“Well, they figured it was time for another visit.”

“It’s good to see all three of you. Cate’s recording.”

“She usually is this time of day, so I just drop her order off if she’s in there.”

“I’ll take it. What have we got?”

“Mostly dairy. My ladies sent some cookies for your boy. They’re smitten.”

Luke toddled over to Dillon, lifted his arms. “Up!”

“Want up here?” Dillon passed the bag to Darlie, picked Luke up, tossed him a couple times to make him laugh.

Seeing a man playing so easily, so naturally with her boy made Darlie’s heart hurt a little. “You’re good with babies.”

“It’s not hard.”

“It is for some.” And because it made her heart hurt, she repeated the old mantra.

Tits up.

“You’re good with Cate, too.”

“It’s not hard,” he repeated as he tossed Luke again, and Darlie walked over to unpack the market bag.

“Not if you love her.”

Since Luke wanted down, Dillon gave him back to the dogs, then stepped nimbly around the scatter of toys. “Easiest thing I ever did. I don’t suppose you’d tell me how close she is to feeling the same.”

“I’ll say, as her friend, you check a lot of boxes for me. You should come to dinner tonight.”

“I should?”

“You should. She’ll figure out something to make. Me, I stir and mix. I’m a mediocre chopper and slicer, but I excel at stirring and mixing.” Puzzling on where to put the eggs, cheeses, creams, butters, milk, she glanced back at him.

“I’ve been an actor since I was about Luke’s age. It’s what I know how to do.”

“You’re good at it. But you know more than that. You know how to be a mom. How to be a friend. Those rank high on my scale of knowing.”

No wonder he dazzled Cate. “Come to dinner,” she repeated.

“Do you eat meat?”

“I’ve been known to.”

“There’s a grill out there. I can bring back some steaks.”

“Steak.” As she repeated the word, Darlie’s eyes went wistful. “I don’t know the last time I actually had steak.”

“Break time.” Cate opened her studio door. “Where’s that baby? I need a fix. Oh, Dillon.”

“He came with dairy,” Darlie told her.

“Nice. And good timing. How about a walk on the beach?”

“I’ve only got a couple minutes. Catch the kid!” Snatching Luke up, he faked a toss, stopping Cate’s heart, loosing Luke’s gut-laugh. “Just kidding.”

“He’s coming to dinner, and bringing steak. We’re going to make it a little celebration. I just told my agent to make the deal on an offer for a series on Netflix. Major project, starring role.”

“Darlie! Break out the champagne!”

“I’ll take it. Tonight. Think Game of Thrones meets the female, adult Harry Potter. The offer came in a few weeks ago, and I turned it down because it shoots in Northern Ireland, and that’s six months on location for the first season. If it hits, that’s half a year, every year for the three projected seasons. But now . . .”

She took Luke back from Dillon. “I think it’ll be good for us. Meanwhile, I have a lot of things to tie up, more to plan out.”

“The family base in Mayo’s close. I’ll come visit.”

“I’m counting on it.” Darlie gripped Cate’s hand. “I’m seriously counting on it.”

“When do you leave?”

“I’ll go back to L.A. day after tomorrow, sew some things up. I’m going to get sloppy on you about that later, but right now I’m going to take this guy upstairs, change him, slather him with sunscreen like a good if obsessive mother, so we can take that walk on your beach.”

She turned to Dillon. “Medium rare.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll see you later. Say bye-bye.”

Luke said bye-bye, waved over Darlie’s shoulder as she carried him upstairs.

“You’re going to miss her. And the kid.”

“Like crazy. It’s such a good move for her though. It’s a smart one on so many levels.” She moved to him, wrapped around him. “I wish you could take that walk.”

“So do I.” When he rubbed her arms, the way he rubbed them, she drew back.

“There’s something else.”

“I think we should keep tonight a celebration, so I’m going to tell you now, get it over. Sparks was attacked a couple days ago in prison.”

She felt nothing, nothing at all. “Is he dead?”

“No, the shank missed vital stuff. He’s hurting, from what Red said, but he’ll make it.”

When she let feeling come, all she had was mild anxiety and speculation.

“That’s four now,” she murmured. “I don’t know what to think, Dillon. Who would do this? If it’s my mother, she’s not just selfish, greedy, and an all-out shit of a human being. She’s crazy.”

“I’ve got some thoughts on it. So does Red. We’ll talk about it. You should enjoy your last couple days with your friend.” He pulled her back. “I’ll be back tonight.” He kissed her, drew her up to her toes, deepened it. “I’ll give you tomorrow night for a good farewell.” Tugged her head back, changed angles, went deep again. “After that, you’ll have to get used to being with me.”

“It’s been over a week, but I haven’t gotten used to not being with you.”

“Good.” He started to the door, around the toys. “Darlie put the cookies my ladies sent in the fridge with the butter.”

On a laugh, Cate walked over to rescue them.

Before she put them in a lidded jar, she took one.

Not her mother, she thought again. And not because she thought Charlotte wasn’t capable of causing great harm, even for inexplicable reasons. But there had to be an upside for her to make the effort.

Nothing to gain by this, because if the publicity broke, it wouldn’t flatter Charlotte. More likely, she’d become a suspect, which would only highlight the past in a harsh light.

She wasn’t one to seek the harsh light.

Then again, maybe she hadn’t thought about that.

“And I have to now,” she admitted.

Because coincidence could only stretch so far. With this last attack, that band snapped.

She heard Darlie coming down, put it aside. She wouldn’t mar her friend’s last two days with worries and wondering.

Two days later, she stood with Hugh, watching Darlie drive away.

Hugh gave Cate a one-armed hug. “She’ll be fine. More than fine.”

“I know. She’s already hired someone to look for houses in Ireland. She’s going to give herself a month there before she’s due on set to acclimate, to hire a nanny. She said she wanted to clone Julia. Someone kind and loving, who’d already raised a child well. She and her publicist worked on a statement about the divorce.”

“Get out in front of it.” Hugh nodded. “The smart way.”

“Maybe I think it lets that bastard off too easy, but it’s what’s right for her and Luke. Anyway, I’m glad I had this time with her. I’m glad you had a couple days, too.”