“Yeah.” She sniffles, leaning back. “You’re right.” She tries to smile, but her eyes widen, and I know why a moment later when we both hear the sound of little feet pounding down the stairs and tiny paws going to greet one of their favorite humans. I watch Cece quickly turn away from me with her hands going to her face, where I’m sure she’s wiping the tears from her cheeks. Wanting to give her a few more seconds to get herself together, I turn toward the stairs and smile at Ruby as she bounces off the last step only to be attacked with puppy kisses.
“Hey, trouble.” I block her before she can run to her mom, and I pick her up.
“Mimi!” She giggles as I spin her around, tickling her sides.
“Mimi what?” I keep tickling, listening to her laugh as I carry her farther into the kitchen. I glance at Cece, and when I see her soft smile, I know she’s okay. With one last giggle from Ruby, I hand her over to her mom then stand back and watch the two of them embrace like they’ve been separated for years rather than hours.
As they cuddle in the middle of the kitchen, I take a seat, pick my coffee back up, and take a sip. Before I even swallow, I hear Lola and Kate coming down the stairs, and then the two of them get the same treatment from Mercury and Retro before joining their mom and sister. Knowing this moment is theirs, I go back to my coffee as the four of them huddle together in a group hug. As I sip, I watch them, knowing for certain that even though they’re going to face some hardships as things unfold, they are going to come out stronger and closer than they’ve ever been.
When the moment between them is over, Cece looks at each of the kids and asks, “So who wants pancakes, and who wants eggs?” The girls quickly rattle off their breakfast orders, and then for the next forty minutes, I help my sister feed them.
Like I’ve done for weeks, I load them up into her minivan and take them to school so she can go back to bed for a couple hours before she has to get up for her class. After I drop each of them off, I stop at Starbucks for an iced coffee and a warmed cranberry orange scone—one of my few vices. I devour both on the drive back to the house, and then once I’m home, I quietly make my way upstairs, careful not to make too much noise. I don’t want to wake Cece if she’s asleep; I know she needs rest, even if she will never admit it.
After I shower, I grab my cell to check the time and notice I have a missed call from Ken. Hoping he has good news for me, I dial his number then put the call on speaker as I open my makeup bag.
“Mia.”
“Hey, Ken. How’s it going?” I ask, dotting my face with concealer.
“I have some good news.”
“Well, I need some good news.” I smile at the phone when he laughs.
“I know you do, which means I’m happy to make this call. We got approval and will be opening our doors on Saturday.”
“Really?” My nose stings and my eyes water.
“Really.”
“Is it weird that I want to cry right now?”
“Please don’t. I can’t do tears, not even over the phone,” he says, and I start to laugh.
“So I’ll see you Saturday?” he asks.
“You’ll definitely see me Saturday.”
“Good, see you then,” he replies, and the line goes dead.
After a few deep breaths, I finish my makeup and get dressed for work in a pair of jeans, a deep-blue tee with Winston’s Bar and Grille across the chest in white writing, and my Converse. If I were going into work anywhere else to give my notice, I would feel bad, but Cece’s boss Winston gave me a job as a favor to my sister, who I’m pretty sure he has a crush on—at least that’s my guess, since he’s always asking about her when I’m working.
Thinking about it now, I wonder why Cece never mentions him. Then again, maybe she’s still so heartbroken that she’s oblivious to the forty-year-old seriously attractive man who signs her paychecks. Knowing I might never have the answer to that question, especially given my sister’s history with secrecy, I go downstairs to take my girls out one last time. After I toss the ball for them for thirty minutes, I head back inside and scribble a quick note to Cece, letting her know about Ken’s call, and then I get in my car and head to work, feeling happier than I’ve felt in weeks.
CHAPTER 3
Mia
I PASS OVER the contract in my hand along with a pen to Annie, who is smiling like she just won the lotto. Then I glance at her husband and press my lips together to keep from laughing, something I know would be completely unprofessional. As I watch Annie sign for her brand-new van, her husband watches her with a crestfallen expression.