“Dinner’s up!” Heather calls.
I help Claire up and get her set up at the table before making her a plate. My sisters have gone quiet again as they watch me like a hawk.
Once everyone is seated—even though it’s crowded, it’s nice to have everyone in one place—everyone starts eating.
After a few minutes, Autumn looks over at Claire. “So, tells us about yourself.”
“Guys …”
“No, it’s fine, Adam. Really,” Claire hushes me. “I’m twenty-nine. No family, and I’m rebuilding—well, ‘I’m starting over in my career’ is more apt.” She takes a bite of biscuits slathered in gravy before she looks up. “Oh, and I’m pregnant with Adam’s baby.”
The room goes still before all hell breaks loose with laughter and hands pounding on the table.
“Oh my God, I love her.” Daisy wipes tears from her eyes.
I wish I could join in, but one thing Claire says catches my attention.Twenty-nine.She had a birthday while we were separated, and I missed it. I remember her saying her birthday was next week before the case went to complete shit.
I missed her birthday.
My mind races with thoughts of how to make it up to her while she and my sisters talk.
Ruby picks up my plate, pulling me from my distracted thoughts, forcing me to focus back onto the conversation.
“I brought a ton of hand-me-downs. All the neutrals I could find,” Daisy says, pointing to a couple of huge bins in the corner I completely missed.
“Oh my gosh, that’s so generous. I feel so behind on everything,” Claire says.
“I’ve learned you don’t need everything done. Just a bassinet for them to come home to and some onesies. The rest can come after. I was so obsessive with getting everything done, and Luka—my husband—kept telling me everything would be fine, and we didn’t even put her in her own room until she was almost eight months old,” Daisy tells her.
“That makes me feel a little better.” Claire sighs.
Little does she know I’ve already completed the nursery here. Autumn helped me make it look “pretty”, so I think Claire will like it. The next step is convincing her to move in so we can both take care of Teeny. I want to help her through every single second, but I also don’t want to push too hard.
Lord knows I’ll drop down to my knees to make this woman stay with me. I’m just not sure she’s there yet.
Fingers snap in front of my face. I shove them away and glare at Ruby.
“Earth to Adam.”
“What?”
“We asked how work was going,” she says.
“Umm, good. Slowly getting information on a case. I’m finally caught up on paperwork.”
“Any new undercover cases coming your way?” Autumn asks.
I feel the heat of Claire’s gaze on my face.
“Nope. I think I’m done with that.”
Silence. For once, my sisters are completely silent.
“Holy shit.” Heather’s eyes are wide with shock.
“How the mighty have fallen,” Daisy mutters.
“Damn.” Ruby shakes her head, and Autumn just stares at me.
