Page 48 of Happily Ever After

Sophie would wake soon.

And when she did, Essie would be ready with good news.

When she and Maple returned to the house, Essie found Sophie on the couch, one knee tucked under her, phone in hand. The television was off, the room lit only by the late-morning sun coming through the front windows. Sophie looked up when Essie came in, her expression tired in a way that went deeper than lack of sleep.

“How are you doing?” Essie asked, setting the leash back on its hook. Maple went straight to her water bowl.

Sophie made a face. “Not great.” She shifted slightly, pressing her hand to her stomach. “I feel sick. Like…all the time.”

Essie nodded, keeping her tone steady. “Morning sickness?”

“Apparently,” Sophie said. “Though no one tells you it’s this awful.”

“It’s different with every woman. I can make you some ginger tea, though. That should help.” Essie went straight to the kitchen and put the kettle on.

“Okay.” Sophie puffed out a breath that lifted her bangs. “I have to drive back later. The idea of being in the car for hours makes me want to lie down and not move. I don’t know how I’m going to do it without stopping to puke every five minutes.”

Essie sat in the chair across from her, close but not so near that Sophie would feel crowded. “You don’t have to go today,” she said gently.

Sophie looked at her, surprised. “I can’t just…stay.”

“Sure you can,” Essie said. “At least until you feel a little better. One night isn’t going to matter, is it?”

Sophie stared at her phone for a moment, then set it down. “I don’t want to feel like I’m imposing.”

“You’re not imposing,” Essie said. “You’re family. And you can stay here as long as you want. I already talked to your dad about it.”

“You did? Did you tell him about…”

Essie nodded. “I did and he’s fully committed to supporting you, just like I am. You won’t be alone in this.”

Sophie didn’t respond right away, but some of the tension seemed to leave her body. She leaned back against the cushions, eyes closing briefly.

The kettle was ready. Essie went back to the kitchen to make the tea. As she did, her mind whirled with a thousand different things. Sophie would need a doctor’s appointment soon, and Essie should get her some prenatal vitamins. Liliana might have some hand-me-downs for the baby, but of course, it wasn’t like money was an issue. Did anyone make a crib for smaller spaces? That was assuming Sophie wanted to stay here after she had the baby. She probably wouldn’t but then⁠—

Essie forced herself to breathe.

None of this mattered right now. What mattered was that Sophie was here.

They would figure out the rest later.

Chapter Twenty

Maude stopped applying mascara long enough to yawn.

Robbie had left early, keys jangling softly as he headed out to his flex space, coffee in hand. Unfortunately, his clinking keys and coffee-making had been loud enough to wake her.

Instead of going back to bed, she’d decided just to get up. She had to eventually anyway.

Since she was up earlier than usual, she’d gotten out her yoga mat and done some sun salutations, along with a few other poses she’d been working on.

With that much time on her hands, she moved through her yoga routine with real intent, letting herself sit into the poses and really feel the stretch. It was nice to know that at fifty-five, she was more limber than she’d been in her teens.

After yoga, she’d fed Pixel, who flared briefly in acknowledgment before settling back into his corner of the tank. Then she’d taken a long, indulgent hot shower, had a bowl of yogurt and granola along with a big cup of coffee, and gotten ready for the day.

Now she was dressed and just about to leave for her volunteer shift at the hospital. All she had left to do was finish drying her hair. Or maybe she’d go with a ponytail today to keep it out of her face. Either way, she wanted to look nice.

Mondays meant lunch with Ollie. She smiled and wondered if a hint more blush wouldn’t be such a bad thing.