Chapter 51
KYLIE
Molly might be one of my favorite new people. She bore a striking resemblance to her brothers, but their age gap stood out.
His mother wasn’t exactly cold, but she wasn’t as warm as Molly. Her enthusiasm about the baby made up for her limited speaking.
“Mom and Molly need to learn that I’m no longer the ace. They’re going to have to sit through two games this week,” Jack said. This was the first time since Jack’s rookie season that he hadn’t pitched on opening day.
“Won’t they go to the game to see Luc coach?”
“Eh, we’ve been to so many baseball games, and I’m only reluctantly cheering the Minutemen on; it’s not my team. I’d rather catch Luc for dinner and drinks afterwards.” Molly’s eye roll caused Luc to nudge her with his shoulder.
“How long are you in town?” I asked, making small talk but also wondering if I should plan on seeing them again before they go back home.
“We fly out first thing in the morning the day after tomorrow.”
“Kylie, your sister is married to Sam?” Delia, Luc’s mother, asked.
“Yes, and my oldest sister works in corporate for the team.”
It was strange explaining to people how much this team impacted my family.
“Tell me again about when you two met,” Molly asked.
“Hmm. You know, Luc always lets me tell this story. I kind of want to hear him describe it.”
My parents walked up behind us and joined the circle as Luc described the flight back from Washington, the identical books, and our flight neighbor. We would forever canonize that poor woman in our meet-cute. And yes, the barf bag bookmark, not the smutty one.
Yup, Luc was a much better storyteller than I was, thanks to the eye contact and impish smile he reserved for me while he told the story.
“When are you due?” Delia asked.
“I’m due on or around September 18th.”
“Maybe a birthday gift?” Luc asked with a hopeful smile.
I shook my head, and my mother grimaced.
“Hopefully not,” I said. I then realized that the rest of the group needed more explanation. “I was born on September 11, 2001. It’s always been a bit of a somber day.”
“Oh, dear.” Delia turned her focus on my mother, and they began a side conversation about what it was like to be alive on that day—yet another reason I didn’t want to share a birthday with the baby.
“Do you need to stop at your apartment?” Luc asked.
I tried to catalog what I had left at Luc’s house and realized that even if I had clothes there, they wouldn’t fit anymore.
I nodded.
“Okay. I’m going to make excuses for us so we can split. You’re tired, right?” He nodded, his question implying a single correct answer.
My slow nod mirrored his, and my heart skipped a beat.
Delia and Molly hugged me warmly and said goodbye. I caught Kelsey and Sam, said thanks, and met Luc by the door. Kendra was only arriving as we left.
“Hey, leaving so soon?” she asked. Her eyes widened when she saw my hand clasped in Luc’s.
“Yes, sorry. It’s been a long day. But we can catch up tomorrow.”
Crew came running across the house at the sight of Kendra.
“Kenny!”
“Hey, buddy,” she said. Scooping him up and swinging him around until he giggled.
I thanked God that the strain between my sisters had healed.
Kendra lost valuable bonding time with our nephew in the first few months of his life, and had been responsible for the press getting a hold of the story of his paternity before Kelsey and Sam were ready for it to break.
But now Crew loved her.
I kissed my nephew’s head, gave Kendra a quick side hug, and then left with Luc.