your other pocket. So where do you want it?”

A tiny chuckle escapes when I tip my chin down and cover my face. “Just … set it anywhere.”

He drops the box in the corner by the door to the balcony and the stairs Mr. Hans finished building. “Your room faces mine, but I don’t have stairs from my balcony.”

Oh good. My room faces cliff-diving Jamie’s room. Just … perfect.

“Dad, I’m taking Gabe to our house for lunch. He said he’s hungry and they don’t have food yet.” Morgan and Gabe lurk in the doorway, her with a grin on her face and him with his nose in his phone.

“Gabe, we can go get lunch right now and then go to the store,” I interject before my overly generous neighbors do one more thing to make me feel completely incompetent today.

“I’m hungry now.”

“I said we can go now.”

“Dude, it’s just a sandwich.” Morgan holds up both hands, eyes wide. Those wide eyes wander as she shuffles toward me. “What’s this?” Before I realize her intentions, she plucks the nightie from my pocket.

“Oh! That’s—” I try to grab it, but she’s too fast, spinning toward her dad.

“Look at this beautiful dress, Dad! It looks my size.” Morgan holds it up to her lithe body for two seconds before sliding it over her head. “Why do you have a girl’s dress?” She spins in a circle, then smooths her hand down the front of it.

“It’s her pajamas. My mom used to have those in different colors,” Gabe mumbles, making a quick glance up at me. “Is that my mom’s?”

“What?” My shock rushes out as a weak breath. “No. Of course not.” I would never wear a dead woman’s lingerie.

“Wow! I want a nightshirt just like this one! Please, Daddy!”

I cringe, forcing my gaze to Nathaniel’s as he lifts his chin and scratches his jaw.

“When you’re older.”

“Why when I’m older?”

“Because they don’t make these for little girls.” I jump in and slide the nightie up her body and over her head. “Little girls your age should wear fun cotton jammies with Disney princesses on them.”

She lifts her arms and relinquishes the nightie. “Dad says Disney is too commercialized.”

I shove the nightie under my other clothes still in the suitcase and shoot Nathaniel a narrow-eyed look that says, Seriously? No electronics and no Disney?

He shrugs. “It’s true.”

“I went to Disney last year. I love it there.” Gabe’s glowing endorsement of Disney doesn’t help the situation. Of course, he loved it there. What kid doesn’t like Disney?

“I wonder if I’d like it?” Morgan taps her finger on her chin while giving her dad a curious expression.

“You would. It’s the ‘happiest place on Earth,’” Gabe reassures her.

My gaze ping-pongs between Nathaniel and Morgan.

“Wait? The happiest place on Earth? You said I wouldn’t like Disney, but it’s the happiest place on Earth? We have to go, Dad!”