“Why?”

“I’m going to call a cab.”

“What?” She asked Summer, “Did you do something to upset her?”

Summer sucked in a breath and let it out, her cheeks flaming red, “You, woman, are a piece of work. You know why I haven’t been able to tell her the truth. You guys even approved, telling him it would all be worth it.” She pointed at me. “It’s not worth it. She’s upset! And Garrett’s here. I heard her yelling. He hadn’t even told her about her little sister until today. She has every right to be angry.”

Sister…

I have a sister coming?

Summer and Molly were snapping at each other, but their voices went away to the distance for me. I couldn’t believe it. A sister. He said a baby, but I hadn’t really thought about it. Another excuse. That was all I’d heard. Another excuse for his absence, but now…it was seeping in.

The corner of my lip twitched. I was going to be a big sister. A real sibling, with my same blood, I closed my eyes, not one from Analise.

Garrett was whatever he was. Distracted, forgetful, neglectful—I didn’t know. But he wasn’t Analise. That child wouldn’t have what I had—my mother.

Good for her. Relief poured through me at the thought of what my sister would be saved from.

My little sister got a shot at a good family with two parents. A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed it, shoving it down. Garrett would be a good dad. My jaw firmed. I was going to make sure he would be.

“Samantha?”

It was him, and I pulled myself out of my reverie.

He stood to the side, frowning fiercely at me. “I’m sorry that I haven’t called. I really am.”

Molly sighed, grabbing ahold of Summer’s arm.

He continued, “I didn’t grow up in a family where phone calls were a common occurrence. It’s not an excuse. It’s just…I don’t think about calling because I’m an idiotic father, and I have no idea what I’m doing. It’s not worth much, but I wanted you to know that I didn’t not call on purpose. Well, I did, but it wasn’t to hurt you or keep you out of the loop. We didn’t know at first. Sharon didn’t want to say anything. Miscarriages run in her family. She said she’d probably lose the baby, so I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up. Then, she did.”

He blinked rapidly. Some moisture built up in the corner of his eye.

He ignored it. “It hit us harder than we’d thought. It hit me harder than I’d thought, but we kept trying, and it happened almost immediately. The second one…we thought we were good to go. I called David, but you were on a run. He told me you were getting ready to go to Cain University. It was a month before or maybe more than a month. He told me when you were moving there and everything. I was going to surprise you and help you move in, but I wanted to wait again. I wanted to be sure to have good news for you, but we lost the second one.” His voice grew hoarse.

His emotion was thick. I felt my own rising up, blocking my vocal cords.

“I didn’t show up. I meant to. David thought I would be there, but I wasn’t, and I’m sorry for that. I was mourning, and that’s no excuse. I’ve been messing up nonstop since I found out about you, but with this one…”

His head hung down. The charismatic and charming Garrett that I’d witnessed at times morphed into an unsure little boy. He was vulnerable, and he’d meant every word he said.

I held my breath. I hoped he’d meant every word. It meant he was flawed, not intentionally a fuck-up.

I shook my head. What was I doing? But a sister…I was going to be a big sister.

He started to speak, but I cut in, “You can’t not call anymore.”

He looked back up. A shine of tears was on his eyelids, ready to spill. He cleared his throat. “What?”

“You have to call. Once a week.”

He wiped at the corner of his eye. “I know. I got an earful from Sharon when she found out I hadn’t been calling you. She’d thought I had. Her mama bear stuff has been coming out with you, too.”

I cursed in my head. I knew, after hearing that, that I would be getting another mother in my life. A wary chuckle left me. I didn’t know how I was going to handle any of this, but a sister…I never thought about it.

I asked, “Is she here?”

“Sharon?”

I nodded.

“No.” He gestured to Molly and Summer, both dabbing at the corners of their eyes. “She said I needed to make things right by myself. She’d sweep in and smother you with kisses. She’s been waiting for a long time, but now, with the baby, there’s no holding her back anymore. She was going to find you whether or not I made things right today with you.”

Mama Malinda would approve.

A small grin was on my face. I didn’t try to hold it back. “I’m still so pissed at you, but…” I pressed my lips together. “A little sister?”

“Yeah.” A proud expression crossed his features. “I got lucky. Two daughters now.”

“Do you have a name picked out?”

“Ah!” Molly stuck her fingers in her ears and turned away. “I don’t want to hear. Sharon didn’t want anyone to know.”

Summer groaned. “Oh my god. I’m sorry. Here, we’ll go in the back.” She searched my face, taking hold of her stepmother’s elbow. “This was part of the reason I didn’t say anything. We all knew he wanted to tell you himself. I am sorry for deceiving you.”