Page 76 of Finding Home with You

Sarah dead stops in the doorway and looks at Chris and then at me, her overnight bag slung over her shoulder. She raises her eyebrows and looks back at Chris again.

This is the first time I’ve seen him react, as he looks Sarah up and down, and I don’t blame him. She’s absolutely stunning even as she stands there in a pair of leggings, snow boots and a parka.

Her blonde hair is braided and sticking out of her knitted cap, and her blue eyes seem to look even bluer with the backdrop of the snow outside.

“You have a guest?” she asks, again eyeing Chris as he stares back at her.

“No,” I answer tersely, flipping my hand in Chris’ direction. “Ignore him. I’ll explain later.”

I walk Sarah to my guest bedroom and help her get her things put away before offering her a drink and something to eat.

As we’re sitting at the kitchen table she flicks a thumb in the direction of my living room asking, “What’s the deal with the guy in your living room?”

“Blame that shit on your brother. Turns out the accident I was in was because someone cut the brake line on your brother’s car. Now he’s all paranoid someone is going to come after me. He thinks it has to do with some big case he’s working on.”

“Oh my god. He’s so overprotective,” she says rolling her eyes. “When I lived with him, he would run background checks on guys I met on Tinder.”

I nod knowing exactly how she felt. He can be very stifling at times. “So now he has hired this guy to creepily lurk in my house and be my bodyguard.”

Sarah leans over in her chair trying to get a good look at Chris from the kitchen as she wrinkles up her nose and purses her lips.

“So he just sits there?”

“Yep.”

“Ryan is really that worried that something is going to happen all the way out here in Rockport? No offense but it’s also kinda the middle of nowhere. All touristy and shit.”

“I know, right? But since the baby and the accident and everything, he’s a little more worried than normal.” I shrug, chalking this up to my normal now.

“Baby?” Sarah asks, her head now whipping back up, her attention drawn away from Chris.

“He didn’t tell you that I’m pregnant?” I close my eyes, feeling like an idiot for ruining the surprise of it all.

“Nope.”

“Well, I guess that’s the theme of this pregnancy then. Ryan and I both found out I was pregnant after the accident. We had no idea. I’m sorry, I assumed he told you.”

“He didn’t tell me, but that’s okay,” she says smiling at me. “It’s really cool,” she shrieks, her excitement radiating off of her now. “I’m going to be an aunt. Who would’ve thought Ryan would be the first one of us to have a kid,” she continues, a smirk on her face. “I’m going to give him so much shit.”

She stands up and leans down to hug me, pulling me up from the chair, she wraps her arms around me tightly. I feel a lump form in my throat as I think about the fact that I don’t have a family to share this news with and her excitement is just a reminder of that.

I want to be happy, but every time I feel that small bit of happiness make its way in, I feel it slip through my fingers like trying to hold water in my fist. I hate to remind myself that I’m on my own, but it’s always there.

Sarah pulls back from me and notices the hesitation, the sadness in my eyes.

“What’s the matter?” Sarah asks, sounding like her mother as concern blankets her words.

“Nothing. I’m just hormonal and emotional, I guess.” I swipe at my eyes, and put on a smile to show her I’m okay, but it’s obvious we both know I’m lying. There’s no sense in trying to hide it. “It just sucks that I don’t really have a family to share it with, that’s all.” I try to keep it casual; breeze over it like it’s nothing.

‘That’s not true at all,” Sarah says firmly, her hand reaching over to take mine. “We’re your family, Erin. We’re going to be here no matter what. I mean, you’re kinda stuck with Ryan now, and that sucks, but you made that choice,” she says jokingly as she winks at me. “You’re not going to believe how excited my mom is going to be. Get ready.” She widens her eyes and shakes her head, like I’ll need to prepare myself.

“Thanks, Sarah. That does help.”

“Now let’s get some shitty food and watch a movie to celebrate. I’d suggest we get drunk, but it turns out you can’t do that anymore.”

“There’s a few places in town we can order from, but no one delivers,” I say as I pull a couple of menus from a drawer in my kitchen. “What do you feel like?”

Sarah flips through the menus and we eventually settle on Chinese food and burgers, an odd combo, but I was craving both and Sarah pointed out that I should give in to my cravings.

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