“Honey, it’s okay. I’m the adult. I should have called.”
“Well, I’m not exactly a child.” Jade laughed as she put her hand on her small baby bump. “But I am super pumped about you helping me deliver this one, too.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Melanie gently put her hand on top of Jade’s. Gently, Jade moved her hand to be on top of Melanie’s. “How’s everything going?”
“So far, so good. Twenty-one weeks this week.”
“That’s awesome, honey.”
“The girls are so excited. So is Ryan. He’s ready for a boy.”
Melanie put her free hand to her heart as she felt her eyes softened. “It’s a boy?”
“It’s a boy,” Jade giggled as Melanie hugged her. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but with everything going on, I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Jade, honey, you arenevera bother to me. I’m sorry I ever made you feel that way.”
There was a twinkle in Jade’s eyes that Melanie knew all too well. All three Sullivan girls had it from the time they were born. Melanie knew it was a key sign they were up to something.
“I know how you can make it up to me.”
“Oh, really now?” Melanie chuckled, leaning back against the bench. “And how is that?”
“By telling me that now you’refinallygoing to pursue things with Cameron.”
“Oh, geez,” Melanie laughed as she covered her face with her hands. She could feel herself blushing as Jade giggled and playfully bumped her shoulder against Melanie’s.
“Come on, Aunt Mel. You can’t keep secrets from your favorite niece.”
“Oh,” Melanie jokingly grimaced, “I’ve been meaning to tell you. You’ve been replaced.”
Jade chuckled, waving Melanie off. “Bitch, please. We both know I’m your favorite. Hunter moved away and left us alone withyourin-laws and Ashlyn is, well, Ashlyn.”
“Be nice to your sister.”
“Which one?”
“Both,” Melanie laughed.
“So,” Jade bumped her shoulder into Melanie’s again, “tell me. You and Cameron are going to happen, right?”
Melanie couldn’t keep from grinning widely.
“Yes!” Jade squealed, pumped her fists in the air. “I knew it. I mean, come on, you and Cameron have had tension foryears.Hunter kept telling me I was crazy, but Iknewit. Iknewsomething was going on between you two.”
“Well, for starters, nothing has gone on between us yet aside from kissing. Unlike your uncle, I’m not a cheater.”
She regretted saying the words as soon as they left her mouth. Melanie had wanted to remain the bigger person in the divorce, but she’d let that slip in front of Jade. Just as she was about to apologize, Jade held up her hands.
“Don’t you dare apologize. Uncle Rob was crazy for cheating on you. Mom and Dad both think so. So do Hunter and Ashlyn. He’s an idiot for fumbling you, but at least Cameron gets to rebound you.”
“Look at you and your sports metaphors. And I personally hope Cameron is more than a rebound. Because between me and you, I really want things to work out for us.”
“I want things to work out for you two, too.”
The two chatted a while longer about Jade’s daughters and the new baby. And, of course, Cameron. Melanie recounted their first kiss and Jade asked if she had plans to spend Christmas with Cameron. When Melanie told her she didn’t know, Jade encouraged her to ask Cameron.
“It’s so stupid that we get stuck with Rob in the divorce.”
