One I’d held like a treasured secret.
A small thrill rose from the depths, and I stood as she opened the door.
Gage and Juniper darted straight into her arms.
“Nonie G…where have you been my wholes life? I’ve been missing you.” Juni wrapped herself around the old lady’s leg, both arms and legs.
“Right here waitin’ on you to come visit me.”
“Well, I’m here now and that’s what counts. We got the busies because we got a new baby comin’ and there’s the most work to do.” The little girl almost huffed.
Gage squeezed Gretchen around the waist. “Did you miss me, too?”
She touched his chubby cheek. “Now tell me how it would be possible not to miss the likes of you?”
Gage shrugged. “Uncle Jud said I’m nothin’ but a handful, always makin’ messes, and I know you don’t like the messes, nope, not one little bit, so I wasn’t so sure.”
Affection rang from her deep laughter. “Oh, sugar pie, you can make all the messes you want.”
My spirit sang while I hovered across the room like a voyeur.
Gretchen opened the door wider and gestured with both hands to whoever was still in the hall. “Well, get in here with that.”
She stretched out her arms, and a second later, she was cradling Trent’s tiny baby girl and cooing down at her.
I did my best to avert my gaze.
Not to get too close.
But there I stood, vibrating with the joy that bloomed in the room.
Eden shuffled in, pushing a stroller stuffed full of bags. “I think I need about six more arms if I’m going to juggle all of this.”
The woman looked a little frazzled.
Her gaze swept around Logan’s apartment. It froze in surprise when it landed on me.
I didn’t mean to itch, to fidget and act like I’d been caught doing something illicit, but crap, here I still was in Logan’s space like it was where I belonged. Afriendhe was only supposed to be catching up with.
But if things were different, I would belong.
With Logan.
Forever.
Not for thirty days. Thirty days that were already dwindling fast.
“Aster.” Her smile warmed in this welcome that I shouldn’t take on for myself. But I couldn’t help it. The springing of affection that developed at the sight. “It’s so great to see you again. I wondered if you’d be here.”
My smile was unsure. “It’s really nice to see you, too.”
I glanced at the children, at the stroller, back at her.
“Salem has an ultrasound today, so Juni is hanging out with us while Salem and Jud are at their appointment,” she explained. “I might have bitten off more than I can chew.”
“That’s what you have me for,” Gretchen said.
“Oh, hi! I remember you. You used to be Uncle Logan’s favorite friend but not anymore. But are you his favorite, favorite now?” Juni bounced my way, all black pigtails and cherub face. “Do you live here now? What’s your job? If Uncle doesn’t want to be your favorite friend, do you want to be mine? My mommy said I’m a really great friend.”