adds, "Here's to hoping I'll be a good one."
Alice and I exchange a startled glance. I don't remember Sebastian ever sounding uncertain about anything. Even when there are crises at the office or when my father had surgery, he was calm, in control.
"Of course you'll be a great dad," Alice says.
Far from calming down, Sebastian drums his fingers on the table, his smile faltering. "I don't know what to expect."
"You saw us growing up," I remind him.
"That was different."
"Yeah, but it'll help,” I insist. “All kids resemble each other in some things. At least in the developmental stages. When they're four years old, they want you to read fairy tales to them. When they're nine, they need your help to make the soccer team."
I stop when Alice glances at me curiously, the corner of her mouth lifting in a smirk. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I realize I've been talking as if Victoria's siblings are my kids. They're not, of course, but in some ways, it feels like they are.
“Sebastian,” Alice says gently, “You were as much a father figure to us as you were a brother, and you were great.”
“Yeah. If there’s one person who can pull off this parenting thing, it’s you,” I add.
"I’m going to be a father,” Sebastian repeats, still stunned but smiling, his hands clasped in front of him.
“I know,” Alice whispers, reaching for Sebastian’s hand over the table.
“I have to go," Sebastian says eventually, a tad less tense, though not completely relaxed, "to make it to the airport in time."
"What just happened?" Alice asks once he's out of earshot. "Was that Sebastian freaking out, or did I imagine things?"
"Not imagining them, nope."
"And you've been holding out on us. Mom told me you’re bringing Victoria and the kids to Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, but I didn’t know you’re that close." She elbows me hard in the ribs.
"Now you know."
"So you're not going to give me and Pippa any credit at all?"
"None whatsoever." I shrug, knowing how much this will annoy her. To my surprise, she doesn't insist. Instead, she looks at the seat Sebastian just vacated, sighing.
"Things have changed so much, haven't they? All our older siblings are married, I bet Max and Emilia will set the date soon, and we're getting a new niece or nephew. Wow."
I'll be the first to admit I don't notice these kinds of things, but something in Alice's tone tips me off.
"Are you seeing anyone?" I ask with caution.
Alice huffs, focusing on the spreadsheet again. "When would I have time to meet someone new?"
"Someone you already know, then?"
My sister turns her head in my direction so quickly I'm surprised it doesn't snap. "Max told you!"
I give up. When my sisters sniff out information from me, it's only after a few tries that I catch on, if at all. When I try it, Alice sniffs me out from the first question. Max told me some time ago that Alice has a crush on a close family friend, and we've been trying to guess who the bastard is ever since with no luck. If the lines on Alice's forehead are any indication, I'm not about to receive a name tonight, so I raise my hands in surrender.
"It was just a question. How about we go back to the spreadsheet? There's some stuff I haven't shown you, and I have to leave in an hour."
"Going to Victoria and the kids? I'm still taking credit for that. You don't need to award it to me."
Chapter Twenty-Five
Victoria