“Only sister-in-law.” I laughed and hugged him back, taking almost as much peace from his hug as I did from Kara’s. “You feel healthy.”
“Is that a fat joke?”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s a comment on the fact that the last time I hugged you, you were skin and bones.”
Kara passed Hank to her husband and stared up at him. “You saw him six months ago, right after treatment ended. He’s doing so much better.”
Tyler blew a raspberry on Hank’s cheek, sending Hank into a fit of giggles, before cutting an annoyed look at my sister. “You two. When you’re together, you talk about me like I’m not here.”
Kara rolled her eyes, too, something we both did too much, according to Tyler. “He’s gotten his crankiness back, too.”
I grinned. “At least he still has his looks.”
“Those he never lost.” She wagged her brows at Tyler before laughing and wrapping her arms around his waist. “Sorry, honey. You’re just too easy.”
“That’s what all those boys used to say about you, but that didn’t stop me from falling in love.”
I laughed a deep belly laugh that startled Hank. His lower lip turned down and his eyes welled up with tears that broke my heart. “Oh, I’m sorry, baby. Uncle Ty just made mommy laugh. Come here.”
Kara smacked Tyler’s chest playfully after I took Hank and pointed at him. “You’re in trouble, mister.”
“I’d better make myself useful before she actually gets mad at me. Can I start unloading the car?”
I frowned. “I can get it, Ty. You don’t need to do that.”
He frowned right back at me. “I’m fine. I can lift a few bags.”
“Let him. If you don’t, he’ll spend the rest of the night lifting heavy things to prove a point.” Kara waited until Tyler was gone with my keys to look at me and shrug. “He really is doing so much better. He’ll wear himself out and spend the rest of the day in bed, pretending he’s fine, if I’m not watchful of him, though.”
I tried to hand Hank off to her, but she shook her head. “Kara, let me go help him.”
“No, you’ve been driving all day. I’ll help him bring your stuff in and you go check on my kids. Make sure they’re not killing each other.”
“Fine, but neither of you do too much. I can carry all of my crap in later. Alone.”
She waved me off and vanished out the front door. I sighed and went in search of the twins to make sure no blood had been shed. I found them in their playroom, fighting over a game. Instead of saying anything, I just walked in and sat in their hanging egg chair.
Casey stopped arguing and stared over at me. “Aunt Mal?”
I cradled Hank to my chest and raised my eyebrows. “You done fighting?”
Taylor walked over and ran his hand over the braided rope that held the chair in the air. “Are you going to stay for a while?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know yet. Is it okay with you two if I’m here?”
Casey laughed. “Yes! We don’t want you to leave.”
“Mom needs you here.” Taylor suddenly looked twenty years older. “She’s been sad.”
Casey elbowed her brother. “You’re not supposed to tell people that.”
I reached out and stroked both of their cheeks. “I’m not people. I’m your aunt. And your mom has had a lot going on. But I’m here now. I’ll help with whatever she needs.”
“Is Daddy dying?” Casey’s big blue eyes welled up with tears that she didn’t let fall.
Taylor hit her in the arm and scowled. “Don’t even say that.”
“You asked me!”