Page 2 of One Unexpected Gift
The last thing Sky wanted to be was a burden, but unless she went back to her military housing in Virginia, she had nowhere to stay. It was either spend her maternity leave on base alone or be an inconvenience to her friends.
“You can stay with us,” Gina said, stroking Gabby’s cheeks. “Especially if Charlie keeps hogging the baby. The only way I’ll get to hold her is if she’s with Bryce and me. He’s gone all the time for work and I’m home alone sewing and teaching classes online. You’d be welcomed company.”
“I don’t think so.” Charlie cuddled Gabby closer. “First, I’ve only been holding my niece for four seconds. Second, you and Bryce are newlyweds and doing it every four seconds. That would be uncomfortable for Sky. She should live with Owen, Olivia, and me. Owen and I are gone at work all day and Olivia’s in school. She’d have the house to herself, and she’d have an instant babysitter when Olivia gets home from school.”
“Like you’d share.” Gina held out her arms for Gabby.
Sky’s heart warmed at the bickering among her friends. They hadn’t questioned her about why she ghosted them the past two months. They hadn’t demanded to know the name of the father. Not since she told them she was pregnant and blew it off like she hadn’t a clue.
Gabby stirred, stretched, and opened her mouth letting out a loud scream.
“Obviously I’m her favorite.” Charlie grinned.
“She’s hungry. Is it okay if I nurse her here?” Sky pointed to the couch.
“You go wherever you need to go. Is it okay if we stay with you or would you prefer privacy?” Brooke asked.
“Unless you’re weirded out by my engorged boobs.”
Drew took that moment to step into the living room. “Um, I was going to give you a welcome home hug, but maybe I’ll wait. Good to see you, Skylar.” He spun on his heels and left.
They all laughed as she settled into the couch. Gina handed her a pillow while Charlie brought the quilt and laid it over Gabby. Brooke sat next to her and played with Gabby’s feet.
“They’re so tiny. I can’t imagine my size tens ever being this small.”
“She’s a peanut until you think about what she had to come out of to get here.”
They all cringed.
“Did it hurt?” Charlie asked.
“Well, it didn’t feel good, but when the doctor told me I had a little girl and laid her on my chest, the pain went away.” Sky stroked Gabby’s cheeks as she sucked. “It sounds cliche, I know, but it’s true. And I know I’m biased, but she’s perfect, isn’t she?”
“She is.” Charlie sat on the coffee table across from her and stared. “Does it weird you out with us all staring at your boobs?”
“Speak for yourself. I’m staring at my niece.” Gina stroked Gabby’s head.
Why she was so nervous about seeing her sisters, she didn’t know. Through thick and thin, they’d always been there for each other. They’d have questions and she’d have limited answers, but for now, she was home.
The next eight weeks would fly and then she’d have to figure out her new normal. Being a single mom in the Army would be a challenge. Others have done it, so Sky knew she could too. It had been her dream since she stepped on base and endured bootcamp to be a lifer in the Army. It was her calling. The rush of being a medic on the battlefield, of saving soldiers’ lives in the emergency tent gave her purpose.
The lives lost left a lasting impression in her heart, and it never got easier, but she learned to focus on the good. The lives she did save. The difference she made. She embraced the rush and stress of the job.
Living a civilian life wouldn’t satisfy her like it did her friends, but she had no one to care for Gabriella when she was deployed. She had at least six months to worry about that, thankfully.
There was always the option of telling Gabriella’s father about her, but it wasn’t like they even knew each other. Two quick hookups and never even a date. She didn’t know anything about him except where he worked. For all she knew, he could be a total ass, and she didn’t want her daughter to grow up in an unloving home.
Being fatherless was better than having one who didn’t want you. Fair or not, she had her daughter to worry about. Gabriella would always be her number one priority.
“Okay, so seriously, Sky, where are you staying tonight?” Brooke asked an hour later as she scooped up a load of guacamole on her chip and pointed it at her. “You have options, and while there will definitely be some serious bragging about being chosen the winner, where will you feel most comfortable?”
Three pairs of eyes stared at her from around the table. Gabby lay sleeping in Gina’s arms. They all took turns holding her and even set a timer to make it fair. The love in the room was enough to make up for lost time.
“I don’t want to be an incon—”
“Yeah, yeah. Enough of that bullshit already. You can tell we all want you. Besides, it doesn’t matter where you go, we’re all going to follow.”
“Gee, when did you all turn into stalkers?”