Running to Partner

Lacey laughed at Alex’s rueful grin, laughed for the first time in a longtime. She hadn’t laughed since that fateful night as a matter of fact, and if itsounded pained to her ears, Alex didn’t seem to notice. She followed herout onto a nice little deck where a pitcher of iced coffee sat on a redwoodtable surrounded by matching chairs with striped cushions on each seat. Ababy monitor rested beside the tall, ice-choked glasses and a hot tubbubbled in the far corner. A high cedar fence with lattice work and a benchin front of it afforded privacy. Lacey saw Alex looking at the hot tub with a wistful expression, and theother woman flushed a little before confiding that they never found time touse it anymore. Little Aiden apparently commanded much of everyone’stime, and Lacey marveled at how a mere infant could monopolize hismother and both fathers. She wondered how she was going to manage onher own.