Page 115 of Declan

“Mom and Dad are happy.”

“I don’t know,” I gently told her. “When I was at Dad’s something seemed off. Mom didn’t say but it sounded like he was dodging her calls.”

“He totally was. She wanted him to move back into the house. He was feeling funny about living there. You know, bad memories and stuff. I guess he panicked and didn’t know how to tell her. So he was avoiding her.”

I was with my dad, I never wanted to step foot back into my childhood home.

“How do you know all of this?”

“Mom and Dad had it out in my backyard. Thad tried to pull me away, but I stood at the door and listened.”

“You’re so nosy.”

“Don’t hand me that crap. If you were there, you would’ve been at my side listening in.”

She had me there. When we were kids, we’d sneak and listen when Mom and Dad were discussing what to buy us for our birthdays or Christmas. Then we’d giggle ourselves stupid thinking we were secret spies.

“Fine. I would’ve listened, too. But they’re good now?”

“Oh, yeah, Mom agreed to sell the house. They’re talking about finding someplace in Maryland.”

Chills raced up my arms and my heart swelled. I loved that for them. For Emmy and the baby.

Family. That’s what my sister needed.

“So, you and Declan.” Emmy unwrapped herself from around me and leaned back. “When I first met him, he kinda scared me.”

I could totally see that.

“Do you want something to drink?” I belatedly asked.

“No way, you’re not getting out of telling me about you and Dec.”

I’d forgotten this about Emmy, she was a total gossip. Not that she ever repeated the secrets she was told, but she liked to know all the juicy details.

“I’ll tell you. But first, do you need something?”

“I’m pregnant,” she snapped.

“Congratulations. Do you need something?”

“I mean, I’m pregnant, not ill. Don’t turn into Thad. He’s driving me crazy.”

“Jesus, Emmy, I just asked if you needed something. A drink, are you hungry? I didn’t offer to hand feed you grapes while I grew five more arms so I could fan you and rub your feet.”

Her eyes narrowed and she frowned. “Don’t be a smartass.”

“Don’t be a pain in the ass.”

“Fine. I’ll take water and I’m starving, so whatever you have to snack on would be great. Chips would be awesome, or if you have Goldfish.”

“Sweet baby Jesus,” I huffed and stepped away. “And of course I have Goldfish. What kind of person doesn’t keep Goldfish in their house?”

“I wouldn’t know.” Emmy shrugged. “A crazy one.”

And right then it hit me, that was the first time I’d bickered with my sister in nearly a decade. Wet hit my eyes, and my lungs burned.

“I missed you so much,” I rasped. “Every day, Emmy, I missed you.”