Nothing is out of place.
Except me.
“Ward!” My mother’s voice comes from behind me and I turn.
“Where is she? Where’s Hallee? Is she okay?” I ask, looking around to make sure my little niece is safe, but I only see Mollee clutching my mother’s leg, tears streaming down her face.
“She’s fine, honey. Someone had an EpiPen on them and she’s okay, but Collins is on her way to the hospital with her now.”
My heart all but stops beating with the realization that she’s safe. At least for now. At least for today.
My vision blurs as I bend to scoop up Mollee. She has a hard time being away from her sister and is by far the most sensitive twin. Hallee is probably giving the doctors a run for their money. Mollee buries her face in the crook of my neck and wraps her little legs around my waist. If I could protect both of them like this forever, it would make life so much easier.
“Here you are, Mollee.” I jerk up to see Sophie, holding out Mollee’s favorite cuddly.
What isshedoing here?
Mollee grabs the bear and stashes it between us.
“Oh, thank you, Sophie,” my mother says. “She gets so anxious without that, and I wanted to wait for Ward.”
“No problem,” Sophie says. “I feel just awful for letting Hallee try my food. I had no idea there were nuts in it.”
Anger rises in my chest. She’s the reason my four-year-old niece went into anaphylactic shock?
My mom places a hand on my arm, sensing my impending outburst. “Sophie showed up the same time we did, so we invited her to sit with us,” Mom says to me, then looks at Sophie. “And it’s not your fault. No one knew it had peanut oil. They are supposed to list things like that on the menu.”
Is my mom really defending her? I clamp my mouth shut before I say something entirely mean, yet truthful. Sophie doesn’t care about “little rugrats“. She’d made that clear the other night.
“I still can’t believe that happened. I’m so sorry,” Sophie says with a shake of her head. She looks at me, her eyes filled with hurt. Maybe she’s become a better actress because I almost believe her sincerity.
“Oh honey, I can see you’re still upset,” My mom says. “Let’s take Mollee over there to that ice cream shop. Some sugar might calm us all down.”
I agree, only because Mollee hasn’t loosened her grip around my neck and I like holding her. I carry her from the restaurant, drop my emergency bag in my truck, and head across the street, down the line of little odd shops. From wedding dresses to costume shops, you can find anything around here.
My mother answers a call outside the ice cream parlor, so I take Mollee in. She refuses to order anything, so I order enough for two. She’ll change her mind when she sees me eating her favorite cookie dough ice cream.
Sophie orders only water.
I try to put Mollee in her own seat at the tiny table, but she climbs right back onto my lap, latching on like a monkey clinging to a tree. It’s a wonder my sister ever manages to get things done with two of these.
“Do you think she’s going to be okay?” Sophie asks, pulling out the chair next to mine.
I roll my shoulders, trying to relax the tension. Hallee has had a few scares with her allergies before. It’s not like Sophie was the only reason she’s ever gone into shock. Unfortunately, with such a severe allergy, it probably won’t be the last time either. “Hallee will be fine.”
“I mean her,” Sophie says, motioning to the little girl still nestled against my chest.
I brush the brown locks off Mollee’s cheeks and kiss the top of her head. “She’s got a tender heart, but don’t let her fool you. She’s my little hulk.”
Her head pops up, and her brown eyes narrow adorably at me. “Hulk smash! Grr.”
“I knew that would get a reaction out of you.” I tickle her sides. It’s enough to put a smile on her face, and instead of turning back to my chest, she reaches for my ice cream.
“You’re really good with kids,” Sophie says.
Something about this interaction with her feels different, real almost.
“I like kids,” I say simply.
