Epilogue

Laura grips Rob's arm and grimaces. Olive stands on her other side, her hand on the small of Laura's back as we walk through the parking lot. "We're almost there."

I follow close behind carrying two large bags filled to the brim with everything she could possibly need for the hospital stay.

Laura cries out. "Wait!"

Everyone stops as she cradles her belly.

She breathes in and out until the contraction passes. Then we make our way to the hospital entrance. Quickly, they get her checked in and get her settled into a room.

A nurse comes in, and I immediately recognize her as Mrs. Blakely. She smiles when she realizes who we are. "How are you?"

Laura tries to laugh. "I've been better."

Mrs. Blakely walks to Laura's side. "You're doing amazing." She takes her vitals and helps her get as comfortable as possible. She even gets Laura to laugh between contractions .

When Laura's ready to push, Olive and I go to the waiting room.

"Are you nervous?" I ask.

Olive bites her lip and nods. "What if I'm not good at it?"

"Good at what?"

She sighs. "Being a sister."

"Are you kidding me? You are going to be great at it."

She raises an eyebrow. "How do you know?"

"I think of you like a sister," I say. I look away, afraid to see her reaction. What if she thinks that's weird?

She latches on to me, squeezing me so tight I think I might suffocate. "Do you mean that?"

I push her back. "Don't make me regret it."

She swats my shoulder lightly. "Siblings are supposed to annoy each other. It's healthy."

I laugh. "If you say so."

As we wait, I get a text message from a number I don't recognize.

Olive peers over my shoulder. "Who's that?"

My heart leaps. "I think it's from my dad."

Her eyes grow big. "Like your dad dad? The one that made you?"

I laugh. "Yeah, that's the one."

"What does he want?"

I glance at the long message. He must've gone through a lot of work to find my number. He probably had to track Meghan down just like we did. "He wants to meet."

"Are you going to do it?" Olive asks.

If he went through all this trouble to find me again, maybe it's worth giving him a second chance. "I think so."

After a few hours Rob comes into the waiting room. He's grinning ear to ear. "It's a girl. "

Olive jumps up and runs over to her father. "Really?"

He nods. "Want to come meet your new sister?"

Olive grabs my arm. "Let's go!"

When we enter the room, Laura is lying in bed with a little baby in her arms. The baby is swaddled in a little pink blanket and wears a white hat to cover her head. Laura gestures for us to come closer.

"This is Greta," she says. "Short for Margaret."

I catch my breath, eyes roaming the room until they meet Mrs. Blakely's. She smiles, eyes glistening.

She nods as if she's telling me it's okay.

The baby cries, stealing my attention back. Laura holds Greta closer to her chest and rubs her back. "There, there," she says.

Greta settles down, and I watch every move she makes in awe. She's so tiny, but I know she's going to have a big effect on our lives. Nothing will ever be the same, but that's what life does. It changes, and all you can do is move forward.