The nickname made her soften.
Evan looked truly exhausted. “I just hate that my family and my wife can’t sit in the same room without tension.”
Allison stayed silent.
She loved Evan. What she did not love was how he devoted his life to smoothing over every wound Vivian and Brooke created. He thought peace was something to maintain. Allison had learned peace was something to defend.
After Evan left for the airport, Allison went back to her office. Her online boutique had grown from a spare-room idea into a seven-figure luxury fashion company. She had vendors to contact, tax documents to examine, and a new fall collection to approve.
At noon, the doorbell rang.
Vivian and Brooke were standing on the porch with matching smiles.
That alone made Allison uneasy.
Vivian carried a bakery box from Allison’s favorite pastry shop. Brooke wore a cream jumpsuit, large sunglasses, and the bored look of someone convinced every room existed for her admiration.
“Surprise,” Vivian sang. “We came to see our favorite daughter-in-law.”
