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“Cookies?”

He laughed, but his eyes were brighter than usual and Piper could see so “We talked about the bad times, and she told me stuff I never knew about because she’d tried to protectit froed history I was a difficult teenager, delinquent, selfish—I couldn’t see as right in front of my face: she loved me, but couldn’t make my dad stay, not for her and especially not for me And he was a worthless bum, still is, as far as either of us know, so ere better off without hi thehtly on the shoulder, nervous of physical contact, but not wanting hi to her like this “I’ood , like normal people do She’s happy and the house feels warm It’s the ho” He shook his head and looked at the carpet “That first night, sleeping in sheets that hadn’t been washed in an industrial laundry, in a rooht I cried, Piper, I actually cried a little because I’ve s and I want to turn back the clock”

She lightly brushed her fingers over the top of his head His candor washer throat ache “Oh, Matt…”

“That week in Boston made me realize I was just a bu people who care forwas okay and that I didn’t want the things everyone else does because I was so s”

“So what do you want now?” she said softly

“I want that hoht years There’s a beautiful house, set right on the waterfront at Sanibel Bay, and I ht onto the white sand”

“Sounds a” She injected asthat Passion Creek still didn’t feature in his plans “That has to be on Millionaire’s Row I’ve walked past places like that lared at”

“Yeah, snobs, but this place has no close neighbors I don’t want nosy neighbors”

“That would be taking norhtened, walked the few steps to the front door where his jacket was hanging and pulled a bunch of papers out of the inside pocket “Have a look, tellsilently, but she took the bundle from him and flattened the papers out on the arht ahead and stolen her dreaht on the beach, like you said”

“Yep”

“And it has pale blue shutters…”

She lifted her gaze to see hi down at her “I painted them The damn owners were difficult about it before contracts were exchanged, but et the right shade? Because this place will never be a home without you in it withroohtly “I love you I want to be the best husband in the world to you and not have to spend another night without you beside me”

“I can’t believe you used a paintbrush”

“I never said I did a good job”

“I always drea off a bit anyway And yes, that’s exactly the right shade Unbelievably right”