Tears rimmed Hailey’s eyelids. “I don’t want anyone to know you’re my mom.”

Pain sliced through Valerie. Was Hailey embarrassed by her? Was that why she didn’t want people to know? “Why?”

“Because you’re not my mom. I have a mom.”

“Hailey—”

“Please don’t tell anyone.”

Hailey had been dealing with so much trauma. Would it be helpful to keep it a secret longer? Give her time to figure things out?

“I’ll try to keep it quiet,” Valerie said.

Hailey nodded as she left Valerie’s car.

Wade was waiting for Valerie.

“Sorry,” Valerie said. “I promise I’m not usually late.”

He grinned and she couldn’t help but return his smile. He had been a bright spot over the past weekend—the only one she’d had.

“No need to apologize,” he said. “It’ll take you two some time to figure things out.”

“Thank you for understanding. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

She’d never noticed how blue his eyes were or how his mouth tilted at a charming angle when he smiled.

But she had given up on a happily-ever-after.

No matter how cute or understanding Wade Griffin might be, it was best if she kept him at a distance.