Page 25 of Unexpectedly Falling
I snicker,appreciating the hell out of my baby sister in this moment. I hated that she’d gone to college in Montana and never came home. We hadn’t always been close—the six years between us hadn’t made it easy—but as the years had gone on, Indie had become my best friend.
And even though I didn’t want to admit it, I needed her advice. Nessa had left for the university after her run this morning. She’d snuggled Remi for a bit but had been short with me, and I’d stomped around for a while because of it.
I didn’t know what I wanted from her but I needed to figure it out.
And fast.
JENSEN: Just say thank you and change it when she leaves
INDIE: (gif of woman sticking out her tongue)
INDIE: (gif of small child throwing a tantrum)
INDIE: If I wanted that kind of unhelpful advice, I would have texted Sawyer
My grin widensat the thought of our older brother having to field this conversation. He is something of a recluse—always has been—and now calls Cape Cod home. Our parents had always wanted to travel, but I don’t think they’d intended it to see two of their three kids.
Indie had always teased me, but I’d never wanted to be anywhere but here. I’d followed in our father’s footsteps—the only difference being he’d been married to Mama and I was married to the job.
JENSEN: Want something to make you feel better?
INDIE: Obviously
JENSEN: (picture of Remi sleeping)
JENSEN: Meet your niece
INDIE: She’s so cute! I didn’t know you fostered kids. That’s really cool
JENSEN: She’s not a foster—she’s mine.
This timewhen it’smyphone ringing, all I can do is chuckle as I pick up.
“What?!” Indie whisper hisses. “You have a daughter? Do Mama and Daddy know? Probably not or Mama would have said something, right?”
“Where was all this enthusiasm when you immediately sent me to voicemail five minutes ago?”
“Umm…that was when we were talking aboutmeand now, we are talking aboutyou.You’re way more interesting. Jensen, I have aniece!”
“Remi Maeve. Her mother was the woman I hooked up with in Nashville after that training I had, remember?”
“Yeah, of course I remember, you little rebel.” She pauses and her voice is impossibly quieter as she says, “You said was—her mamawasthe woman.”
Swallowing hard, I nod even though she can’t see me. “We didn’t exchange information that night, and she passed after Remi was born. Scarlett. Her name was Scarlett and she had one of those hospital wills and named her cousin as guardian if anything should happen.”
“The cousin found you?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“Nessa did some detective work.” I chuckle softly. “Found a picture of us on Scarlett’s phone.” I explain the story and wait a full thirty seconds for Indie to speak after I finish.
“How long have you had her?” she asks quietly.
“Officially? A couple of days.” I sigh. “But the process took longer. It’s a lot, Indie. She’s amazing but I don’t know if I ever really thought I’d be a dad, and then I became one overnight and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. That’s why I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“I guess I should be glad you told me before Mama and Daddy. And Sawyer doesn’t know, right?”
