Keeley jolted Jennica from her melancholy by asking if she wanted to take the babies to the park. Jennica snapped out of it immediately. Going outside sounded like a good idea; even their spacious apartment felt stuffy after dwelling on death.

She kept a close eye on her friend in the park, checking for lingering upset, but detected nothing. Keeley seemed completely back to normal. Either she didn't dwell on sadness, or she concealed her feelings exceptionally well.

Considering nobody knew about her feelings for Aaron until she announced their marriage, she was remarkably good at hiding things. Did she truly trust anyone?

Jennica knew the answer: Keeley clearly trusted Aaron. She'd never explicitly stated it, but it was evident in her demeanor around him. You wouldn't notice the wall this bright, happy person had built unless you had a point of comparison. Aaron was the only person for whom the wall didn't exist. It was hard to articulate.

The wall wasn't about friendliness, liking someone, or comfort. Jennica could only describe it as if Keeley and Aaron shared a huge secret, known only to them. Their bond of trust, if you watched closely, was almost palpable. Most people, however, probably missed it, distracted by Aaron's lovesick demeanor. He was a completely different person around his wife.

Which was his true self? The cold, detached business icon, or the gentle family man who smiled at his wife as if she were the world's sole source of goodness?

Perhaps Jennica would figure it out with more time. Their interactions had been limited, usually in large groups, where he tended to be quiet unless Keeley needed something.

Seeing Keeley pause, taking in the park's beauty as the breeze ruffled her blonde hair, made Jennica smile. Keeley's happiness was all that mattered.

"Isn't it a beautiful day?" Keeley sighed contentedly.

The sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky, filtering through leaves to cast dappled shadows. The sounds of chatter, laughter, and cooing pigeons filled the air—a quintessential New York City scene.

Jennica didn't love New York as much as her friend, not having grown up there, but she'd lived here long enough for it to feel like home. Moving elsewhere now would feel wrong; the lack of background noise would be unsettling.

It had taken getting used to. Many nights were spent tossing and turning due to cars honking at 1 a.m. Eventually, the noise became almost lullaby-like. After moving in with Cameron, and experiencing the sweet silence of his well-insulated apartment, she sometimes even missed it—sometimes, but not often.

She loved Cameron's place; their place. Even though he'd lived there longer, it felt like it belonged to both of them.

Moving to New York against her mother's wishes had been the right decision. She'd met the love of her life and friends who felt like the sisters she'd never had. Things had never been better.

After a while, Keeley spread a blanket for the twins and took them from the stroller, entertaining them with funny faces while Jennica people-watched. Central Park offered a diverse crowd.

"Do you believe in fate, Jen?" her friend asked unexpectedly.

What an odd question. Keeley wasn't superstitious or religious, as far as Jennica knew. Why ask?

"What, that certain things will always happen regardless of choices? Seems far-fetched."

Keeley chuckled wryly. "Yeah, it did to me, too. But some things in my life have been completely outside my control, so I'm less skeptical."

Jennica wasn't sure what Keeley meant. Could she be referring to the accidental pregnancy that led to her marriage with Aaron? Birth control failure was certainly beyond her control.

Keeley didn't seem regretful, though. If anything, she was laughing at how well things had worked out.

"I suppose some things happen for a reason," Jennica admitted. "Running into Cameron at that Halloween party certainly felt like fate."

Her life would be drastically different if that hadn't happened. What were the odds two such compatible people would be in the same place at the same time?

Suddenly, she longed to see her husband. A wave of gratitude washed over her for meeting him in such a vast city.

"Want to surprise our husbands at work?"

Keeley raised an eyebrow. "Have you ever surprised Cameron at work?"

"No, only at those dreadful shareholder meetings where I pretended not to know him."

"We should have a good excuse," Keeley mused. "Maybe we could stop at a bakery."

Jennica almost snorted. She was certain Keeley's presence alone would make her husband ecstatic, but she went along with the suggestion. A chocolate croissant sounded appealing.