Page 218 of Baby for Brother’s Best Friends

Tom stands there looking at her, searching for a comeback that never arrives.

The officer opens the rear door of the patrol car.

A minute later it pulls away from the curb and disappears around the corner.

Nobody waves goodbye.

Curtains stop twitching, and the street settles into an uneasy stillness, and that's when Sophie finally breaks. She presses a hand over her mouth as tears spill down her cheeks.

Mick wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her close.

Neither of them look shocked. They look worn out. Like they've spent years carrying a burden they could never quite put down, and now that it's finally slipping from their grasp, they aren't sure what to do with themselves.

The front door opens behind Sophie.

I glance over and see Lucy standing in the doorway, her stuffed rabbit tucked tightly against her chest. Her eyes move straight to Laurel before flicking toward the end of the street where the patrol car disappeared.

Sophie notices her and immediately reaches out a hand. "Oh, sweetheart."

Lucy ignores it and looks at Laurel instead. "Is he gone?"

Laurel nods. "Yes. He's gone."

Lucy studies her for a couple of seconds, like she's checking whether it's really true. Then she hurries down the steps.

Laurel meets her halfway.

Lucy wraps both arms around her waist and presses her face into Laurel's stomach. Laurel holds her close, one hand smoothing over her hair.

Behind them, Sophie drags a hand beneath her eyes. "She spent most of that hiding behind the curtains," she says. "Every time I thought she'd settled down, she'd sneak back to the window."

"I was checking," Lucy mumbles into Laurel's shirt.

Mick snorts. "Future private investigator."

Lucy peeks around Laurel. "What's that?"

"It means you're nosy." Mick earns himself a scandalized look from both his wife and granddaughter. "What?" he says. "She is."