Page 80 of Under the Northern Lights
“I can’t believe I have to head back to Seattle tomorrow,” Aurora said, tears in her eyes. “Even worse, my relocation deadline is getting closer. I’m not sure I’m ready to leave Seattle. Or this little one I haven’t even had the chance to meet and love up yet.” Reaching out, she ran a hand over her sister’s adorable little baby bump.
“You have to be here when I have her,” Jade said with a pout.
“The moment I hear you’ve gone into labor, I’ll catch the first flight out from wherever I am at that time.” Because she would be traveling. That was a given. Hopefully, her sister would deliver on time. Aurora would plan her travel schedule around Jade’s due date, give or take a week on either side, just to be safe.
But what if she couldn’t get there right away because the flights were all booked? Or a mandatory meeting in the editorial offices that she had to take part in? What if something happened that Aurora didn’t even want to think about, and she wasn’t here with her sister when she needed her most?
“I know you’ll do your best to get here,” her sister replied with a loving smile. “But you’ve been given this wonderful opportunity that you’ve been dreaming of for so long. If gettinghome puts your dream job in jeopardy, I don’t want you to risk it.”
“I love being a professional wildlife photographer,” Aurora admitted, “but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since flying home from Alaska.”
“Thinking about what?”
“About whether or not the timing was right for this career opportunity to come into my life.”
“Aurora,” Jade gasped, “you’re not seriously thinking about quitting the magazine.”
Aurora frowned. For the first time since she’d received the call telling herWorld Adventures Magazinewanted to offer her a position with their company, she was considering not only the positives of doing so, but the negatives as well. She didn’t want to constantly be in some far-away country when everyone she cared about was on the West Coast. Especially now that her sister was expecting. “I want this job, but I also want to be around for long enough periods of time to allow me to be a part of my new little nephew’s or niece’s life as they’re growing up. Not easily done when you’re thousands of miles away.”
“Niece,” her sister interjected.
Aurora’s gaze lifted from the loose piece of thread on the quilt she’d been fidgeting with. “What?”
Jade giggled, something Aurora noticed she did far more often than she used to. Pregnancy and the nearing arrival of her first child had softened her sister, made her so much happier with everything in the world around her.
Jade leaned in and, in a conspiratorial whisper, said, “David and I are having a girl.”
Scrambling to her knees on the queen-size bed, Aurora leaned over to give her little sister a hug. “Oh, Jade, I’m so happy for you! And how exciting to know what your baby is going to be!”
“Shhh ... not so loud,” she said, hushing Aurora. “Mom and Dad don’t know yet.”
“Oops,” she replied in a hushed tone.
“We’re telling them at family dinner tonight, but I couldn’t wait to share my little secret with my lifelong best friend and sister,” Jade told Aurora as she smoothed a hand down over her rounded abdomen.
“Mom is going to be so excited when she finds out you’re having a girl,” Aurora said with glee.
Her sister’s smile widened. “I know.”
“I certainly am,” Aurora told her. “Oh my goodness, knowing that I’m going to have a niece soon makes this all seem so much more real.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I promise to be the best aunt ever for that precious little one you’re carrying.”
“I have no doubt about that whatsoever,” Jade said with a tender smile. “I also know, without a doubt, that you are going to be her favorite aunt.”
Aurora laughed. “I would certainly hope so, seeing as I’m her only aunt.”
“Knock, knock.”
They looked up as the bedroom door creaked open, and their mother poked her head inside. “I thought I would find you girls in here reminiscing.”
Aurora’s bedroom was where she and her sister had spent hours upon hours of sisterly bonding time while growing up, sharing troubles, joys, secrets, and talking about boys.
“Come in and join us,” Aurora said, patting the empty spot on the bed beside her.
Their mother crossed the room and settled comfortably onto the edge of the bed. “I’m so happy to have both of my girls here with me.” Her smile quivered as she looked at Aurora. “I’m soproud of you for going after your dream. I just wish that dream didn’t take you to places so far away. Motherly whining aside, I know this new job opportunity is going to be so very exciting for you.”
