Page 157 of Through the Storm

She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “That’s a big deal.”

Danny snores. The baby sighs, still asleep, tiny fingers gripping fur.

I look at the dog with the baby on top, at my sister-in-law, or cousin-in-law—or whatever, my sister in every way that matters—sitting beside me, and feel something settle.

“Thanks for caring enough to ask,” I say quietly.

Ella smiles. “Always. Someone has to have this talk with you, young lady.”

I laugh. “You enjoy it too much. Also, you got knocked up younger than me. So don’t even.”

“No judgement zone.” She winks. “But it is my responsibility to show you the way.”

Maybe we can move.

Maybe home isn’t a place.

Maybe it’s… this.

BEN

Our little apartment is finally the kind of late-night quiet that means we’ve won the battle against bedtime. Our hyper baby is finally asleep. And is not the fragile, maybe-sleeping kind. The real kind. I checked three times.

Katy’s sitting on the edge of the bed, her dark shiny hair loose down her back, with one of my old T-shirts slipping off one shoulder. She looks softer but somehow stronger.

I stop in the doorway.

“Kitten’s finally down. You tired?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “Not really. Just… thinking.”

I sit beside her.

She turns toward me, cheeks pink. “The doctor said it’s okay to, you know… so I want to try.”

I go still. “You sure?” My voice lowers. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Her mouth curves into a small, steady smile. “You won’t.”

I still don’t move.

She studies my face for a second, then her smile turns a little softer, a little teasing.

“Well,” she says lightly, “if you do, you can fix it after.”

A quiet laugh escapes me, some of the tension slipping away. “That’s not exactly medical advice.”

“Pretty sure it counts as aftercare.” She shrugs. “Doctor-adjacent.”

I shake my head, smiling despite myself. “I love you.”

“I know.” She leans in, brushing her nose against mine. “Now, show me.”

“I want to,” I admit. Then, more serious, I add, “I just want you to feel good. If anything doesn’t feel right, you tell me. Okay?”

“Okay.” She nods. “I promise. I wouldn’t be joking if I wasn’t sure.”

That settles something in me.