Page 109 of Pinch of Love

I knew Grace had explained the birds and the bees to Izzy along with anything else she could throw in the talk too. Don’t do drugs, the whole bit.

“You okay in there, Aunt Maya?” Izzy tapped on the door.

This was my answer.

It was Izzy I should talk to first.

I was her aunt. This was what I was built for.

“Yeah. Just umm...” I flew to the door and opened it to see her looking at me with wide eyes. She looked like such a mixture of her mom and her dad. “I saw something I think you left in here.”

Izzy shook her head and pushed her lips down. “I didn’t leave anything in here.”

I took her hand. “Izzy, it’s okay to tell me. I know.”

Izzy craned her neck and frowned. “Know what, Aunt Maya?”

“You know... that you’re...”

“Hungry?” She looked at me.

“No. Although that would make sense.”

Izzy shrugged and slipped her hand out of mine. “I seriously don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Fine.” I stepped out of the way and pointed at the stick on the sink.

Izzy wandered over and picked it up. “What’s the plus? Wait...”

I looked at her, and she looked at me. “It’s not yours?”

She shook her head. “No way. I’m... just no.”

My eyes widened when I realized what we happened upon. “Your mom...”

Izzy’s hand slid to her mouth. “My mom. Jackson.”

I nodded, unable to keep the smile off my lips.

“Oh, shoot. I think I left something in the bathroom,” Grace called out, coming our direction.

When she made her way toward us, Izzy and I traded glances.

Grace scooted by us and picked up the stick and drew it up to her eyes as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Um, congratulations?” I told Grace, who looked in a daze.

“I peed on this like a half hour ago and forgot.” She put it back down and looked at her daughter. “Are you okay?”

Izzy chuckled. “Yeah. I’m great. Are you okay?”

Grace smiled. “I think so. I think I’m really okay.”

Grace turned toward me, and I couldn’t help it. I squealed and hugged her as Izzy did the same. We were in the midst of the best group hug in the bathroom of my sister’s new antique store when Izzy’s boyfriend came to find everyone.

“You guys okay?” he asked.

Izzy let go of our group first, and then I finally let go of my sister.