Page 44 of Seven of Hearts

“Coming down!” I hollered back.

I loved working for the DeRossis and Lawsons. They were like family to me. I wished they were my family, unlike the judgmental robots I was kin to.

My phone had been quiet ever since the explosion with my mom. Part of me wanted an apology, or at least an explanation. The other part of me was fine with the silence.

I hadn’t heard from Logan since Sunday when he texted me to check in and see how I was feeling. He had spent the day with his youngest brother, Hunter, presumably before he went back to Chicago.

But I put Logan out of my mind as I jogged down the stairs and faced my bosses. Hannah Jane Lawson was the picture-perfect vision of ladylike elegance. Her hair was neatly styled. She was always dressed to the nines in some kind of pencil skirt and blouse combo, designer heels with the red bottoms, and tasteful yet nauseatingly expensive jewelry.

Maddie DeRossi was nearly the exact opposite. Her long hair was up in a wild bun on top of her head. She was in denim cutoffs, a country concert tank top, and flip-flops.

“Hey, girl,” Maddie said with a smile. “You said that you wanted to meet before you went home."

“Yeah.” I tucked my hair behind my ears.

“Kids or no kids?” Hannah Jane asked as she strutted through the kitchen and helped herself to a bottle of water from Maddie’s fridge.

I was fairly sure Gio and Ellie were already suspicious about why I had avoided making cinnamon rolls for breakfast the last few weeks since cinnamon made me nauseous, or why I was always yawning. Besides, they were going to find out sooner or later. My bump wasn’t hiding forever, even under sweatshirts, sweaters, and jackets.

“Kids are fine,” I said with a little nervousness in my voice.

Maddie lifted her eyebrows. “You’re not quitting, are you? Because I’ll give you a raise. Name your price.”

I laughed. “I’m not quitting. But...I will need some time off in a few months.”

Hannah Jane cocked her head curiously as their husbands and kids strolled into the kitchen.

“I’m expecting,” I said with as much calm as I could. “And I’m due in March.”

So many jaws hit the floor that it sounded like applause.

“Oh my god!” Maddie screamed before pulling me into a backbreaking hug. “Shut up! That’s amazing!”

I laughed as tears pricked my eyes.

Hannah Jane ripped Maddie away and gave me a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you! How have you been feeling?”

“A little better now that I’m out of the first trimester. I’m just really tired now.”

“You’re having a baby?” Gio asked with awe and dinner plate eyes.

I nodded.

“Is that why you were sick a lot?” Ellie asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Sorry about that. I know I haven’t been much fun lately.”

“Can we play with the baby when it’s born?” Gio asked.

“You can’t play with a newborn baby,” Ellie said.

“Not when it’s likefirstborn. They have to bathe it. They come out of the vaginal canal all gooey and purple,” Gio said.

Maddie dropped her head in her hands. “That’s what I get for having open and honest conversations about the human body with my kid.”

I laughed. “I’ll probably be at home for a few weeks after the baby’s born.” I looked at Hannah Jane and Maddie. “But after that, I’d like to come back to work as long as I can bring the baby.”

“Of course,” Maddie said as she dabbed her eyes. “I still have the pop-up crib and monitors we used with Gio. You won’t even have to bring your own stuff over.”

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