the colic.”
“And you look like you’re feeling better. In fact, you’re damn near glowing.”
Heat crept into Emma’s cheeks. Averting her gaze from Alana’s, she stroked Billy’s cheek. “Darcy’s taking good care of us, isn’t he, Billy?”
A grin spread over Alana’s face. “You dog! You’ve been sleeping with him again, haven’t you?”
Emma headed into the living room. “A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”
Alana snorted. “Did you dance again? I blame it all on the rumba.”
“It’s not only the Latin dancing.”
“Then it’s worse than I thought. This is what comes of me not keeping an eye on my little sister. While we clean you can tell me all about it.”
Emma put Billy down for his nap in a bassinet. When she entered the kitchen she started running water into the sink to wash dishes. She made a mental note to call someone to fix the dishwasher.
“So, are you two getting back together?” Alana found a large black garbage bag and started picking up rubbish. “Is that what you wanted to chat about?”
“For the zillionth time, no. I’m getting tired of having to clarify that.” Emma told her about visiting Darcy’s family as she placed glasses in the hot sudsy water. “The good news is, I’ve finally started to bond with Billy.”
Alana paused, the rubbish bag hanging from her hand. “I didn’t realize that was a problem.”
“Well, it was. I didn’t find it easy to talk about, even with you.”
“You wouldn’t, because you’re supermum and Super Working Woman all rolled into one.”
“Am I really that bad?”
“I’m teasing.”
“Seriously.”
“Seriously? You are. You put the rest of us to shame.”
“Hmph. I think you’re exaggerating.” It still rankled that she hadn’t met her own standards, even if no one else expected her to. “The other good news is that Darcy is taking an active role with Billy.”
“I saw he was carrying him around.”
“Not just that. He’s hands-on taking care of him, even the yucky stuff.”
“Really?” Alana raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Mr. I’m-too-busy-having-fun-to-change-a-diaper is handling the yucky stuff?”
“Honestly, he’s fantastic with Billy. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. He even got up in the night to give Billy a bottle so I could sleep.”
“I thought you were breastfeeding.”
“I am. So I was ticked off at the same time as I was delighted. But he’s genuinely trying to help me, and help Billy. He never did that with Holly.” She rinsed a glass and placed it in the drain tray.
“But you’re not getting back together with him. Don’t get me wrong—that’s probably a good thing, but what’s the problem? The sex isn’t good any longer?”
“The sex is great. Better, if anything.” She let a beat go by. “Part of me would like to be with Darcy.”
“Oh, Em. Don’t get sucked in. He has this magnetic hold on you. You have to stay far enough away that you don’t feel the pull.”
“What if I like the feel of the pull? He’s fun to be around.”
“Have you seriously forgotten how angry, upset and crazy he made you when you were married?”
“It was after Holly died. We were grieving.”
“And all those problems are resolved?”
“No. I said part of me would like to reconcile. I know we’re not ready for that, if we ever will be.” She lowered a stack of plates into the sink. “What’s going on with you and Dave?”
“We’re talking—”
“Great!”
“About splitting up.” Alana glanced away, but not before Emma saw that her eyes were glistening.
“Oh, no. No, Alana. You can’t. You and Dave are solid. He’s a real family man.” She pulled her dripping hands out of the soapy water and hugged her sister, rocking her back and forth. Alana’s raw grief reminded her of her own marriage breakup. She hated that her sister had to go through that.
“Yesterday we had another big fight.” Alana blotted her eyes. “He said he hadn’t signed up for an only-child family. And he reminded me that before we got married I’d wanted at least three kids.”
“Changing her mind is a woman’s prerogative,” Emma said, stroking her arm. “Although I understand where Dave’s coming from. Darcy and I planned to have more children. When he changed his mind, it altered the whole picture. Kids, and how many, is fundamental to a marriage.”
“Children are too important to be bargaining chips in a rocky relationship,” Alana argued. “I shouldn’t have a baby unless I want it one hundred percent. What if I were to have another child and I resented it and the tension broke our marriage apart