Before I can answer, the door bursts open and Sebastian runs in. The second he sees Wynter, he dives on her, throwing himself into her arms.
“Wynter!”
She catches him but flinches slightly. It’s enough for me to notice. My eyes flick to Catherine, and she’s seen it too.
“It’s so good to see you,” Wynter whispers, pressing her face into his hair. “You smell like—”
“Apples,” Sebastian says proudly. They both laugh. A quiet, shared moment between them. “Are you staying?” he asks, his tone hopeful.
Wynter’s smile falters. “No, Seb. I’m going back to live with my Aunt Lucy.”
“But we miss you,” he says, clinging tighter.
“I miss you too,” she whispers. “But you’ll be fine here with—” She looks at me, like she needs help finishing that sentence.
“Dad,” Sebastian says quickly. “Uncle Ray is my dad now.”
Wynter blinks. “Right,” she says softly. “And Catherine and Uncle Dale and . . .”
Her gaze lands on Jessica.
“I’m Jessica,” she says, stepping forward. “Sebastian’s new nanny.”
They shake hands, and I see the relief in Wynter’s face. It’s partly my fault—I knew she assumed we were a thing yesterday and I didn’t correct her.
“Alga quit in the midst of everything,” I explain.
“I should go,” Wynter says suddenly.
She kisses Sebastian’s head and gently lowers him to the floor. As she stands, her hand dashes out, gripping my arm. Her other hand presses to her temple and her eyes squeeze shut.
I step closer instinctively. “Are you okay?”
“Just dizzy,” she whispers.
Dizzy.My frown deepens.“Are you eating?” I ask.
She gives me a sad, tired smile. “Thanks for the jewellery box,” she says instead. “I love it. I’ll take good care of it.”
She lets go of my arm, and I notice the loss of contact is instant.
Catherine walks her towards the door, with Sebastian clinging to her leg, refusing to let go.
I stand there. Watching. Knowing this is it. And not knowing how the hell I’m supposed to let her walk awayagain.
“She seems really nice,” Jessica says, pulling my attention back into the room.
I nod automatically. “She is.”
“Sebastian talks about her all the time.”
Catherine returns with Sebastian crying in her arms. She places him on his feet, and he automatically goes to Jessica.
Catherine’s gaze searches mine. “She didn’t look right,” she says thoughtfully. “There was something off about her.”
“Pregnancy can be different for everyone,” Jessica says, rocking Sebastian gently, completely unaware of the shift in the room. “If she’s in the first trimester, she’s probably struggling with sickness.”
Everything in me stills.
