Page 67 of The Way We Win

“That’s pretty gross, Peanut.”

“I don’t know if she’s a mouser like Miss Gina said, but she can hunt!”

“I thought Apricot lived at the restaurant.” I watch my bundle of energy, skipping around me as I enter the back door.

“It’s just right there, Daddy!” She points out the door, shaking her dark curls. “She’s going to wander around her territory. Cats are nocturnal. She can even see in the dark! Miss Allie told me.”

Miss Allie. A smile curls my lips at the mention of her name, and an ache of longing twists my chest.

I wonder how to broach the subject of dating with aseven-year-old. Could she possibly understand what it means? Is it better not to say anything and let her think what she wants?

“I’m taking her outside to see if she’ll catch another one for me!” Kimmie pushes through the screen door, letting it slam behind her.

“Hey, big brother.” Dylan meets me in the kitchen, holding out a mug of coffee. “Did you get a good night’s sleep?”

Nope. Not at all.

“Sure.” I deflect. “Thanks for taking care of my little firecracker.”

Dylan’s nose wrinkles with her smile. “You know I love that little girl like my own.”

“Speaking of your own…” I take a sip of coffee, watching her move around the kitchen. I know she and Logan have been trying to get pregnant, and when her cheeks flush, I grin. “Are you planning to tell everybody?”

“We only just found out two days ago. I took a home pregnancy test, then I went to see Dr. Pierce yesterday to confirm it.”

I place my coffee mug on the counter and walk over to pull my little sister into a hug. “Congratulations.”

Her shoulders drop, and she exhales a laugh, wiping her eyes. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I’ve never been so happy!”

Releasing her, I go back to lean against the counter. “From what I’ve heard, pregnancy hormones are pretty crazy.”

“Well, so far, so good—other than being dead tired.” She stares at the coffee pot like she’s trying to make a decision. “Dr. Pierce said I’m ten weeks along. I should probably wait three more weeks to tell everybody.”

“That’s the second trimester?”

She makes a little grimace and nods. “Supposedly you’re out of the woods by then.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“I wonder if mine are.” She laughs, ducking her head. “You know I suck at keeping secrets.”

“Hey, bro.” Logan walks into the kitchen, going straightto the coffee pot, cutting me a glance. “Did you and Allie have that sleepover last night?”

My expression remains neutral as I glide right past his question. “I heard congratulations are in order.”

His face breaks into a big smile, and he turns to Dylan. “I thought we weren’t telling anybody yet?”

“He guessed!” Dylan’s tone is so much like Kimmie’s. “Anyway, he’s my big brother. I had to tell Jack.”

Holding out my hands, I shrug. “She had to tell me.”

Logan exhales a laugh, walking over to my pint-sized sister, who’s leaning against the bar in shorts and a T-shirt and bare feet.

“What am I going to do with you?” His voice is low, and he pulls her into a hug, kissing the top of her head.

I turn to get a refill on my coffee, ignoring the pinch in my chest.

I’m happy for my little sister. She has something I never did, as much as I wanted it. A loving partner, excitement for a new life.

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