“Chloe!” a cheerful voice calls out.
I turn to see Emily parked across from me, waving as she pulls out her purse from the back seat of her rental car. Emily is almost as tall as Warren, with an athletic build and dark Bantu-knots. As a fashion designer, she’s always stylishly dressed in clothes that are one of a kind and fit her like a glove. Usually bright monochrome outfits. Today is all orange.
“Em! Hey!” I lock the brakes on Willow’s stroller and turn towards her for a hug.
“It is so good to see you,” she says from above my shoulder. We pull apart after a few sways side to side. “And who is this?”
“Ha. Yes. Lots to catch up on.” I smooth my hair down.
Emily looks down to my stomach, then to Willow, then back to me—no doubt doing math in her head.
“Nope. She’s my sister,” I answer her unasked question.
“Oh fun! Wow, your mom…” Emily met my adoptive mom once or twice, and I can tell by the look on her face that she’s trying to figure out how a woman in her early sixties would have a baby. She’s getting more confused by the second.Where to start.
“Let’s walk, and I’ll explain.” I offer an apologetic smile, and she nods while rubbing my arm.
“Sure, yeah.”
We start off towards the café, which looks out over a boat launch on the lake.
“So, first off, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you any of this before. I’m working on being more open in my friendships moving forward. It hasn’t always come easy to me.”
She purses her lips, waiting for me to go on.
“I was adopted at seven. My mom, who you met, and my dad—they’re not my birth parents. My birth mother, Connie, had me when she was seventeen. For a while, we were okay, but when I was three, my mom got a boyfriend. He was nice at first, but… then he wasn’t. He used drugs, and my mom started to as well. Then it got bad. I was placed into foster care, and a few years later, I was adopted.”
Emily stops walking for a moment, eyes fixed on her shoes. “I’m so sorry, Chlo,” she breathes out, moving her gaze to my face.
I start walking again, mostly to keep Willow settled.
“In June, I got a call saying that Connie’d had a baby. She didn’t know she was pregnant and asked me to take her. And… I did. Here we are.” I try to make my voice sound light, but this is the first time I’ve said it all out loud, and it tugs heavily on my heart.
“Wow…” Emily nods thoughtfully. “So she lives with you now?”
“Yeah.”
“That must be so hard. I mean, I’m sure you’re amazing at it, but it must be hard.”
“It is.” A rogue tear escapes my eye before I can stop it.
“Oh, hey.” Emily wraps her arms around my shoulders. “Chlo, you’re so strong.” She pulls away, one hand remaining clasped on my arm. “I wish you had told us about how you grew up. Honestly, I was always kind of intimidated by how perfect you are—knowing this sorta makes me love you more.” She laughs and wipes the tear off my cheek. “I also wish you’d called me as soon as you heard. I would have come.”
“Thanks, Em.” I blink and sniffle back the rest of the tears.
“I’m coming back to town in a few weeks with Lane. Can we stop by? I want to catch up when we have more time.” She stops, offering me a sincere smile. “I’d love the chance to pick out cute baby stuff! Did you have a baby shower or anything?”
“Oh, you really don’t have to. CPS covers that stuff and—”
“No, I want to.” She glances over to the car seat where Willow is now asleep. “She is adorable, Chloe… she looks just like you.”
I smile and look at Willow. “She’s the best.” I turn to Emily. “Hungry?”
“Yes! My treat, mama bear.” She turns to open the door to the café, and I still momentarily.
Mama.No one has called me that before. That’s what I am, right? Sort of? I mean, I’m her sister, of course, but—the title ofmomfeels so much more fitting. Another thing to talk through with Odette, I suppose.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
