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“I’ll be fine. Promise.”

“I will be right back.”

She scurried out of the room just as Ava took the seat Natalie had been occupying. She wasn’t doing the Kangaroo Care like I was, but she had a little girl nestled in her arms, with a bottle in her hand.

I watched her unabashedly. Her mouth twitched but she didn’t take her eyes off the baby in her arms. “Your Daddy told me you were quite the spitfire,” she mused. When her gaze drifted up and caught mine, I noticed that she wasn’t offended by my blunt perusal. “I think you and I are going to get along just fine.”

“How can you be so sure?”

I had a feeling this woman didn’t hold back, called a spade a spade, and I found I respected her for it. I didn’t want a woman who would kiss my ass to get brownie points with my Dad.

“We want the same thing, darlin’. For your Daddy to be happy.”

“True,” I acquiesced. “Do you love him?”

If she could shoot from the hip, then I would too. She didn’t even flinch.

“I do.”

I looked at her a little longer, and then felt something inside me just…settle. I still had to get to know her, but I had the feeling we had time for that. Time would also prove to me whether or not she meant what she said, and if she did in fact love my Dad then who was I to stand in their way?

“Okay then.” I sat back.

“Okay then.”

WHEN NATALIE CAME back, she stayed with us until I left. Ava was smart, and funny, and genuine. It was difficult not to see why my Dad liked her. She had an infectious way about her that put you at ease, and once I was done sizing her up I enjoyed her company. I said goodbye to her, after she asked me to have lunch with her some time, and when Natalie walked me to the elevators she hugged me.

“I knew you’d like her. And I think your Mom would have too.”

I swallowed, slowly coming to terms with the fact our family was moving on in a big way. Ava would never replace my Mom and after spending some time talking to her I realized that she didn’t want to. That made it easier for me to welcome her. To accept her.

“I have something to tell you,” added Natalie, taking away the pressure for me to talk about my Mom. “Connor wanted to wait until we’re all together again but I’m dying to tell someone, and you’re my sister so…We’re having a girl!”

“Nat!” I cried. “That’s amazing!”

Natalie hugged me again, and we laughed. We pulled apart and I saw the happy tears glistening in her eyes. “We have a name already.”

“Tell me!”

“We decided to name her Lauren.”

“That’s….” My breath hitched, and I blinked. “Perfect. Mom would be so happy.”

“You don’t think anyone would mind?”

“Of course not! They’re going to love it.” I took Natalie’s hands in mine. “It really is perfect, Nat. Thank you for telling me.”

“You’re the first person I wanted to call. This little girl is going to be so spoilt, she already has the most incredible aunty in the world.”

“Stop,” I giggled. “I don’t want to cry!” The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. “I’ll see you again soon?”

She nodded, and I giggled again when she hugged me a third time. She was emotional by nature, but her pregnancy had kicked that up a notch. But I wasn’t complaining. It turned out to be a pretty good day.

I arrived back at my apartment, and found a note from Maddy saying she was spending the night at Jackson’s. I was a little disappointed since I wanted to tell her about Ava but I figured I could just fill her in the next day. I made some pasta for dinner, and grabbed my journal before settling on the sofa. The medical series ‘Bones’ played in the background, providing some background noise while I scribbled away. It had been a few days since my last entry and after the afternoon I had the words seemed to flow from a place deep inside. They came without provocation, something that still had me dumbfounded at times. I didn’t have to think about them at all. They were just always…there.

“Excuse me, but I was here first.” I glared at the hot stranger, feeling a little warm. I didn’t know him from a bar of soap and yet I was adamant that he was wrong.

“I believe we stepped into the booth at the same time,” he countered. “So maybe you should leave, and let me go first.”