Page 24 of Sudden Summer

Emmett laughed. “It was a great introduction to your ranch. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Birdie

Iyawned as I grabbed a fresh onesie and overalls from Juniper’s dresser. My body had gotten used to daylight hours these last few days, but today was the end of my off-shift bliss with Beau and Juniper. Tomorrow, I had to go back to work.

I loved my job. I loved serving women in the community.

“So why am I so sad to be heading back into work tomorrow, berry girl? What’s going on with my heart?”

Juniper pulled her toes towards her mouth.

“Hey, that’s a cool trick! We’ll do yoga together when you’re a little older, keep all your muscles nice and flexible,” I cooed as I tickled her belly. “We’ll have to show the doctor that! Yes. You’re going to like Dr. DeLuca. I tell all my patients to use her for their babies. And since I love you so much, she’s who you’re going to see, too. I made sure I told Daddy she was the only one you should see.”

Juniper dropped her foot, her tongue coming out to blow raspberries at me. My phone, on the nightstand next to us, buzzed.

“Hey, Lainey. What are you doing up this early?” I answered my sister’s call after I’d set Juniper down on her musical mat. Someone’s voice started singing about a purple monkey in a bubblegum tree, and I laughed as I waited for Lainey’s response.

“What are you talking about? I get up early,” she snapped.

Good mood instantly killed. Apparently Lainey had woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Again. “I didn’t mean anything by it. And of course you’re up…it’s nearly the middle of the day. Juniper just has me in a silly mood this morning.”

“Right. Beau’s secret baby. I can’t believe you agreed to be his live-in help! How’s that going for you?”

I sent my sister a text after we got back to the ranch from town the other day. It was more about letting her know I wouldn’t be at my house if she needed my help with anything. I hadn’t meant to give her fuel for her bitchiness.

“Don’t you mean how’s it going for him?”

“Uh, no. You’re the one who’s had a crush on him ever since I can remember. Always the best friend, never the baby mama. At least you’ll get to play mom and wife for a bit, until he figures out how to move on without you.”

“Ouch.” I rubbed my fingers across my forehead where a tension headache was starting to make my temples throb.

“Maybe this is the wake-up call you need. He had a kid with someone else, Birdie.”

“He slept with someone else one time, Lainey. He didn’t even know Juniper existed until a few days ago. Let’s cut him some slack, okay?”

“Right. Because it’s okay for him to be sleeping around, stringing you along when he comes home and cuddles you in his bed, all the while you’re not even kissing anyone, let alone letting some dick slip⁠—”

“Lainey,” I seethed. “That’s enough. Is this why you called me this morning?”

“No. But I’m glad I got to say it. Someone needs you to take your head out of the clouds and protect yourself. The next thing you know, you’ll be staying there to help him with his baby, and he’ll still be off working and screwin’ anyone but you.”

“I’m going to hang up now.”

“Fine. Fine. I said what I needed to say about Beau and my feelings on him.”

“Does that mean I get to tell you how I feel about Greg?”

“I know you don’t like him. I…get it. But things have been better. We’re…it doesn’t matter. He’s been better lately. That’s actually why I’m calling. He said I could start Lainey’s Kitchen! I’m going to do it. I’m going to start offering my meals to people!”

My heart skipped a beat. This was exactly what I wanted for her. Access to money that was just hers.

“That’s fantastic! Oh my gosh, I’m so excited for you! How can I help? Do you have fliers? I can hang them up at the hospital! Or maybe you can come out to the ranch and we can talk about business strategy?” I hadn’t seen my sister in person for almost two months, thanks to my dislike of Greg. But this could be something that closed the gap that had been growing wider between the two of us recently.

“No. No. Phone calls are great. I’m just so busy right now trying to figure out the menu and what dishes to order. But Greg doesn’t really have the money to invest in the business right now…”

The silence hung heavy between us. Because her excitement for her new business hadn’t been the reason she reached out to me.

“How much do you need?”