Page 48 of All Along

The door flies open and my sisters hurry inside.

“We’re the best sisters,” Abigail claims.

“I don’t think sisters are supposed to barge into the bathroom when the door is locked,” Maya mutters.

Willow snorts. “You don’t understand how sisters work.”

Clara grabs my wrist and pulls Maya away from me. “Come on. Mom got Caleb’s baby books out.”

Maya perks up and allows Clara to lead her away. “Baby books?”

“Maya,” I call. She glances at me over her shoulder and I pull on my earlobe three times.

“Are you afraid of me looking at your baby books?”

I puff out my chest. “Of course not. I was a beautiful baby.”

“But you gave the signal.”

“I was teasing you.” I wink.

“You’re okay?”

Her cheeks are stained from her tears but she’s worried about me. Warmth hits my chest. This woman is everything.

“I’m okay. Go.” I shoo her away. “Have fun.”

“Awesome,” Willow declares and my sisters herd Maya down the hallway to the living room. I follow. I scowl when I realize Clara wasn’t joking. Mom did get out the baby books.

Dad hands me a beer. “Let’s go watch the game in the basement.”

“What game?”

My dad has never been into sports much. He’d rather be outside fishing or hunting or working on some project.

He shrugs. “No idea but there must be some game on.”

I catch Maya’s eye.You okay?I mouth.

She winks and pulls on her earlobe twice.

“Look at this one,” Abigail declares.

“Ah, little Caleb is in the bath.”

“Not the bath photo.” Abigail taps the page. “This one.”

Maya bursts into laughter. “Is Caleb wearing a pumpkin outfit?”

Mom joins Maya on the sofa. “He wouldn’t take it off for an entire week. Do you know how awful a baby stinks if he isn’t washed for a week?” She pinches her nose.

“Maybe a hockey game is on,” I mutter to Dad who chuckles as we descend the stairs to the basement.

I’m grumbling but I don’t care. If Maya wants to go through all of my baby pictures, she can have at it. As long as it makes her happy and she feels comfortable with my family, I’m happy.

Because Maya deserves a family of her own. She deserves everything.

And I’m going to do my best to give it to her.

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