Page 85 of Second Chance Baby

“What wishes?”

“She asked Carrington if we could add some Trolls to the display, and maybe we could add a dog too, so Biscuit doesn’t feel left out. Travis is looking for Scooby-Doo to accommodate her.”

My sister’s smile faltered before leaving her face entirely. “This is where I’d ask if he has any brothers, but I know they’re all taken, or not local. Dammit. My timing always sucks.”

“What happened to the new boyfriend I heard you had?”

“He’s already out of the picture. Good riddance.” She waved a hand. “He didn’t want to deal with kids at his age.”

I couldn’t hold back my wince. “What is his age, dare I ask?”

“Twenty-eight. First younger guy I dated.” She blew out a breath. “Not making that mistake again.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry. If that’s how he thinks, he doesn’t deserve you, Lace.”

“So, you’re sure Travis doesn’t have any hidden unmarried half-brothers?”

“Sorry, no, but apparently, he has a ton of hot lookalike cousins. Well, I’m just guessing on the hot lookalike part, but his father apparently has four brothers.” I waggled my brows at her, but she only continued vacuuming the couch in lackluster sweeps. “Want me to introduce you? One of them wants to talk to Christian about becoming a cop here as part of his inseminate a willing woman plan. Interested?”

“Sure,” she said glumly. “Why not try something or someone new?”

“Did you hear what I said? His cousin, Cam, apparently just heard the lore about the Cove and has decided he wants his own woman and kid, since evidently, they’re so easy to come by here. Can’t wait to hear about the local woman who will put him in his place. Lore or not, relationships are not that easy to come by. We only wish.”

Lacey dropped to the couch, lowering her chin to her hand. “Yeah, he’s going to get schooled soon enough, and as far as I’m concerned, he definitely needs to be. You don’t just get one by showing up at the right time, dude. There’s so much more involved in making a relationship work.” She held up a hand. “Not that I’ve ever been successful at making one work, mind you, but so I’ve heard, anyway.”

“You can say that again.” I gave in and sat down beside her, leaning over to press my forehead to her shoulder. “Trust me, I’m no expert, but I have to say I don’t think we were given many tools to learn how to love ourselves, never mind loving someone else or trying to care for them.”

“Did mom tell you too that we were the reason Dad left?”

I drew back in horror. “No way. She told you that too?”

She nodded, letting out a stuttering breath. “She sure did. I told myself she didn’t do that shit with you because you were always her gorgeous, perfect little girl, but then when you basically alluded to it not long after you set up that shoot with Travis…”

“I did?” I flopped back against the cushions. “I didn’t even realize that I had.”

“The problem with the self-talk tapes we have played over and over throughout our lives is eventually, we don’t even really fully hear the words anymore. Our hearts and minds already recognize the truth.”

“I guess so. Why I’m so grateful for Travis’s parents being big into therapy now. If they need it and they’re so well-adjusted, what hope is there for the rest of us?”

“There’s always hope, sis, and I regret I wasn’t more focused on you back in the day. I was a selfish teenager and assumed it was every girl for herself. You were mom’s kid, not mine, so therefore, you weren’t my responsibility. I look back, and I can’t believe I was ever so mean. I loved you, but I was more worried about myself.”

“Lace, we were both kids. We didn’t have a clue what we were doing on any level. Remember that whole not having tools thing? We could barely handle ourselves, never mind anyone else.” I swallowed deeply. “We both did the best we could, as hard as that is to accept.”

She laughed self-consciously. “Talk about a bitter truth pill right there. After losing every man I ever cared about, then getting pregnant with Amerie and having to figure out raising her on my own, I finally understood how my self-absorption had so messed you up. You could’ve had everything but somehow you didn’t, and I partially blame myself.” She lowered her head and scrubbed her palms over her eyes. I didn’t see any tears, but I definitely heard them in her voice. “If I’d been a good sounding board back then, maybe things would have been different for you, and hell, for me too. But I wasn’t. And I want to say I’m sorry. You never deserved that.”

I sidled closer to her on the couch and drew her into my arms for a hug. “We both made mistakes, but you know what the important part is? We are still sisters. We’re still trying. And God willing, our girls will grow up turning to each other, maybe even in better ways than we ever did. Far as I’m concerned, we’re winning at life.”

She laughed mistily, nodding, as she eased back. “I never did the therapy thing, since I figured I had friends to talk to so that was good enough. But maybe something more formal would be even more beneficial. Amerie has done so well with her smaller classes at school. The nice thing is that she also has a kind of personal advisor as part of that. Just so she can get her feelings out when she needs to.”

“Oh, that’s great. I hope it’s helping her.”

“Seems to be. And maybe if I talk to someone, maybe it would help me too.” She took a bolstering breath, throwing back her shoulders. “Did you say Travis’s mom has someone she recommends?”

I nodded. “JoAnn and Hank are doing couples’ therapy, but I’d assume she would be good on a personal basis too. You can always try her out and see if she’s a fit and then go from there, maybe?”

Lacey smiled tentatively. “I sure can. Thank you. So, since you’re moving all your stuff to the Cove later tonight, I assume that’s a good sign for you and Travis?”

“Yeah. We’re trying too. Sharing all the stuff we skipped the first time around, you know?”

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