Chapter 25

I forgot how much harder all this was without a second set of hands. How did I do this before? And it wasn't just the extra help, but the way Finn was with the kids even before he moved in. The way he could anticipate what I needed. Like refilling my coffee or grabbing my favorite sweater in the mornings.

I tried to shake off the sadness that kept creeping up and focus on the task. I didn't have Shane or Maia here to help me look for Kai's other shoe. At least Blair helped.

Her shrill scream came from upstairs, breaking into my thoughts. I guess she would not be all that helpful. Kai came running down the stairs, waving his shoe, as I was about to head up. Blair was right behind him.

"She found my shoe and the ghost," Kai said with a smile plastered on his face.

"What?"

Blair shook her head. "Never going up in the attic again. Something white and see-through looking flew across the dark space in the back corner. Definitely the ghost."

I fought an eye roll and focused on getting the three kids off to school. Finally, the house was quiet and empty. Except for the ghost that apparently lived in the attic. I figured they would let it go after Halloween, but so far, the three younger ones still believe we had a ghost. And now even Shane and Maia were coming around.

I got one of my pumpkin muffins out of the container and carried it with me to the table. Sadness flooded me again as I sat in front of my computer. We usually worked side by side at the table once the kids were out the door.

My phone vibrated on the table in front of me and I quickly grabbed it, hoping it was Finn calling. Seeing my sister's name flash across the screen sent disappointment shooting through me. But I picked up because she was due any day now and I didn't want to miss the call.

"Any update?" I asked once I answered.

"If she doesn't come by next Tuesday, they're inducing me." I could hear the smile in Lily's voice.

"Oh. That's…" I seriously couldn't be happier for her. Kind of wished Finn was here, so I could tell him. He loved being an uncle to his nieces and nephew. So, he'd be excited to add another one to the mix. Although…would he think of it that way. "... Great."

"Are you ok? You seem off."

"No, I am." I was ready to be fun Aunt Ivy. "Totally excited."

"Hmm. You sound a little sad, actually. What's up? Cause you know you can't hide anything from me."

I sighed and then filled her in from the beginning, up until Finn left to go back to Phoenix.

"Only you would agree to fake marry your neighbor and then go and fall in love with him."

I mean that wasn't what I said. But did I? "I just miss him."

"Have you told him that?"

"No." I shook my head. Not that she could see that. "What if he doesn't feel the same?"

"You won't know unless you try."

I could hear the smirk even without seeing her face. Big sisters always thought they knew best, but she wasn't wrong.

"Ok, smarty pants. I'll call him, and you update me if you go into labor."

We hung up a minute later, after promising to call me if there were changes.

I dialed Finn, and after three rings, I worried he wasn't going to pick up.

But finally, he answered. "Hey, everything okay?"

"Yeah, but do you have a minute?"

"Sure, just pulling into the driveway now."

"Where'd you go?" Great. Now I was resorting to small talk.

"Phoenix?"

That was a weird response. I expected him to say the grocery or the hardware store.

The sound of the gravel outside on the driveway crunching under tires had me turning toward the door. "Wait, my driveway?"

I all but ran to the door and yanked it open.

"Kind of hoped it would be our driveway."

I froze as I stepped out onto the porch, confirming he was in fact in my driveway. And did he just say he hoped it would be ours?

Hope bloomed in my chest as he parked and stepped out of his truck.