Page 21 of Fireworks & Forehead Kisses

“Actually, it’s more than that. Stella wants to make sustainable fashion, starting with an eco-friendly recycled clothing athleisure line. I think that’s why the dean recommended me, because of the work I did to make the art department greener. I owe this to your brilliant little mini-environmentalist daughter.”

“Aww, that’s amazing. So what’s the grandson’s problem with you?”

“I can’t say for sure since I haven’t even met him, but if I had to guess, I would say it’s because of something Stella mentioned today. Apparently, he hired a nurse for her.”

“A nurse? Is she sick?”

“Not that I know of. But she is ninety-two. Not that you can tell. I would have thought she was in her seventies. I think he is just worried about her. She says he thinks she needs a babysitter.”

“Oh.” Skylar nodded in understanding. If anyone understood worry, it was my sister. The older I got, the more I understood why she was always so worried. She’d had so much responsibility from such a young age.

From what I’d heard about her husband Hank, he’d experienced the same thing. After his mom died, his father basically checked out and spent his days being drunk. Hank cared for and raised his two younger brothers. I’m sure that they must have bonded over having to step up and care for their siblings.

“So, is he okay that she rehired you?”

“I’m not sure he knows. From what she told me, she wasn’t aware he’d fired me in the first place. She found out when I didn’t show up for work today, and the nurse she fired—whom he rehired—did.”

Skylar started to say something, but before she could, she covered her mouth and rushed to the en-suite bathroom. After being sick, she crawled back into bed.

“Do you think it was something you ate?” I asked.

“No.” She shook her head as she exhaled slowly through her mouth. “It’s not something I ate.”

“The last time you were this sick was when you were…” My eyes widened, and I gasped. “You’re pregnant.”

A small smile curled on her lips. “We wanted to wait to tell everyone until I was further along. I’m only six weeks.”

“I’m gonna be an auntie. Again.” I leaned down and pulled my sister into a big hug. Then I realized I shouldn’t squeeze her and pulled away. “Congratulations!”

“Thanks!”

I felt myself tearing up. I was so happy for Skylar. She’d sacrificed so much for me, and now she had an amazing husband and the family she’d always wanted. “Is Hank so happy?”

Skylar nodded. “He is. I think he’d be happier if I was covered in bubble wrap and stayed in bed for the rest of my pregnancy, but he’s happy.”

“He just doesn’t want anything to happen to you. It’s sweet.”

“I know. I had to force him to go to work today. If it were up to him, he’d take all nine months off.”

My sister wasn’t being hyperbolic. Hank was extremely protective of Skylar, and I loved that about him. I’d always worried about my sister when she was with Luna’s dad. In fact, the reason she’d had to move all the way across the country in the middle of the night was because of him. He had a drughabit and owed dangerous people money. They trashed her apartment, looking for him to collect his debt even though she and Luna’s dad weren’t together.

Thankfully, we’d inherited the house I was now living in from our grandfather whom we never knew. Skylar packed up and drove across the country from Seattle to Georgia in the middle of the night. Our grandfather’s house happened to be on Hank’s land, and that’s how the two of them met. Well, they met when she fell asleep because she’d driven all night, and Luna went and knocked on Hank’s door.

Since she and Hank had been together, I never worried about her. I knew he’d do anything to make sure she and Luna were okay. And it wasn’t only him; he had two brothers and a sister as well. And they all had spouses. The entire family looked out for one another. She’d hit the in-law lottery.

I was in-law lottery adjacent and appreciated being accepted by the Comfort family, but I still wished I had a husband of my own to worry about me.

My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out. It was another message from Declan Wolfe.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s the grandson.”

“Did he fire you again?”

“No.” I read the message.

“What does it say?” Skylar demanded.

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