A crash from the living room, followed by Ethan’s wail and Beth’s soothing voice, broke the moment.
“I bet your brother found something new to climb,” Sunny said with a rueful smile.
Maddie rolled her eyes with the supreme judgment only a nine-year-old sister could muster. “He’s worse than Maple was as a puppy.”
As Maddie went to investigate, Sunny remained in the kitchen, collecting herself. The conversation had relieved one worry while intensifying another. Mother’s Day — with all its complex emotions — coincided with the timeframe when she would need to tell Liam about her news.
Her hand drifted to her flat stomach. After the miscarriage three years ago, they had been blessed with Ethan, but that first loss had left scars. The fear of another loss lingered, especially in these early weeks. She hadn’t even called the doctor yet, afraid to make it real before she was sure.
“There you are.” Morgan’s voice startled her. Liam’s sister stood in the doorway, elegant as always in tailored slacks and a silk blouse. “I knocked, but apparently Hurricane Ethan is causing too much noise for anyone to hear.”
“Morgan!” Sunny moved to hug her sister-in-law, genuine pleasure evident in her greeting. The transformation in their relationship over the past three years remained one of life’s more surprising gifts. “We weren’t expecting you until this weekend.”
“The seminar ended early,” Morgan explained, setting her designer handbag on the counter. “I thought I’d surprise my favorite nieces and nephew. And bring this.” She pulled out a small jewelry box. “It’s for your anniversary. Well, your other anniversary.”
Sunny accepted the box with surprise. “You remembered?”
“How could I forget?” Morgan’s expression turned rueful. “I was such a monster to you back then. Every time this date rolls around, I feel like a complete bitch.”
“That’s ancient history,” Sunny assured her, opening the box to reveal a delicate gold sun pendant on a chain.
“To go with your collection,” Morgan nodded toward Sunny’s bracelets.
Sunny’s eyes welled up for the second time that morning. “Morgan, it’s beautiful.”
“Don’t get sentimental on me,” Morgan warned, though her own eyes looked suspiciously bright. “Where is everyone? I brought bribes for the children and caffeine for my brother.”
As if summoned, Liam appeared in the kitchen doorway, hockey bag slung over his shoulder. “Morgan? What are you doing here?”
“Visiting my family, obviously.” Morgan deposited kisses on his cheeks. “You’re looking… domestic.”
Liam grinned, the easy relationship between the siblings a far cry from the tension of years past. “And you’re looking like you spent too much money onanother business suit.”
“Some of us still have corporate jobs, Coach Anderson.” Morgan’s teasing held no malice.
Liam checked his watch. “We should get going soon, so we can set up in time.”
Sunny’s mind raced to the busy day ahead — hockey practice, visiting Kate’s grave, and hopefully sharing her news with Liam in the evening.
“Daddy! Hockey time!” Ethan announced, barreling into the room with Beth in pursuit, brandishing a miniature stick dangerously close to Maple’s tail.
“Use your inside voice, buddy,” Liam reminded him, though his eyes remained on Sunny.
Morgan scooped up Ethan with exaggerated groans about his weight, and the kitchen filled with the beautiful chaos of family life once more.
As Sunny watched Liam gather his coaching gear and the girls pack their special “assistant coach” bags, she felt the weight of her unspoken secret pressing on her chest like a stone. Today of all days — their second chance anniversary — she needed to find the courage to share both her joy and her fear with Liam.
After they honored Kate’s memory, she would honor their future by telling him about the new life growing inside her.
“You coming, Sunny?” Liam called from the doorway, the family assembled and ready to depart for the rink.
“Right behind you,” she answered, her hand brushing unconsciously against her abdomen one last time.
Whatever fears she harbored and whatever complications lay ahead with Mother’s Day teas, expanding families, and work-life balance, one truth remained constant: they had fought their way back to each other once before. Whatever came next, they would face it together — just as they had promised on that pivotal day three years ago.
Liam
The blade of Liam’s skate carved a clean path across the ice, the sound echoing through the near-empty rink. He’d always loved the quiet moments before practice — the stillness, the promise of what lay ahead. Three years after hanging up his professional gear, the ice still called to him, though differently now.
