Billion Dollar Stranger - Stephanie Brother Page 0,68

had a really cool uncle when I was growing up, and it's been my mission to become that for Abbey. I scoop her up and toss her into the air. She's gotten heavier since their last visit, but she's still as light as a feather.

"Again," she laughs when I grasp her around the waist. "Again."

"Abbey," Jessie says in a warning voice. "Don't make Uncle Aaron too excited. You know how he gets."

I snort with laughter. Shouldn't Jessie be saying that to me about her daughter?

I throw Abbey again and then stand her on her tiny feet. "Hang on a minute. You've got something in your ear." I pull a coin from her pretty blonde hair and hand it to her. It's made of chocolate, and she's practically vibrating with happiness.

"Where did you learn that one?" Ryan asks, reaching out to shake my hand. He looks good, and it's a relief. His illness is chronic, but doesn't progress at a predictable rate. I keep expecting him to deteriorate between visits, but I know Jessie is working behind the scenes to do everything to keep him healthy. That, and the love she pours all over him, is keeping him as vibrant as ever. He squeezes my hand firmly, the way he did when we were first introduced. I knew then that I'd like the man.

"It's an old family talent," I say.

"Shame you can’t do it with real gold," Abbey says, peeling the coin and munching it.

Jessie snorts. "And what do you need with real gold coins, missy?"

"We're collecting for charity at school," she says.

"That's my girl." Ryan ruffles her hair like the proud father he is.

"Come in." I grab hold of their case from where Ryan placed it in the doorway. "Nicole is just getting your rooms ready."

"Can I go see?" Abbey asks.

"Sure." I wave to the staircase. "Just be careful not to trip on the way up. You're in the same room as last time."

As I drag the case to the bottom of the stairs, Jessie and Ryan close the door and follow me in. "How was the flight?"

"Amazing," Jessie says.

Ryan throws his arm around his wife's shoulders. "She still hasn't gotten used to traveling without having to queue at the airport."

"And I hope I never become complacent about anything we have," Jessie says. I marvel at how similar Nicole and Jessie are. Cousins from across the pond who have an identical attitude to life.

There are loud squeals of laugher from upstairs. I guess that Abbey has seen her room. Nicole has gone crazy decorating it with a new canopy for the bed and a playhouse in the corner shaped like a tiny castle. "What has Nicole done?" Jessie asks, rolling her eyes.

"Let's just say that Abbey walked into a room that is every little girl's dream," I laugh.

"I'm sure that's exactly what you want in your home." Ryan shakes his head.

"There are enough bedrooms up there to keep one for Abbey."

"You might need to put an extra bed in there," Jessie says, patting her belly that I've suddenly noticed is a whole lot rounder than it was three months ago.

"You're pregnant?" My smile couldn't be broader as Jessie's cheeks flush.

Ryan shakes his head. "You see that? She still gets embarrassed to tell people. She thinks that everyone imagines us having sex."

I snort with laughter as I lead them to the large comfortable couches that Nicole picked out last fall. She asked me if we could make the space just a little less like a bachelor pad, and of course, I said yes. To be honest, I couldn't care less about what is in this home, as long as Nicole is here.

We slump into the seats, as Jessie pulls her hair into a messy bun. "I think Jessie must have a dirty mind," I say. "Maybe she always thinks about people having sex whenever she meets a pregnant woman."

Ryan rests his hand on her knee. "That's my girl," he smiles.

We hear laughter getting louder as Nicole and Abbey descend the stairs. My beautiful wife is carrying a giant stuffed rabbit that obstructs most of her torso. "Look, Mommy," Abbey shouts. "It's called Fluffy."

"Oh, wow, sweetie," Jessie says, turning to where her daughter is beaming brightly. "Hey, Nicky."

She stands, and the cousins come face to face. I see the moment Nicole notices Jessie's belly. Her eyes flick to mine to confirm, and I nod. Nicole lowers the bunny and rests her hand on her own rounded belly. "Looks like we've both been