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Before I could question it, Oliver burst out, "My mom came to see me! She said she’d takewith excite up at the now-understandable glooreat I’m so happy for you, Oliver"

He looked pleased, and sat Scout back on the ground "I told her ‘bout the tree house, but Daddy said she’s not allowed to see it Said I had to ask you first Can I show her when she coan’s ex--in my tree house? Not a chance, and I didn’t even want to analyze why that bothered me so much But she was Oliver’s mother…how could I say no?

"Sure, of course," I replied with a nod, atte to cover the hesitation in ing o He looked up, and added, "She’ll love it as much as we do!"

"I’h fell from my lips as he hopped down from the porch steps

"See you Saturday, Cassie!" Julia called back as they cut through the lawn back to Logan’s

I gave a nod, then quickly realized I had no clue why I was seeing her this weekend

"Saturday?"

She turned back, her brows pinched together "Yeah, Logan’s birthday"

Birthday? "Oh, I didn’t know"

She rolled her eyes and scoffed "Of course he didn’t tell you He’s not big on celebrating it, but we force him to sit down and open a few presents and eat cake We do the big party next month; since Oliver’s birthday is exactly one oes all out for that one So it’s just Jax, Oliver, and an’s, but it’s nice" She hesitated for a brief , "Mark has to work late, so he won’t be there"

This was news toup Mark Did she know more about our past? It didn’t matter, and the party ay too family-oriented for me to be included in it

"Thanks, but I don’t think I should come Like you said, it’s just you and Jax--family"

"And my mom," Oliver chimed in "I invited her too"

"You what?" Julia snapped

"Daddy said I could," he defended with a pouting lip

With a huff, Julia looked back to me She was definitely not okay with Oliver’s last-minute invite

"Like I said, it’s Saturday at six, and I know Logan would love for you to be there Just think about it"

I nodded, unsure why I didn’t clarify right away that I wouldn’t be attending Instead, I grabbed Scout and headed inside, eager to clear an was back to work, which meant I had a lot of free alone ti in randparents’ treasures After sliding the last box down the ladder and watching it s around at the empty space

As a kid, I was never allowed in the small room I’d alondered what I’d find if I pulled down the ladder and snuck up Grand zone with stacks of boxes and old furniture, but seeing it empty aside from an old sofa and antique dresser which were too heavy to move, I realized ‘small’ was not the word to describe it--dusty, yes, but it was larger than I’d expected