“My thoughts exactly.”
I ran my hands along Faye’s body, savoring the moment of being alone with her. Gretchen was sleeping peacefully outside the door. Soon the three of us would move and find a bigger place where Amanda could join us. Everything was going to change, but hopefully only for the better.
“What do you think Gretchen should call us when she gets older?” I asked lazily. “Mom One and Mom Two?”
“And who would Mom One be?” Faye growled. “I’m not being number two.”
“As long as we both come before Derek, I’m good.” My hands tensed into fists. “I can’t believe what a piece of shit he turned out to be.”
“He was much worse than I ever thought.” Faye stroked my arm, calming me. “What about Mom A and Mom B? Less hierarchical.”
“Uh, that’s still just as hierarchical. And you really don’t see any other problems with it?” I pitched my voice high like a little girl’s. “Mom A! Mom-A! Mom-may!” I dropped to a seductive baritone. “Mommay is here for you, baby. Mommay has everything you need.”
“I guess my mind doesn’t work as creepily as yours does.” Faye rolled her eyes. “If you don’t go down that road, it would be cute. Mommay and Mombee.”
“Come to Mommay, Mombee.”
She climbed on top of me, straddling my waist. My breath caught in my throat, and it didn’t help when I felt her fingers slide between my thighs. I closed my eyes and thrust lightly against her hand. I couldn’t believe how happy I was to have her with me. She was mine.
“What’s your pleasure?” Faye breathed into my ear.
I pressed my hips up as I pulled her down. “Anything involving you.” Having second thoughts, I grabbed at her shirt. “And a lot less clothes.”
“That can be arranged.”
* * *
Amanda’s car pulled up to the side of the road a second after mine did. “Are you nervous?” I asked as she got out.
I didn’t expect more than a basic polite answer. Why would she open up to me, her sister’s girlfriend? We’d only met for the first time a few days ago—she didn’t know me. We’d never had a proper conversation, and here I was asking her about the most personal question possible.
She nodded slowly, though. “It’s a strange feeling. I haven’t seen her in so long, and I know she’s not even going to recognize me anymore.” She leaned on the car door, letting it support her until she got the strength to walk further. “I know all that’s my fault. Before you judge me, just remember I thought I was doing what was best for everyone at the time.”
“I’m not judging you. You did what you had to do.”
I liked to think I was telling the truth. Even if I didn’t agree with her actions over the past year, I understood—kind of—what she’d been thinking.
Faye and Gretchen were only a few feet away, but Amanda and I stood by the curb without moving. I had the feeling this was an important conversation, one that we needed to have.
“I know I haven’t been much of a mother,” she murmured. “You don’t have to put a positive spin on it for my sake.”
“Not at all. I’ve never been in your position, and I can’t say what I’d do if I was.”
That seemed to satisfy her. “I haven’t had the chance to say this, Jaz, but thank you.”
“For what?”
“For looking after my baby while I was away being too selfish to take care of her,” she said. “For looking after my big sister, too.” Before I could answer, she blinked away a tear and went on. “And thank you in advance for continuing to be a mom to Gretchen. I’m going to try my best to be there for her as much as I can, to be as much of a mother as I can… but I know I’m never going to be perfect.”
“I’ll always be there for her,” I said. “I don’t mean that it won’t matter whether she has you or not. Her life will be so much better for having you in it. But if you end up needing to move somewhere, or if anything happens, Gretchen will always have us.”
Amanda nodded tearfully. “You’re adopting her out of pure love, and that’s the most amazing gift I can imagine. I’m going to try my absolute best to be worthy of what you’re doing.” She took a step toward Faye and Gretchen, then paused. “I might as well tell you, since both of you are going to find out soon enough. I plan to quit drinking.”
I tried not to let the announcement get me too excited. I knew alcoholics tried to quit all the time, and that it was easier said than done—easier by a long shot. “When do you plan to?” I asked.
“Well… I’ve already unofficially done it. I haven’t had a drink since I came to Rosebridge. It didn’t feel right, considering everything that was going on.” She gave me a small smile. “I managed to not drink once I found out I was pregnant. It was difficult, but I can do it again.”
That was more than I’d expected to hear. With no words that would show how hopeful I felt, I settled for pulling her into a hug. Her eyes shone again when I let her go.