“How did it go between you and Brian?” Cora asked.
“I told him,” Erin replied.
“What did he say?” her mother asked, coming to stand before her.
“Um, he says he doesn’t care about that. He just wants us to be together.”
Cora nodded slowly, then asked, “And what did you say?” Erin’s lips quivered, and her eyes watered again in response. Cora rushed over to her and bundled her into her arms as the dam broke once more. “Shh… shh. It’s fine. Everything will be okay,” she soothed.
Erin allowed her mother to help her get dressed, and the two left the room and found Jules in the waiting room. Her sister’s face lit up in relief when she saw her. She rushed over to them and gripped Erin in a tight hug.
“You scared me,” Jules expressed.
“I know. I’m sorry,” Erin replied, a sad smile dancing on her lips.
“Don’t ever do that again,” Jules commanded.
At this, Erin released a chuckle. “I won’t,” she promised, ruffling Jules’s blond curls.
“Good,” her sister replied with a satisfied grin. “Now, let’s go home.” Erin nodded in agreement, and Jules hooked her arm in the crook of her own.
Erin’s gaze roamed the waiting area, and when they reached the parking lot, she did the same, searching for Brian. Her stomach was hollowed with disappointment when she realized he had left.
ChapterEighteen
Erin inserted the Saint International logo in HTML at the end of her work before going over the campaign once more to ensure that everything was in place. She then opened her email and uploaded it. She then typed in her boss’s email and cc’d Greg on it before hitting send.
“Aren’t you supposed to be resting? Why do you have your laptop open?”
She looked up to see Jules standing at the living room entrance with Becca in her arms. A broad smile instantly graced her lips. “I am resting, but I also have to work. The deadline for the fashion campaign was over two days ago,” she explained.
“I understand, but please just don’t overdo it. Okay?” Jules looked at her sister, concern swimming in her blue gaze.
“I won’t. I promise,” Erin said gratefully. “Now, can I hold my niece?” She waited expectantly with her arms spread wide. Jules walked over and placed Becca into them.
“Hi, my little cutie patootie,” she gushed at her niece. She chomped on Becca's chubby arms and legs in a playful manner, which resulted in squeals of delight from Becca as her chubby cheeks became more puffed out and red.
“You guys are going to spoil her so much,” Jules surmised with a shake of her head. She sat on the arm of the couch. “Just know that when I can’t handle her, I’m passing her on to you, Mom, and the rest to deal with the monster you’ve created.”
“We don’t mind, do we, Becca?” Erin grinned and turned her attention to her niece, whose bright blue eyes stared expectantly back at her. She giggled and flapped her arms when Erin nestled her head in her tummy and blew bubbles.
Jules beamed softly down at them before her expression changed.
Erin noted her sister’s sudden quietness and looked up to see her staring blankly before her. “Jules, what’s wrong?” she asked, concerned.
Jules shook her head and turned her gaze on her sister. “Nothing’s wrong,” she spoke with a reassuring look that did nothing to conceal the uncertainty that flickered in her eyes.
“Jules, something’s definitely up. You can tell me,” Erin pressed. Her sister looked off into space once more and chewed her lip as her shoulders sagged. Finally, her gaze found Erin once more, angst echoing from their blue depths.
“Noah’s going back on tour,” she revealed.
“What? When?” Erin asked.
“In the next two months,” Jules replied, releasing a heavy sigh. “I’m scared, Erin.” The fear in her gaze was palpable. “What if he doesn’t make it back? What do I tell Becca when she grows up and starts asking about him? Why can’t he see that this choice doesn’t just affect him?” She pulled the ends of her hair in frustration.
“Jules, listen to me,” Erin started, rising up from the couch to go stand by her sister. "Don't worry about Noah. He is a very capable soldier. He has done this many times already. Nothing terrible is going to happen to him, and he'll be back before you know it because nothing in this world could keep him away from you or this beautiful child that the two of you have created together.” Becca's legs were kicked up in the air, and her hands were thrown out in front of her as she babbled, as if she could sense that she was a part of the conversation. The sisters shared a good laugh at her antics.
“Thanks, Sis. I think I needed to hear that.” Jules smiled at her gratefully.
