“Worry about finishing school.”
She clucks her tongue and rolls her eyes at my harsh tone. No matter how old we get, our brother-sister dynamic will always be present.
“I am,” she huffs. “But I like being a mom too. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
I let out a deep sigh. “No, there isn’t.”
She stares at me with wide eyes, as if my agreement shocks her. “What about you? Don’t you and Charlotte have baby fever yet?”
The teasing question hits me in the gut. I feel like a damn deer on the highway with a tractor trailer’s high beams lighting me up while it speeds toward me.
“Marcel?” Heidi touches my arm and hands Grace to me. “I was kidding.”
“Huh? Yeah, no. We’ll get there.”
Her forehead crinkles as she studies me. “I think you and Charlotte will be really great parents.”
“Yeah,” I answer. “I hope so.”
She frowns again.
Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
I can’t catch my breath.
Marcel holding Grace with Heidi by his side is the sweetest picture.
His two sisters.
Guilt chases away my melancholy. It’s been months. So much has happened, and Heidi still has no idea who Grace really is to Marcel.
“Hey, guys,” I call to get their attention.
Marcel glances up and his expression softens. “Hey, Sunshine.”
How ironic that he calls me sunshine when I always feel so warm and loved under his gaze. “Hey. Hope said you were with Grace.”
I approach slowly, like he’s cradling a rattlesnake instead of a baby. One of Grace’s fists escapes her blanket, and I can’t help smiling.
No matter how sad I am for my own loss sometimes, my heart fills with love. “Can I hold her?”
“Yeah,” Marcel rasps. We haven’t spoken about our miscarriage since the night he came home and I told him about it. The desperate need to do something to make it better claws at me every day.
Heidi hops out of her seat and offers it to me.
“Thanks,” I murmur and sink onto the couch.
She grins and opens her mouth, then frowns and closes it. Was she about to tease me about having baby fever, like I overheard her doing to Marcel a few minutes ago? Is my Grim Reaper face what stole the question from her lips?
“Hey, baby girl,” I whisper as Marcel hands Grace to me. “Everyone’s loving on you today, huh?”
She smacks her little lips and blinks at me.
“I gotta run.” Heidi leans over me to peer at Grace one more time. “Just wanted to see the little peanut before I head to class.”
“Hey.” Marcel captures Heidi’s hand. “Kick some ass today.”