Page 68 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

“You want some fresh air?” Gillian whispers in my ear.

I glance over at her. She’s smiling sweetly. The way she does at Stella. Not usually for me.

“The paint fumes are giving me a headache,” she adds sheepishly.

“Yeah, yeah. Sounds good.”

“Harley and I are going to step out for a minute. Take a breather,” Gillian says as we both get up.

“Would you buy us another bottle of wine?” Amy asks eagerly. “We’re almost out.”

Dana glares at us. “Girls. Don’t. She’s cut off.”

“It’s my birthday,” Amy whines.

“And if you have any more wine, you’re not going to remember it,” Dana says simply.

Gillian and I leave our sisters squabbling at their easels, stepping out of the studio and into the cool evening. It’s the beginning of September. Getting darker earlier, just slightly.

“You want to walk? It’s a nice night,” Gillian suggests.

I nod and we start meandering down the sidewalk.

“Thanks,” I say to her. “I needed this.”

“I could tell,” she says, brushing her long blonde hair over her shoulder.

I resist asking how she could tell. I hope it’s just sisterly intuition.

“Mom showing up has been hitting you hard, huh?” Gillian asks.

I can feel her eyes on me. I’ve been avoiding everyone’s eyes for weeks now. Ever since I found out I was pregnant. No. Before that. Since Grant came into my life in a really big, reallywrongway. “I mean, yeah, but it’s hit all of us like that, right?”

Gillian sighs. “I guess. Honestly, I’ve been acting like she never showed up in the first place.”

“You still haven’t let her meet Stella, huh?”

“Absolutely not,” Gillian says. “It’ll be a cold day in you-know-where before I do that.”

For once, her not swearing is charming to me. Maybe I’m growing a bit softer with motherhood looming in the distance. “You don’t think Stella should meet her grandmother?”

Gillian shrugs. “Maybe someday. But…well, I’m not ready for that. Dad thinks I’ll regret it, but she’s my child. And if I regret it, that’s squarely on my shoulders, not his. Besides, there’s a lot of life left to live.”

“That’s funny. He was telling me just a couple of weeks ago how fast life moves once you have kids.”

“Oh, it does,” Gillian replies. “But that doesn’t mean we have to act fast.”

“I like that.”

She smiles. “For once, you like the way I think.”

“Notfor once.”

“Okay, well, maybe this is the first time you’ve told me,” Gillian chuckles.

Man, I haven’t been the nicest little sister, have I? So caught up in my own dramas and up my own asshole. “You’re a really good mom, Gilly.”

“Wow, two compliments in a row! To what do I owe this showering of kindness?”

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