Hale and Elsa were there, and obviously, they’d brought their baby boy, Laird.
Chloe, with JT, and Mika were with them.
I had good friends, and I was overwhelmed by their kindness.
But I could only hold on to my little sister.
“This sucks,” she said in my ear.
“Yes,” I agreed.
“You okay?”
“No. Are you?”
“No.”
We kept holding on.
Eventually, I pulled my head away to look at her.
She looked tan and healthy…
And sad.
Which made me mad.
She was just married. Just home from her honeymoon. Pregnant with the love of her life’s baby.
And now…
This.
It wasn’t Mum’s fault, but no matter how irrational it was, I still blamed her.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said.
She gave me small smile. “I’m glad I am too. I feel better, seeing you.”
It meant everything she felt the same.
“Me too,” I replied.
“And I brought reinforcements,” she noted.
I took my cue and let her go, saying, “I see.”
Rix gave me a super tight hug that I couldn’t breathe through, but it felt crazy good.
I got much the same from Chloe, Mika and Elsa, they just weren’t as strong as Rix so I could breathe.
Hale’s hug lingered, as did his gaze. We were close. But he was a very busy man.
And he was here for me.
“Means the world you’re here,” I said quietly.
“Where else would I be?” he asked casually.
