“But holy shit, this also answers a question I always wondered,” Annette said.
“What’s that?” I asked, not sure I was ready for any more surprises. I lowered my head to breathe in the clean smell of Sloane’s midnight hair and to press a kiss to her crown.
“I’m guessing that each generation in our lines crosses paths with each other at some point. It simply wasn’t the right timing or match for any of us until Sloane and Keagan. And Penny, I don’t want things to be uncomfortable. I’m going to get a hotel room,” Annette offered.
My mother appeared thoughtful, and I expected her to refuse because it was obviously water under the bridge, but instead, she nodded.
“I respect that,” Annette said with a tip of her head.
Sloane and I took Annette to a hotel up the road and, after spending some time with her, returned to my parents. They were already in bed, but my mom had left the light over the stove on for us. We went upstairs to my childhood bedroom that was now a guest room and prepared for bed.
Exhausted from the day’s events, we spooned. My hand rested protectively over my daughter, nestled snug in her mother’s womb. Sloane placed her hand on top of mine.
“Can we please not have any further sibling scares? If we could, that would be great,” Sloane whispered.
I softly chuckled. “Trust me. I agree 100 percent.”
After wiggling myself and adjusting her, I ensured there wasn’t a hairsbreadth between us. Satisfied, I kissed her bare shoulder and smiled at the little shiver it gave her.
Together, we drifted peacefully asleep.