Page 443 of The Sinner: James

“I’m sorry,” she says.

“For what?”

“I know this was not the plan, and we kind of flipped everything upside down. Him moving back. James ending up over there.”

I gesture softly.

“Everything is fine. Hopefully, you two coming back and expecting a baby will make James stay home a little more,” I say, grinning secretly.

My words pull her to a halt.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

I loop my arm through hers.

“Let’s say your baby news has created a baby frenzy.”

She looks at me with soft eyes.

“Seriously?”

I nod.

“Plus, I just found out my sister is expecting.”

Her eyes beam with delight.

“Oh, my. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. She’s expecting a girl. How about you?”

“I don’t know yet, but we’ll find out soon,” she says, her smile fading.

“Aren’t you excited?”

She flicks her gaze to me—it’s brighter this time.

“Oh. I am. It’s just that even now, after all these months, I still can’t believe this is happening to me. I’m a bit scared.”

“I’d be too,” I say as we walk again. “But you don’t have to be worried. Ed will be with you. And I’ll help you too.”

“Thank you. When do you plan to go to Monaco?”

“As soon as Ed comes home.”

We push through the exit doors when a voice echoes behind us.

We spin around.

A young woman with a curtain of dark amber hair rushes to us.

“Oh, my God,” the woman exclaims, hugging Thea. “I can’t believe you are back,” she says, her eyes dancing with joy.

Wrestling with emotions, Thea turns to me.

“I don’t think I’ve had the opportunity to introduce you to each other. This is my cousin Liz,” she says to me. “And this is Rain Sexton, James’ wife.”

Liz's eyes narrow for a moment as she looks at me with admiration.

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