“Is this that cute possum Gran used to feed that used to hang out in the veranda?” Amber asked.
She’d have been too young to remember most things about my teenage years, but she was right. The possum had been cute and ridiculously friendly.
“When it’s pitch-black and the damn thing screams in your face, it’s not that damn cute,” Nate mumbled, his lips twitching.
“You’re just lucky the bush broke your fall,” I teased.
Nate quirked his brow at me. “I don’t think thorns in my butt are exactly lucky.”
I smirked, my sordid brain dragging me merrily in the direction of thinking about a prick in his ass. And when Nate’s eyes widened, his cheeks changing color, it was clear he knew exactly where my thoughts led me.
“So—” He cleared his throat. “I told Dad I’d stop in, then I’ll go and see Mum. You need me to pick anything up for dinner?” He spoke to Gran, seeming to deliberately avoid making eye contact with me.
“We’re all good. I put something in the slow cooker this morning. It kept me busy while waiting for a wandering grandchild of mine to arrive.” Tenderness lit her words, and my heart filled with warmth. Nate wasn’t the only person I owed a real explanation to. I knew that. But despite those conversations being needed, I was so glad to be home.
Nate standing and grabbing his keys and wallet snagged my attention. The desire to kiss him goodbye was challenging to ignore, but we hadn’t managed to finish the conversation in the car.
Looking worried, Nate stood near the hall doorway, his brows drawn low.
“I’ll see you soon,” I offered, smiling.
He searched my face before nodding. “See you in a couple or three hours.”
And then he was gone, and I was left alone with the three women in my life. Amber appeared to be struggling to hold back while Gran relaxed in her chair, quietly observing, and Ivy had plastic keys in her mouth and was gnawing happily.
Knowing this was way overdue, I exhaled, kissed my niece on the cheek, and then sat up. “Questions or my apology first?” Beating around the bush wasn’t a viable option. While I’d missed out on so many years with my sister, and we had a lot of catching up to do, her personality remained the same now as it was when she was seven. Stubborn, determined, and armed with an impressive bullshit radar.
Surprising me, Amber looked at Gran first. I glanced in Gran’s direction, saw her pursed lips, and wondered at their silent conversation.
“I think we’ve had enough of apologies since Christmas, kiddo.”
Startled, I stared at her, wide-eyed, feeling unbelievably like a kid again.
“We know you’re sorry and are sure you had your reasons, as foolish as perhaps they seem now that you’re back home.”
I swore she was a bloody witch or maybe a mind reader. More than likely, I had a shit ability at forming a neutral expression, but only where Gran and Nate were concerned. My ability to be unreadable was part of the reason I’d lasted so long in the closet for all these years.
Amber shifting and picking up her daughter caught my focus. Once Ivy was in her arms, she glanced at me. “I have millions of questions, but honestly, none of them seem important right now.”
Confused as hell, I gaped, wondered what on earth was happening and if robots or clones had something to do with whatever this was.
“You know, if the wind changes, you’ll stick like it!”
I slammed my mouth shut at Gran’s words. A quick look at Amber, and I wasn’t convinced she was legit being so chill about everything. Her smile was a little satisfied.
“What gives?” I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Huh?” I definitely wasn’t buying Amber’s wide-eyed innocence. No chance.
“Don’thuhme. Seriously, you two never keep your thoughts or your emotions to yourself.”
“Perhaps I’ve matured, you know, now I’m a responsible adult, a mum no less.” Sass filled her tone.
“Uhm, nope.”
Amber rolled her eyes at me and focused on organizing herself to breastfeed Ivy.
My attention moved to Gran. I stared at her, willing her to give me something.
