Chapter 185

They’d spent the day together with Abby, just taking things easy, talking softly when Abby was otherwise engaged and holding hands like teenagers. He couldn’t stop touching her, needing the feel of her skin under his to reaffirm that this was real and not a dream. The whole day had that dreamlike quality, like they had somehow stepped out of time and it was just the three of them in their own special universe. They were lying on a blanket under a tree in the park. Abby was asleep between them and they gazed at each other over her sleeping form. “Becky,” he began and then swallowed, not sure how to say the things he wanted to say. They had already talked about the way Heather had manipulated the situation between them and had cleared the air over the miscommunication that had led to Becky leaving. But there was more he wanted to say, he just couldn’t get the words out. “Barry,” she said, with a small smile, “I know.” She closed her eyes and shook her head, swallowing. When she opened th