Page 74 of 7+Us Makes Nine

“I’m just shy of six months along.”

“Six months!? And we’re just now hearing about it?” my mother asked.

“His ex-wife has been in the news a lot lately. You know how that is,” my father said.

“Oh, I could ring that woman’s neck. Especially for what she did to Hannah,” my mother said. “I’m glad the two of them aren’t hanging out any longer.”

“Wait, what?” I asked.

“Is that Catherine?”

My eyes whipped up to Jace’s as I heard my sister’s voice in the background.

“Your sister’s pregnant!” my mother exclaimed.

“Mom, I don’t think that’s-”

“With quadruplets,” my father said.

“Dad, maybe we shouldn’t-”

“Can I talk with her?” Hannah asked.

I heard the phone shuffling around as Jace slid his arm around me.

“I’m right here,” he said into my ear. “Let me know if you need me to jump in.”

I nodded against his lips as he pressed a kiss to the shell of my ear.

“Catherine?”

“Hey there, Hannah.”

“So, you’re pregnant,” she said.

“I am.”

“Is Jace the father?”

I paused, hesitant on whether or not I could tell her.

“I’m really sorry,” she said.

I heard her sniffle and it brought tears to my own eyes.

Fucking pregnancy hormones.

“I’ve been a terrible sister, and I know that. And… um…”

I leaned heavily into Jace as he wrapped his arms around my body.

Well, as much as he could, anyway.

“I want you to know that I’m not hanging out with Anya any longer. In fact, I’m sober now.”

“What?” I asked.

“I mean, it’s only been, like, a month. But I got through the worst of it with Mom and Dad. I’m going to meetings and I just met with my sponsor for the first time.”

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