Dani was afraid.

Standing outside Josh's house she could hear the sounds from the party out back, and a pang of longing pierced her heart. She stepped closer to get a better look.

She was finally home. Only it wasn't her home. It was theirs. Her heart pounded and sweat broke out on her skin. Fading bruises still shadowed her face but she'd hidden the bandage on her head with a baseball cap.

"I don't want to scare the kids," she whispered, looking up into the cloudless sky. "You're with me, God. I can't do this without you."

I am with you, daughter.

"Do you want me to wait?" the driver asked.

"No. Thank you." She paid him with a generous tip and started walking toward the gate to the backyard. Red, white, and blue balloons were taped to the fence along with a big hand-colored banner that read, Happy Birthday Jacob!

She inhaled a breath of fresh air mixed with the scent of something grilling. It smelled like heaven. Moving closer, she heard the sound of children playing and laughter. Her hand moved to the latch.

Dani stepped inside and her gaze immediately landed on Jacob. Love burst into her chest as she watched her son laughing with the other children.

He'd grown so much since the last time she'd seen him. When was that? She was ashamed to realize she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her only child. A blur of movies, photo shoots, and parties filled her days. Her life was a series of meaningless pursuits that Josh had walked away from and chosen to raise their son.

Blinking away the sting of tears, she glanced up and saw Josh with a pretty blonde woman. She was the same one who'd been playing with the kids.

"A lot has changed since I've been gone, God." She dropped her bag by the gate and clutched the wrapped birthday gift to her chest. She had Reynolds to thank for it.

"This is for Jacob," he'd said when he'd dropped her at the airport. She'd stared at it, realizing how far she'd sunk. What kind of mother forgot a birthday present for their child?

"Don't tell him it's from me," Reynolds had instructed, a flash of understanding in his eyes.

If it's meant for me to be here, please help me, Lord. Don't let me mess up their lives.

A whispering breeze kissed her face. Dani started walking. Her steps faltered when she saw Josh kiss the woman, but she didn't stop until she reached the edge of the crowd.

"Hey, it's Ty and Annie!" With a bright smile, Rachel held up her phone and everyone gathered around for the video call.

Caleb, Tanner, and Parker were here too. Dani's heart ached. She'd missed them so much.

Josh tilted his head at Jacob and their son came running over his eyes wide with excitement when he stared at Rachel's phone. "Uncle Ty! Aunt Annie!" he cried happily.

They talked and laughed on the video call and seeing their joy, Dani smiled too. Once she'd been part of that group. They'd been the best friends she'd ever had, but now she was an outsider.

Once the call ended, the woman who'd taken her place stepped away from Josh and lit the red and blue candles on her son's birthday cake. It was something a mother should do. Dani's stomach hollowed, but she refused to be jealous. This woman had been there for her son when Dani hadn't been.

Jacob climbed onto the chair with the same athletic grace his dad had.

A chorus of happy birthday began and she sang along with the crowd.

"Make a wish," Josh reminded him just before Jacob blew all four candles out and everyone clapped.

"What did you wish for?" one of her son's friends shouted.

"For my mom to be here with us!" Jacob answered enthusiastically, not realizing the effect his wish would have.

Josh's smile slipped. The woman with Josh looked as if her heart might break. Rachel frowned, and Caleb, Tanner, and Parker exchanged worried looks. Other guests seemed uncomfortable.

Jacob watched it all with a perceptiveness unusual in someone so young. Almost immediately he realized the mood had changed. "What's wrong?"

Reaching over and ruffling his son's hair, Josh forced a smile. "Nothing, buddy. We'll save your mom a piece of cake."

Jacob watched his dad for several heartbeats, then he nodded. "She likes the corner pieces."

Dani blinked and felt tears sliding down her cheeks. She'd spent so little time with him and yet her son knew she liked the corner pieces. Jacob knew her better than she knew him. She realized what a complete failure she was. No amount of money or success could replace knowing your own child.

She couldn't do this.

The urge to run was strong. To escape everything she wanted more than anything and had run away from. She fell back a step.

"We'll cut her the best corner piece," the woman said, putting her arm around Jacob. "Which one do you think?"

Dani took another step backward.

Jacob pointed and the woman cut Dani a piece of cake before she gave one to Jacob.

You don't belong here.

The frightening voice slid into her ear and she shivered. It was true. Everyone would be better off if she just left.

She bumped into someone and her drink sloshed over the rim of her cup and onto Dani's jacket. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Caleb's mother, Mary Jo, stared back at her.

Dani's stomach dropped. Last she'd heard Mary Jo's cancer treatments weren't working, but God must have decided it wasn't her time.

"No harm," Mary Jo said with a kind smile. "It looks like you go the worst of it."

"It'll wash." Dani stared, realizing Mary Jo didn't recognize her.

She looked nothing like the red-carpet movie star she'd been pretending to be for the last few years. Dressed in jeans and a ball cap she was trying to blend in. She'd stood out for too long and for all the wrong reasons. Nothing about her life was real. Just one fake picture after another. The life Josh and Jacob had was real.

Go! Before you ruin their lives!

Dani started to run, but a small, still voice took hold of her heart. I am with you, daughter.

Her skin tingled. Dani turned and her gaze slammed into Josh's.