could comprehend, especially given that Ann had spent the last months of her pregnancy on bed rest, had a difficult recovery after a challenging birth, and a colicky baby.
That was enough to throw anyone for a loop and most definitely enough to knock a couple off track.
“Why don’t I watch Lacy next week, and you two can go out to dinner and really sit and talk it out?” she asked. “You both have been virtual zombies since Little Miss was born, and with him just going back to work, maybe he’s having trouble adjusting?”
“What if she cries?”
Kate snorted. “She’s a baby. She’s going to cry.”
“What if she’s hungry?”
“I know you’ve been pumping and getting her used to a bottle once a day.” She squeezed her sister’s shoulder. “Let’s plan the time around that.”
“What if—?”
“You need to talk to him,” she interrupted, starting to understand the problem. “And you need time and space to not be distracted to do so, and”—another squeeze—“you need to remember that I’ve been babysitting your ass since I was ten and you were three.”
“I remember,” Ann said dryly. “That’s why I’m terrified of leaving my baby with you.”
She made a face. “Hey!”
Ann smiled and the mischievous smirk along with the dry rejoinder made Kate relax. That was her sister—snark and teasing and an irresistible smile that made you beam at her in return. Not the exhausted female she’d been in her parents’ kitchen.
And if Dave didn’t get his shit together at this dinner, then Kate knew she’d take matters into her own hands.
If he thought her mom was pushy . . . well then he’d better watch out.
No one hurt her baby sister.
“Thanks, Katie,” Ann said. “Can you watch her on Tuesday?”
She nodded, rested her head on Ann’s shoulder. “Of course.”
“You know,” Ann murmured after they’d sat in silence for a few more minutes. “I almost understand why you didn’t tell us about Jaime.”
Oh, she did, did she?
But Kate shoved down the blip of guilt and asked, “Yeah?”
“Yes,” Ann said. “I know it comes from a place of love, but Mom is a lot.”
“You’re just recognizing that?” Kate teased. “But you’re right. She’s amazing and has always been there for us, but she’s also a whirlwind, and it can sometimes be tough to hold your ground.” She paused. “Is that what you think is happening?”
“I don’t know.” Ann made a face. “Maybe? Okay”—a sigh—“yes. At least, I don’t think it’s helping. I mean, at first, I was so relieved to have her with me every day. But now . . . I think I need a little space. It’s like between the wedding and then setting up our house and then Lacy . . . maybe part of what’s going on with Dave and me is that we haven’t had the space to settle into our own skin, you know?”
“I could see that,” Kate murmured. “You two did move pretty fast with everything and then decided to throw a baby into the mix.”
“Yeah.” A sigh. “Damn.”
“What?”
“I think I just gave myself two people to talk to, huh?” Her nose wrinkled. “I need to have heart-to-hearts with Mom and with Dave.”
“Mom will take it okay,” Kate said. “You know that. She’s good at accepting boundaries once they’re in place.”
Blue eyes on hers. “And Dave?”
“Well, he’s your husband,” Kate said lightly, “and he loves you. I think you two can figure it out.”
“I hope so.”
Quiet fell between them. “You remember when Mom showed up at my dorm with homemade casseroles for the entire floor?”
Ann froze then burst out laughing. “Are you comparing my marriage to your tricky roommate situation?”
“Seemed apropos.” She shrugged.
“I seem to remember that the boy you liked, who lived down the hall, suddenly asked you out after that.”
“Yes, he did.”
They’d actually gone on quite a few dates. They’d seen each for months, long enough for her to feel comfortable with him, for her to fall in love. First love, freshman-in-college love, stupid love. Because she’d given him her virginity then had overheard him with his friends laughing about how bad she was in bed.
See? Assholes?
Her superpower.
Thankfully, she had been comfortable enough with herself to understand that it had been him—and his inability to last more than three thrusts, not to mention his lack in being able to please his partner—more than something she’d done.
So, she’d taken one of those casseroles her mom had left and dumped it in his lap.
And then she’d gone out with one of his roommates, who’d been much better in the