Page 231 of Bossy Hero

She pads around to the other side of the bed, crawling in behind me. Instead of cuddling like Sammy is, Sue stays about a foot away.

I raise my other arm toward her, encouraging her to mirror Sammy’s position. “Come on. I’ve got plenty of room for you.”

“Really?” she asks, hopefulness hidden in her tone.

“Get in here, Sue,” Sammy reaches toward her sister-in-law.

As Sue starts to comply, she hits me with a concerned pout. “You sure it’s not weird?”

Slanting my head to the side, I roll my eyes. “It’s perfectly acceptable to hug your mother-in-law when she’s offering you a cuddle.”

“I’d bet there’s a lot of people out there who would beg to differ,” Sammy jokes. “I wouldn’t hug my mother-in-law for all the tea in China. Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about her offering, considering nobody knows where or who she is.”

Sue tentatively accepts my offered lap real estate. “My sister can’t stand her mother-in-law. Good thing that won’t be a problem for long.”

I rub her shoulder and upper arm. “How is Fiona doing?”

“Waiting impatiently for the divorce to be final. She said she feels like her life is in a holding pattern.”

“I remember those days,” I reply, resting on the headboard.

Sammy scoffs. “Rememberthem? We’re living them. If the babies hadn’t come, we’d all still be at Redleg. As it is, we’re basically on house arrest.”

“I don’t mind that part,” Sue offers. “Going places is highly overrated. I do miss sketching on the beach, though.”

Using synchronous movements, I massage their arms. “If all goes well, this will all be over after tomorrow. Everyone will be back in their own homes.”

“Sleeping in their own beds,” Sue tacks on.

“Speaking of sleeping,” Sammy starts, her tone suddenly mischievous. “So you couldn’t sleep without my giant, hideous ogre of a brother?”

“Excuse me, young lady. That’s my firstborn,” I chide Sammy. “You can ignore her, Susie. Your husband is a lovely young man.”

She snickers faintly. “I’m used to the teasing. I have six siblings, remember? Plus, I’m often forced to be an Amos-hole.”

Sammy feigns a shudder. “Terrifying. I wonder which is worse.”

Sue answers matter-of-factly, “I’ve done the math. Both situations are equally horrifying.”

Once our soft laughter fades, the room grows silent. Occasionally, the sound of a baby sighing or threatening to fuss comes from the monitor. Otherwise, it’s just peaceful.

Thanks to the screen on the dresser, I watch the twins sleeping peacefully while I’m happily in this impromptu cuddle pile.

With a sleepy yawn, Sue casually says, “Sammy, if Sawyer ever wants to meet his mother, I bet Mia knows where she’s located.”

“You think so?” My daughter cranes her neck to catch Sue’s eyes. “What makes you say that? Do you know something about this already?”

“I’m only assuming she could. Same with Tomer. I mean, they knew about Lettie, right? No doubt they have the skills to find Sawyer’s mother.”

“That’s true.” Sammy seems to settle down, her body going limp on me once more. A few breaths later, she quavers, “They’re all going to be all right, aren’t they?”

“They better be,” I answer.

And I mean that.

Sue whispers, “My biggest worry about the whole thing is that Big Al and Leo will be separated.”

Sammy jerks upright, a gasp escaping her rounded lips. “Huh? What do you mean?”

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