Page 41

“We’re older now, and therefore more responsible.”

“Is that what we’re calling it? Talk to you when you’re back.”

She hung up and smiled at Belle. “Paisley is the youngest and she has four older brothers, all of whom are married. They’re going to spend the whole day giving her dating advice.”

Belle frowned slightly.

“I know. They should leave her alone, but do they listen?”

Reggie sat up, then took a shower. Thirty minutes later, she was dressed and made up, with her hair blown out. Downstairs, she found Dena seated at the kitchen island, Belle at her feet.

“How are you feeling?” Reggie asked her sister. “Still getting sick?”

“Yes. And I’m tired all the time.” A little color stained her cheeks. “Last night I fell asleep at Snacks and Wine.”

“While talking to a guest?”

Dena avoided her gaze. “Not exactly, but still. It was embarrassing.”

From the family room, their father yelled at a flag thrown in a football game, and their mother chided him for yelling.

Dena shook her head. “Some things never change.”

“I know. It’s just a matter of time until he starts complaining that we’re eating at three.” Reggie pulled a bottle of sparkling cider from the fridge. “So you’ll feel special at dinner.”

“Very sweet.”

“The turkey is giant. It’s just the four of us. Mom must be in the mood for leftovers.”

“I’ll take some home with me.” Dena smiled. “Did you already do your stuffing-is-gross rant?”

“Yes, both out loud and in my head.”

Reggie had spent the early part of the morning helping her mother, chopping vegetables and cooking sausage for the stuffing. For those who didn’t like their bread product basted in turkey blood, there was dressing, cooked in a casserole dish.

“You hungry?” she asked Dena.

“A little.”

“Go watch the game. I’ll make you a salad.” When she hesitated, Reggie gave her a little push toward the living room. “Go!”

Dena joined their parents. Reggie pulled ingredients out of the refrigerator, turned and nearly ran into Belle.

“You’re being stealthy,” she complained with a laugh.

Belle eyed the cheese and cooked chicken breast.

“Not for you.”

Reggie expected a protest, but before Belle could make one, Burt careened into the kitchen. His little feet slipped on the hardwood floor, sending him plowing into Belle, who shrieked and then took off down the hall. Burt went after her, obviously loving the game.

“If you’d stand up to him, he would leave you alone,” Reggie called after them.

She confirmed that neither of her parents wanted a salad, then went to work. While she admired Dena, Reggie couldn’t imagine being that brave. Deliberately choosing to get pregnant was life-changing. There were weeks Belle was all the responsibility Reggie could handle.

She called Dena back to the kitchen.

“Here you go,” she said. “Healthy goodness. I even used kale.”