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“I will.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

After alotmore kisses, Sadie finally got in her car and headed home while Ellie made her way into the house via the back door. She knew it was always unlocked, especially with her Aunt Eden currently taking up the guest bedroom. Ellie carefully walked past Eden’s room as she made her way up the stairs to her parents’ room.

Her mama always slept on the side of the bed closest to the door, and Ellie half expected her to be awake and waiting on her. But instead, Vera looked sound asleep. Ellie carefully tiptoed into the room and walked around the bed to Isla’s side. Even in the dark room, Ellie would still see her mom’s eyes were open as she knelt down by the side of the bed.

“Morning, Mommy.”

“Good morning, baby.” Reaching out, Isla gently caressed Ellie’s cheek with her hand. “You and Sadie looked like you had a good night.”

“Yeah.” Ellie smiled, but it quickly faded as she narrowed her eyes. “Wait. Were you spying on us?”

“What?”

“How did you know what we looked like?”

“Well, I,” Isla sat up on the edge of the bed as Ellie stood, her hands on her hips, “well. Me and Mama…”

“Youand Mamawere spying on us?” Ellie kept her voice at whisper, trying not to wake Vera. “When? How?”

“Since about two a.m.”

“What?”

“Well,” Isla met Ellie’s dramatic tone, “weknewSadie was staying over so we went to bed at around midnight and then we woke up a few hours later and Mama checked outside and Sadie’s car was still there so we assumed it was going to be a sleepover.”

“So you… what? Were waiting on the front porch for any signs that we were coming out of the garage?”

“Of course not,” Isla waved Ellie off with a smirk. “We watched from the window.”

Isla pointed to the bench that was under their window that overlooked the front of the house.

Shit.

“And you are our child, so it’s biologically predetermined that we spy on you.”

Her mom was teasing, Ellie knew that much. And she wasn’t even mad at them for spying. Honestly, she would have been more concerned if they didn’t. Ellie nodded toward Vera, who hadn’t moved since Ellie came into the room.

“How’d you get her to go to sleep?”

Isla rolled her eyes as she gently pushed Vera’s shoulders. The jolt caused Vera to stir as she sat up in bed. “Shit, she’s not asleep. She’s been pretending this whole time.”

“You two were truly made for each other,” Ellie teased. “I hope you know that.”

“We do,” they responded in unison.

“Come here, Ellie.”

Vera patted the bed between her and Isla and Ellie quickly made herself at home between them. As Vera wrapped her arm around Ellie’s shoulder, Ellie snuggled into her embrace. Beside her, Isla pushed her pillow back against the headboard as she sat beside Ellie, a hand on her knee.

“Talk to us. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“And you and Sadie talked before you did anything, right?”