My Millie.
Like earlier in the day, tears welled up in my eyes. How could she do this? If she’d shown the slightest interest in Millie’s life, she’d have known Millie was happy and taken care of.
But apparently that didn’t mean shit to her.
Too many times to count, Clara had complained Taelyn always got what she wanted. Heck, it was one of the things we’d bonded over. She’d complain about her sister, and I’d complain about mine.
Eleanor, my oldest sister, was to me what Taelyn was to Clara.
“We’re here, ma’am.”
The Uber driver’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, and not a moment too soon.
With a grateful smile, I paid my fare and hopped out. That warm feeling I got when I saw my childhood home rushed over me, and I welcomed it with open arms.
The only feeling better than that was the one I got a moment later when the front door swung open, and Millie came barreling toward me.
“Kate.”
I crouched and spread my arms wide. Her tiny body crashed into mine, and I wrapped her up in the tightest hug.
“Hey, Bug. How was your day?”
Keeping her in my arms, I straightened and headed for the front door where my mom waited. Millie’s mouth moved a mile a minute, telling me everything about her day. My heart pinched painfully.
I didn’t want to lose her. I loved this little girl as if she were my own. Heck, I’d changed her diaper when she was a couple of days old. I was there when she smiled her first smile, said her first word, took her first step.
And now I was supposed to let her go?
It wasn’t fair.
“Everything all right?” my mom asked when we reached the door.
I smiled and set Millie down. Naturally, she rushed back into the house. “Yeah. Just tired. It’s been a day.” No one besides Izzy knew Taelyn was trying to get custody of Millie. I’d asked her to keep the news quiet while I tried to come to terms with it.
“You sure?” Mom drew me into a hug.
Until that very second, I hadn’t realized how desperately I needed one. Squeezing her tight, I burrowed into the crook of my mom’s neck and just breathed her in.
It never ceased to amaze me how simply being near her could bring so much calm to whatever storm was raging insideme.
“All better now.” Pulling away, I went inside and took a deep breath. “Mmm. You made my favorite.”
Eleanor’s snort sounded before her words registered.
“Well, since you have no one else to cook for you, it’s only fitting thatsomeonemakes your favorite.”
I shut my eyes and ground my teeth to keep a groan from escaping. Apparently, begging the universe for any kind of break was too much to ask.
“Eleanor,” my mom chided. “Is that really necessary?”
“Katie knows I’m playing, Mom.” I didn’t even have to look to see my sister’s demeaning smile. “Isn’t that right?”
My older sister was staring at me. Her gaze burned a hole in the back of my skull, silently demanding me to show our mother everything was fine. Usually, I had no problem doing that.
Today, not so much.
It was harder to school my features and unclench my fists. To bite my tongue. Because I had nothing to say to Eleanor. Nothing good, at least. I’ve kept up appearances and pretended to be fine for the sake of our parents.
