Page 150 of Trouble Comes in Threes

“I used to spend most of my summers here. Aunt Bessie was more of a mom to me than my mother was.”

“Your mother wasn’t a mother at all,” Neely Kate said, her voice harsh.

“True.”

“I suppose that makes you want to find your sister all the more. Aunt Bessie and Uncle Albert are all you have left.”

I hadn’t thought of it that way. “I don’t feel like anything’s missing in my life, you know?” She nodded. “But I’m sure she has questions. She’s probably wondering who her family is.”

“Or she may not be,” Neely Kate said. “Some adopted people aren’t curious at all. Daisy knows she’s adopted, and we’re leaving it up to her to ask questions or not. Her birth mother didn’t want an open adoption, but if Daisy wants to meet her, we’ll ask.” She offered me a smile. “If you decide to search for her—and it sounds like you already have—just prepare yourself in case she says her life is good and she doesn’t need you in it.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Good point.”

“It’s going to be hard to find her since you really don’t know anything, so I still think your best bet is DNA testing. Then you can contact her and warn her about your vision.”

My heart sank. “If she hasn’t already been killed.”

“I think Aunt Bessie’s right. I think you would know.”

“Really?” I asked, realizing it sounded like a plea.

“Really.” She gave me a hug, then reached for her phone. “I’ll order one of those tests right now. I’ll see if I can get a rush delivery.”

“Thanks, Neely Kate. You’re the best.”

A grin spread across her face. “I know.”

“I better get upstairs and get those kids ready to go.” Then I realized we only had my car now, since Witt had already left. “Do you know if Jed left Daisy’s car seat? We can fit it into the back row.”

“He did, but Jed’s gonna come get us,” she said. “He wants to drive me to my appointment.”

“I can take Daisy with me and drop her off at daycare with Hope and Liam,” I said. “Then you two will have some alone time.”

She considered it, and I thought she was going to say no, but then she pushed out a sigh. “Okay. Daisy would likely rather ride in your circus bus anyway.”

“Circus bus?” I asked with a laugh.

“It’s not an insult,” she said. “I’m jealous of your circus bus.” She put her hand on her belly. “Is it wrong that I want a circus bus of my own?”

“No, Neely Kate,” I said softly. “I understand.”

“I want this baby, Rose,” she said, tears flooding her eyes.

“I know you do, honey. I’ll do everything I can to help you get through this, but if the doctor says this could kill you…” A lump filled my throat. “I can’t lose you, Neely Kate. And neither can Jed or Daisy or Joe. I’m going to be selfish and tell you that I may have a sister out there, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re my sister. I need you.”

She laughed through her tears. “I’m not goin’ anywhere. I promise.”

“But if the doctor says this could kill you, please consider the rest of us. What good is having a baby if you can’t be your baby’s mother?”

She nodded, tears flowing down her cheeks.

“But the doctor’s gonna have good news,” I said, forcing a smile. “We have to believe that.”

“Yeah,” she said, her head bobbing. “We have to believe it.”

Loading everyone in the car felt like the circus Neely Kate had called us. Mikey and the younger kids didn’t want to leave, while Ashley was getting upset that everyone else was taking too long. We finally got everyone and the luggage loaded, and I was about to get in when Neely Kate yelled, “Wait!”

“Do we get to stay?” Mikey asked hopefully.

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