Page 36 of Dark Endures

“I’m positive. We can schedule an appointment with the gynecologist today.” Winnie reaches across the table and sets her hand on Greer’s. “If the doctor gives us the go-ahead, we can schedule the embryo transfer whenever you’re ready.”

Tears flood Greer’s eyes. “Thank you.”

Mine feel a little moist.

“Are there any other points of interest? Or are we going to spend the rest of the afternoon crying?” Leonie grimaces and reaches for her teacup.

Ottilie checks her notes. “We need to finalize our annual winter trip. And make plans for our summer vacation.”

“The final payment on the beach house has been made.” Cordelia lifts her phone. “A cleaning service has been arranged to come in and pick up after us daily, as well as a chef to cook for us. And he’s gorgeous.” She holds the phone out for us to see. “He’s flying in from somewhere out west. He owns this really amazing restaurant that serves unique foods and meats from around the world. To delight our pallet, I requested a varied selection each night. You don’t need to worry Ottilie, he’ll be preparing foods from your safe list as well.”

“You told him about the food touching?” Ottilie’s pen taps on the table fast enough to be a coded message.

“I gave him all the details. You don’t need to worry.” Cordelia wouldn’t mess something like that up. “You’ll also have enough food in the fridge and pantry to last all week if he makes something you don’t like. Which reminds me, is there anything else people want added to the grocery list?” Cordelia takes her own phone out. “I’ve added everyone’s requests in.”

“We could always use more hot cocoa and s’mores.” Winnie loves her sweets.

To be fair, we all do. S’mores are the best… Though, it didn’t sound like they were when Dahlia and Vex talked about them. “Do you guys believe in true love?”

All eyes turn to me, shock mirrored in them.

“Did you fall for someone?” Leonie’s eye pinches in. She’s ready to hit interrogation mode.

“No. Never.” Though, if there was a possibility, Maddox would be on the top of my list. “It’s just that I met a couple. And for the first time, I believe it might be possible.”

“Anything is possible.”

The skepticism in Cordelia’s voice reflected my own just a few weeks ago. “If you met them… It’s sickeningly sweet.”

“How long have they been together?” Leonie asks.

“Just a few weeks.” Maverick and Dahlia went from strangers to married practically in the blink of an eye.

“Give it a while. The infatuation will wear off, and they’ll either tolerate each other or break up.” Winnie shoves her fork into her slice of peanut butter cake like she is severing a bad relationship.

“Or get a divorce,” I mutter to myself.

“They got married after just a few weeks of knowing each other. That relationship is doomed to fail.”

Cordelia is the pessimist of the group, which is saying something since we’re all pretty jaded with the world. Though she does have the most stepparents out of all of us, beating mymom out by quite a bit. “There’s something different about the way he looks at her. Like he’d burn the world down or fly to the stars if it made her smile.”

“All men are smitten like that at first.”

We’ve all seen relationships that are doomed, except maybe Leonie. Her parents died when she was very young. This isn’t the same. Talking about it is pointless. None of them will believe me. I almost don’t believe my own eyes. “I’ve got all the crafts, books, and games we’ll need for the week. Though I’m going to need space in someone’s suitcase to bring it all.”

“I have space in mine.” Leonie offers.

“All the excursions are set. We have guides and equipment for each.” Ottilie always does the excursions since there are lots of details to keep track of.

“Flights and cars are all arranged.” We all appreciate the fact that Winnie almost only flies private.

“And I have the two drivers that double as bodyguards arranged. They’re off-duty police officers.” Leonie smiles. “Both are single if anyone wants to flirt.”

“Don’t flirt too much or you’ll end up married like me and stuck home for the next trip.” Greer’s smile doesn’t hit her eyes.

No one wants to end up like her. But none of us has the nerve to say that.

“Let’s move on to our summer trip…”

---