Page 28 of Dubious Secrets

“I’m going to bring her and you up, then come back for the bag, okay?” he says, and I nod. The heaviness of the past two days is finally hitting my body.

He grabs the baby and then comes around the other side, opening it for me and holding out his hand. I grab it and when I stand, he leans forward and brushes a kiss against my lips.

I smile. “What was that for?”

“Just because. I love you, and I love the baby you made us.”

Emotions warm my chest. “I love you too.”

We make our way around the building, and stop short at the presence blocking the rest of the way.

Mary is at the door, holding a large stuffed elephant and balloons. A small smile tips up on the corner of her lips. “Hi.”

My heart twists at the sight of her. “Hey.”

I feel Ryker at my back, and he tenses. “Mary? What are you doing here?” he asks.

“I heard from your brother that you were coming home today. I wanted to see if Stassie needs any help, and I wanted to meet my niece.”

Glancing at him over my shoulder, I nod and he walks past me and opens the front door. “You didn’t want to wait inside?”

Mary shrugs. “I should probably return your key. I didn’t want to come in uninvited.”

I grip the railing, moving one slow step at a time to the door. It’s not too bad with my underwear concoction of witch hazel pads and an ice pack, but it still feels like I birthed a whole baby. Mary hands the stuff to Ryker and lets the door close so the cat doesn’t run out and walks over to me.

“You want to hold on to me?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Are you sure? I just mean—I’m surprised you’re here.”

Mary nods, moving closer so I can grab her elbow. “I’m still hurt, believe me. I don’t know if I can ever fully get over it, but you’re my sister and I want to be in your life. And I especially want to spoil my niece rotten.”

My throat aches with emotion. “I am sorry.”

“I know. I’ve read every one of your texts, even if I didn’t reply.”

“You did? I was sure you blocked me,” I say with a smile.

Ryker opens the door just as we approach it.

Mary looks up at him. “I didn’t block either of you. I think…deep down I knew I’d eventually grow to accept it.”

My eyebrows furrow. “Really? Why?”

“I think I clung to Ryker because he was the first good thing I had to myself, something our parents had no control over,” she says with a small smile. “But the more I thought about it, and talked to a therapist, it was more the idea of him if I’d put more into the relationship.” Her eyes narrow at him. “Not that I’m accepting blame for any of this mess, but I can admit that I probably wasn’t the most attentive girlfriend.”

Mary holds the door open for me as Ryker holds out his arm for me to take instead. My sister follows us in, glancing around and seeing how we’ve rearranged the place without her.

She clears her throat. “It took me weeks to recognize the look on his face, it was the look someone has when they’rein love.We may have loved each other, but we weren’t in love.”

My heart clenches in sadness and I look up at her.

She shakes her head. “I’m just trying to explain why I want to try to mend this bridge, and I’m not saying it will be perfect. Honestly, standing here feels weird, and I’m kind of glad it looks different because I don’t know how I would have felt if it looked the same.”

A small laugh escapes and my smile falls a bit. I let Ryker walk me to the couch, and I slump in the cushions before staring up at her. “I’ll always want my sister, and I’m sorry for the hurt I caused you.”

She sits next to me. “I know, Stassie.”

Ryker settles on the arm of the couch, entwining his fingers with mine. “She’s sleeping right now, so if you’re hungry, I was going to make Stassie some food. Then after you can meet our daughter?”

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