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I’ve only been here a handful of times with the boys, but her apartment was the first real insight into the true Kate. When she doesn’t think the rest of the world is watching, she likes to do calligraphy in bright colors. She has favorite plates andmugs that are chipped and worn, but they sit at the front of her cupboards, the ones she uses all the time.

“How do you keep on top of all these houseplants?” I say, looking around. She must have at least ten in her teal living room alone. There are two more floor plants in the entryway.

She shrugs. “It’s nice. They oxygenate my apartment, and I enjoy looking after them. That’s Herbert.” She nods at a spider plant. It hangs from the corner of the ceiling above her TV.

I smile and set the bags down on the countertop. She’s so fucking cute, and she doesn’t even know it.

Her eyes flare as I start unloading the bags. “What’s all this?” Coming to stand next to me, she peers into one of the bags. “Jensen, what is all this?!”

“My flight to Alberta leaves in three hours. I’ve gotta check in and head through security. But I wanted to make sure you’re all set while I’m away. I was going for a week but shortened it to four nights, so I’ll be back sooner.”

“These must’ve cost a fortune!” She picks up half a dozen parent and baby books. “Did you buy the entire store?!”

I point at one with a pink cover. “That one’s great.”

She looks up at me in surprise. “How do you know?”

I continue to unload the bags. “I read seventy percent last night.”

And fell asleep with it on my chest. Then I read the rest this morning.

Kate’s a decent cook. I know this from when I’ve been around, and she’s made dinner for us all. But like hell am I having her work the crazy hours she does and then come home and prepare her own food.

So, I batch-cooked a bunch of vegetarian options. There’s enough to get through the next four days, and I have Jon on standby. He’s an okay chef, but he’s not me. Taking outthe freezable containers, I stride over to her freezer and begin loading them in. “No meat in any of them.”

“Jon made these?”

I roll my eyes and shut the freezer door. “Nah, I did.”

Kate fights to hide her surprise.

You think you’ve got me all figured out, don’t you, Princess?

“Um, well, thank you. It really wasn’t necess?—”

“It was. You get home from work at, like, what, eight in the evening? Let me guess… then this goes on.” I open the door on the microwave, and the food splatters inside tell the story.

Rushing over, she slams it shut and stands in front, her face flushing red. “Microwave meals have come a long way.”

Reaching out, I lightly run the back of my knuckles across her stomach. “Do I need to repeat what I said yesterday?”

“No.”

“I’m going to anyway. I’m going to treat you like a princess, Princess.”

Me

I’m boarding my flight. Jon, can you check on meal levels? Zach, I’ve booked Kate in for her first prenatal class and another space if Luna wants to go. Let me know. Jessie, just keep a watch out for me.

Jessie

Watch out, as in like a stalker?

Jon

Oh how the tables have turned. I’m here with popcorn.

Zach