Page 33 of Falling for the Forward

“Can he have a snack?” Hallie looks at me.

“A little one. Maybe some crackers. He’s gaining weight so quickly; we need to keep the sugary snacks down.”

Rosie laughs. “How big is he going to get?”

“We don’t know. He’s a micro pig, but he’s growing like crazy.”

Carter walks into the room, a packed overnight bag in each hand. “Hey, Aunt Rosie.”

He sets the bags down and walks over to hug her.

“You look good,” she says warmly as she embraces him. “And I just love Darling. What a great idea that was.”

Carter frowns. “I’m not so sure about that. He pissed on my shoes again.”

“He’s still a baby.” Hallie gives him a serious look as Darling scarfs Goldfish out of her hand. “You can’t get mad at a baby.”

“Maybe he needs a diaper then,” Carter quips, making Hallie laugh.

“Suki left me instructions for him,” Rosie says. “And did you say he sleeps in bed with the girls?”

“He does, but he always ends up in Charlotte’s bed because she keeps snacks under her bed for him.”

“What?” Hallie’s jaw drops. “She said he just loves her the most.”

Carter growls with disapproval. “I told Charlotte to quit doing that.”

“Never mind for now,” Rosie says. “You two are already getting too short of a honeymoon. You need to get out of here immediately.”

I can’t say I’m looking forward to a weekend alone with Carter in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but it’ll be nice to sleep in and not have to wake up early to take Darling out.

“There’s mostaccioli in the fridge you can use for dinner tonight if you want to,” I tell Rosie. “I left instructions on a note and taped it to the top. And Olivia’s present for the birthday party tomorrow is on the dining table. You’re picking up her friend Kate at twelve forty-five and dropping both girls off at the party. Kate’s address and the party address are on the paper I left. Kate’s mom will bring Olivia home after the party.”

Rosie gives me a warm smile. “I like the way you do things, Suki. Thank you for all your work making this weekend easier for me.”

She looks like she’s in her late fifties, her hair styled in a short, feathered silver bob. I liked her immediately when we met.

“No problem at all.”

Hallie runs over and throws her arms around my waist. “I’ll miss you.”

I hug her back, bending to kiss the top of her head. “I’ll miss you, too. But I know you guys will have the best time with Aunt Rosie.”

Rosie gives Carter a pointed look. “What do you do around this house other than look good and carry the bags to the car?”

“He colors with me,” Hallie says, hugging him. “And he makes good popcorn.”

“Well, good.”

Carter gives me a questioning look. “You ready?”

“Yeah.”

“Where are Olivia and Charlotte?” Rosie asks.

“In their rooms. I said goodbye to them already.”

“I better go do that,” Carter says.

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