Page 76 of Impending Consent

"Auntie Sailor!"

I barely had time to push my chair back from my desk before Skylynn launched herself into my lap and her small arms wrapped around my neck.

"Hey, pumpkin. What a surprise."

Skylar appeared in the doorway, looking exhausted and amused. "Sorry about the ambush. Daycare called. Some stomach bug is going around, so they closed for the day. I had to pick her up, but I've got client files I need to grab."

"No problem." I adjusted Skylynn on my lap, smoothing down her wild hair. "We're good, aren't we, Lynnie?"

Skylynn nodded enthusiastically. "I got a sticker at daycare!" She proudly displayed a slightly crumpled star sticker on the back of her hand.

"That's amazing. What did you get it for?"

"Sharing my cookies with Lewis.”

I threw my hand over my mouth to hide my laughter and Sky shot me a warning glare, but shit, sharing cookies had two very distinct meanings even if that wasn’t what my niece meant.

"Very generous of you, Lynnie. What kind of cookies?"

"Chocolate chip," she said, then leaned closer and whispered very loudly, "but Lewis is kinda gross so I gave him the broken ones."

"Smart girl."

Skylar rolled her eyes. "And that's why you two get along so well. Kindred spirits."

"Uncle TJ gave me candy," Skylynn announced, changing subjects with the lightning speed only toddlers possessed. I kissed her cheek, lifted from my chair, and placed her in it before I walked over to the door where Sky was standing.

"Corrupting your child already?"

"He did it before I could stop him." Skylar sighed. "Just what I need, a sugar-hyped three-year-old for the afternoon."

"I'm almost four," Skylynn corrected indignantly, holding up four fingers to emphasize her point.

"In five months," Skylar clarified.

"That's practically four." I shrugged and defended my niece, who beamed at me.

Skylar shook her head, but she was smiling. "How was your first day back? Everything normal?"

I knew what she was really asking. Was there any fallout from Saturday's dinner revelation or any office gossip about my surprise marriage?

"Smooth sailing. TJ and I talked this morning, but that's about it."

"And how are things athome?" She emphasized the last word, mindful of little ears.

"Good. Really good, actually."

Skylar studied my face for a moment, then nodded, apparently satisfied with whatever she saw. "I'm glad."

Skylynn was bored with our adult conversation and had begun spinning in my office chair, making herself dizzy. "Auntie Sailor, do you have any crayons?"

"Let me see." I crossed the room and yanked open the drawer, pushing things around until I found a small pack of colored pencils and a legal pad. "Will these work?"

She nodded wildly and lifted onto her knees when I pushed her closer to the desk, leaving her to create before I walked back to my sister.

"So I met Mom for lunch after the dinner disaster."

"Yeah?”

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