Page 20 of Trouble Comes in Threes

As though Muffy knew Hope was petitioning for her to come with us, she lay down with her chin on her paws, looking even more pathetic.

“I’d love to take her?—”

Hope let out an excited squeal.

“—but we can’t. We’ll get kicked out if we bring her.” I couldn’t help thinking Hope had a point. Muffy thrived on being with her people and hated being alone for hours at a time. I’d left her alone far too often lately.

But there wasn’t anything I could do about that at the moment, so I chased everyone but Muffy out the door, and we headed to the game.

I was exhausted by the time I pulled into the parking lot, but Joe was already there, thank goodness. The sight of him standing next to his patrol car in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, his butt leaning against the hood, gave me butterflies. He looked even sexier than the day I’d met him nearly six years ago. A warm glow filled my chest as I parked, and it surged when he walked over to my door and opened it for me, then gave me a soft kiss. “You look frazzled.”

“Rough day.”

He cast a quick glance at Ashley and gave me a questioning look.

“That too, but there’s something else I should probably tell you before Neely Kate and Jed show up.”

His mouth turned down, and concern filled his eyes. “Should I be worried?”

“Yeah, maybe, but let’s get the kids out first, and then I’ll tell you.”

Mikey had already unbuckled and was trying to crawl past Ashley, who was working on Hope’s carseat straps.

“Move out of the way!” he exclaimed. “I’ve gotta get to my game!”

“Whoa,” Joe said, moving to the passenger side. “You’re early, buddy, and it’s not nice to mow down your sister. Especially when she’s helping Hope.”

His bottom lip stuck out. “Sorry, Ash.”

“It’s okay,” she muttered under her breath, clearly still holding a grudge.

I finished getting Liam unbuckled and moved to the back of the car to get the double stroller.

“I’ll take care of that,” Joe said. “Why don’t you take Mikey over to his team? The girls and I will meet you on the sidelines.”

With Liam on my hip, I got Mikey delivered to his coaches with plenty of time for warm-up practice. Ashley was steering the empty stroller, with Hope helping her push, while Joe carried three lawn chairs. He set up the chairs, and I sat in one with Liam in my lap. The girls saw Maeve walking from the parking lot and ran to greet her.

Joe leaned over and rested his arm along the back of my chair. “You have about twenty seconds to fill me in on whatever you can, darlin’.”

I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “Neely Kate will likely kill me for telling you, but she’s pregnant.”

His face lit up with joy.

“Don’t get too excited. I guess there’s a potential health scare. Jed’s none too happy about the situation, and Neely Kate’s holding it against him.” I figured it was better to ease him into the situation than to tell him outright her life was in danger. Although they hadn’t grown up together, Joe and Neely Kate were half-siblings.

His body went rigid. “What kind of health scare, and how’s he reacting?”

“I don’t know exactly, and he’s not talking much. He’s scared.”

“Is my sister in danger?” he asked, his face turning pale.

“I’m not sure, but I insisted she make a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible. She’s going on Tuesday morning.”

“I thought she couldn’t get pregnant.”

“They thought so too, but apparently, a couple of the last doctors said it could be dangerous for her if she did get pregnant. She took the home test this morning, so she doesn’t know how far along she is, only that the test was positive, and Jed wasn’t excited because he’s scared to lose her.”

His mouth dropped open. “She could die?” he asked loudly enough that a couple a few feet away turned to stare at us.

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