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“That’s too many kisses, Daddy.”
“No such thing.”
Maren looks at them with soft eyes. “He’s right, Katie Bear. You could give us all the kisses in the world, and it still wouldn’t be enough because we love you that much.”
“How much?” Katie asks.
Maren holds out her arms. “This much. More than this, actually.”
Tuck sets Katie down, and she darts over to Maren and me and pats Maren’s belly. “I love my baby that much too.” Then, because Katie is the most adorable five-year-old to ever exist, she kisses Maren’s bump.
The room lets out a collective sound that’s half laugh, halfaw.
Tears spring to my eyes. I discreetly wipe them away and see my brother do the same.
Tuck really is a softie. Maybe he won’t murder Abel and me. Maybe he’ll even be happy for us... eventually.
But this fake marriage is going to last as long as Dad’s in treatment, which could be a while. What if Tuck doesn’t talk to me at all during that time? My brother and I have always been close. I’ll miss him like crazy, but I’ll do anything for my dad.
I pull Katie into my lap. “I’m so excited that you get to be a big sister soon.”
We’re teetering perilously on the edge of the couch, but I don’t care. I need a hug, stat, and my niece gives the best ones. She squeezes me and I squeeze back.
“Auntie Jen, can I come stay with you when the baby comes? I love your house and your dogs.”
I laugh, even as my heart twists. Maren and Tuck decided that while they’re in the hospital, Lu and Riley will watch Katie here at the house. That way Dad and I can visit them at the hospital and meet the new baby. We’ll also be able to help out more when the baby comes home and Maren and Tuck need extra hands.
I’ve taken Katie for overnight visits for as long as I can remember. When Tuck was single, he needed the break, and I needed quality time with my one and only niece. Now that she’s getting older, we have a blast at our sleepovers: we’ll do our nails, get ice cream, and watch Disney classics likeBeauty and the Beast. It’s like reliving the best parts of my childhood with a hilarious friend who goes to bed at seven thirty.
In other words, heaven.
But now that I’m living with Abel, how would that work? His house isn’t exactly kid friendly. And would Tuck and Maren even allow it in the very likely event that my pretend marriage pisses them off to no end?
“We’ll see,” I say. “We gotta get this baby earth side first, all right?”
Katie frowns. “But I want to come stay with you.”
“Eat your lunch, please.” Tuck tilts his head toward the kitchen. “Then, if you’re good and you poop in the potty—a big one, not a small one—you canmaybestay at Auntie Jen’s next week.”
I get a clammy feeling underneath my arms. I haven’t even announced my engagement yet, and already things are getting complicated. I guess I could just go back to my house for a bit and stay there with Katie. But then how would I explain that later on? Wouldn’t it just be easier to tell Tuck I’m living with Abel before this sleepover happens?
Ifit happens. Which puts a very real reveal date on my very fake marriage.
“You all right, Jen?” Dad asks. “You look?—”
“Like you’re about to barf.” Maren frowns. “I’m an expert in that look. Tuck, get her a ginger ale, would you?”
I shake my head. “I’m all right. Fine. Just—hungover?”
“Hungover?” Katie’s ears perk up at the most inopportune moments.
“Who wants some french fries?” Tuck asks.
Katie leaps out of my lap and shrieks, “Me! Me! I want french fries! Daddy, I want ketchup! Do you have special sauce too?”
“Of course I have special sauce,” I say, rising.
I offer a hand to Maren, but she says she’s content to stay on the couch and eat. I join everyone else at the table—Tuck sets an ice-cold can of ginger ale at my seat, which I drink because it’s delicious—and we take bets on how much the baby will weigh. What he or she (it’s definitely a she) will be named.
