Robin shut the door behind us and smiled sympathetically. “I know you must be nervous, April. But I think it’s wonderful what you’ve decided to do. Chip is anxious to know you.”

I swallowed, exchanging a glance with Tyler, who looked astonishingly calm. “I think I’m a little of everything right now. But I’m anxious to know him too.”

“Why don’t you sit down in the living room?” She gestured toward a room on the left. “Chip’s upstairs. I’ll go get him. He’ll be thrilled to see you again, Tyler. He was disappointed to hear you’d gone back to California and wouldn’t be coaching anymore. He learned so much from you.”

“He’s an excellent student and a talented pitcher. I’d be glad to work with him again.”

She beamed. “That would be wonderful. And I can’t thank you enough for encouraging him to take the Clemson scholarship. I don’t know what you said, but it got through to him. He accepted it last week.”

“I’m happy to hear it.”

We entered the living room and took a seat on a gingham-covered sofa. I felt like I had no idea what to do with my hands and clasped them anxiously in my lap. I couldn’t believe how at ease Tyler seemed. Was it an act?

“Make yourselves comfortable,” Robin said, heading up the stairs. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” As soon as she walked out, I looked at Tyler. “How are you so calm right now?” I whispered. “I’m dying.”

“I’m not calm, babe. But I’ve had a lot of practice keeping cool under pressure while on the mound.”

“Oh. Right.” I moved a little closer to him, hoping some of his never-let-them-see-you-sweat would rub off on me. To distract myself from my nerves, I looked around at the room. It was comfortably furnished with a beautifully polished wood floor, a rug beneath the coffee table with fresh vacuum lines, and a vase full of fresh tulips on top of it. An upright piano stood against one wall, and I wondered if Chip or his sister played.

Footsteps coming down the stairs had me jumping to my feet, and Tyler stood slowly, placing a hand on my lower back.

For a second, I panicked. What if this was the wrong decision? What if we should just leave this kid alone? What if the decision to meet him was just selfish on my part—something I needed in order to move forward, but he didn’t? After all, the situation was potentially going to get publicly messy with Tyler, and—

Then he walked into the room—that beautiful baby whose eyes I’d looked into so long ago—and his handsome smile melted my heart. “Hey,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Chip.”

“I’m April,” I said, taking his hand and returning his smile as my heart fluttered with happiness. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

“Hey, Coach,” he said, shaking hands with Tyler too. “My mom said you were here.”

“Good to see you again, Chip.”

A little girl came sliding down the banister into the front hall, where she jumped off before coming to stand next to her brother.

“Cecily!” Robin scolded. “How many times have I asked you not to do that? And I thought you were going to stay in your room.”

“I changed my mind,” she said with a shrug. “I had FOMO.”

“This is Chip’s sister, Cecily,” Robin said, giving her daughter a stern look. “She’s eleven.”

“Eleven and three-quarters,” Cecily clarified.

Chip poked her on the shoulder. “No one cares about the three-quarters, CeCe.”

She gave him a dirty look. “I do.”

“Why don’t we all sit down?” Robin suggested. “If you’ll just give me one minute, I’ve got some cookies and coffee made.”

“Of course,” I said, barely able to take my eyes off Chip. He was so like Tyler at that age, from his coloring to the height to the way he stood. But I could see the Sawyer in him too.

While Robin was in the kitchen, Tyler asked Chip about the team’s last few games, and I was grateful I could just listen for a few minutes. When she returned, I was glad to take a warm coffee cup in my hands, which felt twitchy. It was Chip who put me at ease.

“So I hear you went to Central High too,” he said, meeting my eyes. It was apparent within minutes that he was not only handsome but also confident, humble, good-natured, and mature.

He was naturally curious and asked a lot of questions about growing up at Cloverleigh Farms, wondering if he could see it sometime, expressing astonishment at the number of siblings I had.

“Four sisters?” he asked, glancing at Cecily, who grinned impishly from her perch on the piano bench. “I wouldn’t survive.”

I laughed. “It was a crowded house, but a nice way to grow up. I’d be glad to show you around sometime. All of you. My family would love that.”

“Does your mom know about Chip?” asked Cecily, taking a bite of her cookie.

“Cecily,” Robin said, giving her daughter a look.

“It’s okay,” I said, smiling at the precocious little girl. She reminded me of Chloe at that age—no filter. “She does. And she’d really like to meet him—and you too.”

Cecily grinned. “Are there horses at your farm?”

“There are,” I told her.

“Could I ride one?”

“Sure.”

Her face lit up.

“So I hear you took the offer from Clemson,” said Tyler.

“I did.” Chip smiled. “Thanks again for all the advice.”

“Any idea what you might study there?” I asked.

“I’m not sure yet, but maybe environmental engineering.”

“Hey, who is Chip’s biological dad?” asked Cecily, out of nowhere.

“Cecily!” This time Robin’s tone was sharper.

“What, I’m just curious. You said you never knew, but she’s got to know. Right?”

There was an awkward silence during which I wasn’t sure what to say—Robin appeared mortified, and Chip looked like he sort of wished the earth would open up and swallow him. But rather than panic, I took it as an invitation from the universe to speak up. I exchanged a quick glance with Tyler, who gave me a nod and took my hand.

“Actually,” I said, sitting up a little straighter, “I do know.” I met Robin’s eyes and then Chip’s. “This wasn’t something I ever planned on sharing, but I’m at a point in my life where I’d like to be more open about . . . everything.”

Crickets.

Their faces were a mixture of confusion and expectancy, but I saw hope and excitement too—or at least that’s what I chose to believe.

I cleared my throat. “Okay, so, as you know, Chip, I was very young when I had you. Just eighteen. And your, um, biological dad was young too. We were just good friends, and the pregnancy was a bit of a shock for both of us.”

“You didn’t use protection,” stated Cecily matter-of-factly, swinging her feet below the piano bench. “We learned about that in sex ed this year. They call it Adolescent Health”—she made air quotes around the words—“but we all know what it is.”

“Oh, my Lord.” Robin shook her head. “Cecily Carswell, could you please button your lip? I’m so sorry, April. We do not have to discuss this.”