Page 27 of Enemies, Lovers & A Valentine's Baby

It’s crazy how we live in the same city, yet somehow manage to go weeks without seeing each other. Sometimes I get so busy with events and projects, but I need to do better for these angels.

“Where’s your sister?” I ask, once again glancing around for my niece.

“She’s watching cartoons in the den,” Jason says.

“We’ll go get her,” Mason adds. The two run off in the direction of the den to get their little sister.

“Boys, what have I said about running in the house?” Joanne calls after them.

“Sorry, Mom!” they chorus, and I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up.

“Dinner’s almost ready. Wanna help?” Joanne asks, already heading into the kitchen.

“You bet,” I respond, trailing after her.

Jason and Mason come bounding into the kitchen, each of them holding their little sister’s hand.

She instantly gives me a wide, toothy smile as soon as she sees me, her pretty eyes lighting up.

“Anty Lila!” she giggles, holding her arms up to me. It never fails to bring a smile to my face at her sweet pronunciations.

“Gracie, sweetheart!” I singsong, picking her up and wrapping her in my arms as I inhale her sweet smell.

“You look so pretty, and you’re getting so big. What has mummy been feeding you?” I whisper, kissing her chubby cheeks.

“Coco Pops,” she says sweetly. Laughter bubbles out of me, and Joanne joins along.

“Hey, boys, guess what’s in the little bag I left on the table over there?” I whisper conspiratorially to the twins, gesturing in the direction of the living room.

Their eyes grow as wide as saucers, excitement dancing in them.

“Is…is it—” they stutter.

“Why don’t you take the box up to your room and find out?” They nod excitedly, proceeding to race out of the kitchen.

“No running inside the house, boys!” Joanne yells after them, sighing when they chorus another ‘sorry, Mom.’

I sit at the island, with little Gracie on my lap as Joanne moves around the kitchen fixing dinner. The boys are in their room, no doubt enraptured with their new toys. It’s the perfect atmosphere, calm and serene.

Joanne opens the oven door and a delicious aroma perfumes the air, making my mouth water.

“That smells amazing. What do you have in there?” I ask, my stomach grumbling right on cue.

“Only the good stuff for my favorite sis. Prime rib roast,” Joanne whispers, turning around to give me a wink.

My stomach grumbles again in appreciation. “I'm your only sis,” I laugh. She turns back to her food, smiling.

“Pretty hair, Aunty Lila,” Gracie whispers, staring up at me with wide, sparkly eyes. I smile at her as her tiny fingers curl gently around a lock of my dark hair, gaze fixated on it like a moth to a flame.

“Aw, thank you, baby,” I coo, beaming down at her. “You have pretty hair too.” I smooth my hands over her silky sandy brown hair with blonde highlights.

“Women pay a fortune to have highlights like this.” I laugh. “She’s so precious,” I say to Joanne, chuckling when she gives me a side eye.

“She can be. Just don’t leave her anywhere near your makeup,” she says, the expression on her face telling me that she found this out the hard way. I can’t hold back my own bubbly laugher.

“I can’t wait to have my own beautiful little children stressing me out. I mean, look at you! You’re stressed, but still glowing. It’s the only kind of stressed I want to be,” I smile, smoothing down Gracie’s beautiful hair while I hold her.

“So, when exactly is this going to happen? You know every time I talk to Mom and Dad, it’s one of the first things that comes up,” she teases. “When’s Lila going to give us more grandbabies? They keep pressuring me to find you a man. At this point they’re probably starting to look into mail order grooms.” We both crack up at the thought.

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