“Could you please grab the orange juice?” Madeline asks as she feeds Wren.
“Sure.” I run my fingers through Wren’s soft curls as I pass her on my way to the kitchen.
I flick on the kettle, grab a mug from the cupboard, then search through Mum’s tea box, opting for a ginger one.
“How have you been?” Evan strolls into the kitchen, bracing his hands against the bench as he assesses me.
“You’re off duty, Dr Bryce,” I say, dropping the tea bag into my mug. “And I’m fine.”
“No headaches? Dizziness?” I take a deep breath as I drop my head back between my shoulders, before looking at my brother-in-law.
“No headaches. No dizziness. I’ve been a bit tired, but I don’t think that’s injury-related.”
The kettle pops, so I add the water to my mug, then collect the orange juice from the fridge, sliding it over to Evan.
“Everything alright?” Chelsea walks into the kitchen with an empty glass in hand.
“I was just making sure Iz was doing okay after the accident. No lingering side effects,” Evan says, sliding a hand around Chelsea’s waist as she comes to stand beside him.
“You’re okay, right?” my sister asks.
“I’m fine.” I chuckle.
Chels blows out a breath, then pours herself a glass of juice. “Good.”
She heads into the walk-in pantry, then reappears with the medicine box in hand. She sets it on the bench, rifling through it.
“Whatcha looking for, babe?” Evan asks.
“Ugh, my cramps are kicking my arse. I need a painkiller.”
“Aww, baby,” Evan says, placing a hand on his wife’s stomach and rubbing soothing circles.
Wait, what’s the date today? I must be due for my period soon, too. I’m normally synced up with both my sisters. I rack my brain, trying to remember my last period.Holy shit.I was due the week after the Heart’s charity ball. I distinctly remember being relieved I wouldn’t have it for the ball, so I could wear nice underwear instead of my comfy granny panties. That was almost two months ago. That can’t be right. Because that might mean…I’m pregnant?
Chapter thirty-two
I try to keep my face void of the despair I feel, but it’s been five days since I’ve spoken to Isabelle. Five days of living with my guilt, and ignoring the only person who’s been able to ease the shadows I force myself to hide in. Years of therapy had slowly helped my mind heal, but only Isabelle had been able to touch my heart. Only for me to put another person I loved in danger.
“Hey, Mase? Can you take a drive with me this week?” Caleb says from beside me.
We’re all gathered in Grams’s living room after our typical Sunday night dinner. I’ve been here for a few days, but I’ve convinced everyone to let me go home after dinner tonight so I can sleep in my own bed. I feel steady enough on my crutches, so there’s no way I’m staying here, letting them look after me for weeks like the doctor suggested.
“Yeah, I can make something work. Where to?” Mason crosses an ankle over his knee as he leans back on the couch across from us.
“Trevally Falls.”
“What’s in Trevally Falls?” I ask, looking over Caleb’s shoulder to see a real estate listing on his phone.
He passes me his phone. “Hopefully,a solution.”
Lex’s brother, Dylan, found out he’s gonna be a dad. She’s stressing now about being so far away from their hometown since he’s not actually with the mother of his future child.
I scroll through the photos of a rundown house on a huge piece of land, and views of the ocean just behind it.
“There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for her, is there?”
My brother wears a look of pure contentment on his face as he no doubt thinks of Lex.
