Arabella snorted. “That’s putting it mildly. If you stay long enough, you can meet my brother. He’s as growly as Fergus is patient. Add in overprotective and how he likes to order me around, and I’m somewhat grateful that he lives down in England.”
“And yet, I think you miss him.”
Arabella darted a glance at Gina. “You’re perceptive.”
She shrugged. “I have a younger sister who used to annoy me when we were growing up. But now that I don’t get to see her, I miss her. I bet it’s the same for you.”
Arabella remained quiet for about a minute before she finally replied, “Did you sister turn her back on you when she learned about your child?”
Gina debated sharing too much of her past with Arabella. But as her gaze flicked to the dragonwoman’s scars and burn on the side of her neck, Gina knew that if Arabella could share her past with the world, Gina could share a little with one dragon-shifter. “Kaylee was the first person I told, after the father. She offered to run with me, but I couldn’t allow her to ruin her life. So I told her she would only slow me down.” The image of her sister’s hurt face flashed inside her mind. “Maybe someday I can see her again.”
Arabella stopped walking. “Look, I know you just met me and have zero reason to listen to anything I say, but I’m still going to give you advice. It took me a decade to realize that pushing those you love away only hurts both them and yourself. You shouldn’t make the same mistake. Find a way to contact her, Gina. It will help ease your heart.”
She nodded, unsure of how to respond to the pain in Arabella’s voice.
The dragonwoman nodded. “Right, then let’s hurry up and get inside. I guarantee my babies will make me ill again before too much longer and I’d rather be inside when it happens.”
They continued walking in companionable silence. Arabella’s revelation had made Gina more comfortable in the dragonwoman’s presence. Not only that, a flicker of hope burned in her chest. Maybe Arabella could help her find a way to contact her sister.
Kaylee. The wall she’d put up around memories of her sister cracked a fraction. An image of one of their late night gab fests flashed, with both of them in pajamas and sharing a pint of ice cream. She and Kaylee had been close once. They’d talked about everything from studies to boys to trips they hoped to take one day. Whenever one of them had been in trouble, the other had found a way to help.
Her heart ached to see her sister’s smile or hear her fake, devious laugh again as they plotted how to sneak out of the house without being detected.
Inhaling deeply, Gina patched up and reinforced her wall around the memories. Kaylee was safer if she kept her distance from Gina. As much as Gina wanted to hug her sister, she wasn’t about to get her hopes up just yet.
Suddenly, she wanted to feel Fergus’s strong arm around her shoulders. His presence would help ease the pain of loneliness. Looking over her shoulder, there was no sign of her dragonman.
Arabella’s voice filled her ear. “He’ll find a way to follow us, Gina. Until he does, I’ll keep you company. I’m completely fine with saying nothing, but if you want to talk more, then I’m here, too.”
“Thank you.” She hesitated before deciding to seize the moment. “How far along are you?”
Arabella sighed. “Four months. But it feels more like four years.”
She frowned. “I thought dragon-shifter women had an easier time.”
“You’d think that, but my bastard mate knocked me up with triplets.”
“Triplets?” Gina echoed.
“Yes.” Arabella looked off to the distance. Gina barely heard her whisper, “And I’m not sure I can handle it.”
Gina sensed Arabella didn’t want to elaborate. However, much like Fergus had supported her, Gina could support Arabella. “Well, our babies will be close in age and I’m sure we can schedule play dates. That should help. Even if they’re crazy little hellions, mommies supporting each other with chocolate and maybe a glass of wine can alleviate stress for a little while.”
Arabella met her gaze again. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m sure you have play dates in the UK, just like back in the US. Moms and/or dads get together with their children and let them play. It’s usually under the pretense of socializing for the kids, but I think it’s to help with the parents’ sanity. With the kids playing with each other, it gives the parents a breather.”
Studying her a second, Arabella finally answered, “I’m not the most social person in the world, but I’ll think about it.”
Gina smiled. “Good because I’m new here and I could use some friends.”
“What about Fergus?”
“Well...”
Arabella gave a small smile. “You can think of how to answer that later. We’re here and I want to get out of the cold. I think tea and biscuits will help warm us up.”
Gina nodded and looked to the house in front of them. It was divided into two houses sharing a wall. They must call duplexes semi-detached houses in the UK.