Page 7 of Broken

Her friend knew she had to take care of thegrocery shopping. There were a few times she’d even taken Rosalie with her, butmost of the time, she tended to drop her friend back home rather than take herto her place.

“How are you doing?” Rosalie asked. “I called youthis morning, but you didn’t pick up, and who is this little guy?”

Petal refused to look inDirty’sdirection.

“This is David. He’s my brother,” she said.

“Brother? I didn’t even know your mom was pregnantagain.”

Petal wasn’t about to say that she didn’t either.She would have visited her mother sooner.

“May I?” Rosalie asked, reaching a hand out.

“Of course.”

Rosalie reached out and touched David’s littlefingers. “He is so freaking cute. Oh my.”

“Is my mom influencing you?” Colt asked.

Petal unstrapped David and lifted him up out ofthe car seat. She held him in her arms. “Would you like to hold him?”

Rosalie’s eyes went wide.

Now this never happened. From past experience,Petal didn’t allow anyone to hold her siblings. In the past, one person nearlydropped one of her sisters, and since then, she never allowed it. Rosaliewasn’t just anyone. She was her best friend, and Petal trusted her with herlife.

“You would allow me to?” Rosalie asked.

“Yes, of course. I trust you.” The only reason shenever allowed Rosalie in the past was simply because she never asked. Petalalways figured she didn’t want to hold the baby, which she totally understood.Some people didn’t want to hold babies. They were so fragile, and it was scaryhaving them in your arms.

Rosalie looked so nervous, but there was thisbeaming smile on her face, and Petal was so pleased her best friend had finallyfound some happiness. Even though her mother’s death had caused her immensepain, the death of her father gave her such happiness. In a strange way,Gabrielle was now at peace. It wasn’t a peace she asked for.

Placing little David in her friend’s arms, shestepped back and couldn’t help but smile. Rosalie looked good with a baby.Rosalie had all the right instincts as a mother.

“See, nothing to worry about,” Petal said.

“He’s so precious,” Rosalie said.

“All babies are.”

Rosalie chuckled. “Of course. I know what youmean.”

Petal couldn’t help but glance over toward Colt.She didn’t know if she expected him to look frightened by his wife totallytaken with a baby.

He looked happy. His gaze moved to her, and hegave her a nod, to which she offered a single nod of her chin. They didn’tarrange this. She didn’t even know she had a little brother. That was howquickly her own life had swept her by.

She needed to check in with the rest of herbrothers and sisters. While Rosalie held onto David, she pulled out her cellphone and sent a quick group chat to them all. It only took her a few seconds,but she didn’t like that it had been months since she checked in. Unlike herbrother George who had left without looking back, she hadn’t been able to.Petal knew it wasn’t her responsibility, it was her parents’, but she justcouldn’t not take care of them. They were her family and she loved them.

“He’s so lovely, Petal,” Rosalie said.

Petal welcomed him back as Rosalie placed him inher arms, and she put him in the car seat. She made sure he was secure beforeturning back to her friend. All the while she was aware of Dirty watching her.

She refused to look in his general direction. Itwas easy considering they had kept their relationship secret. At first shethought this would be unbearable, no one knowing exactly what happened. Goingthrough this pain without anyone quite understanding, or perhaps even gettingfed up with her for taking so long to deal with her pain. Now she was gratefulfor the secret relationship. The last thing she wanted was pity from anyone.

Before she could say anything, Rosalie pulled herin for a hug.

“We’re gathering stuff for the party tonight.Remember, Kim wants you to be there.”

“The party?”

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