Ten minutes after he entered the clinic, Grayson emerged with a woman who Emma recognized as his sister Isabella. She followed him to the car. He got in and put down the driver’s side window.

“I hear you’re stealing my brother away for an extended vacation,” Isabella said with a friendly smile.

“This is all his idea,” Emma said, returning her smile. The woman they called Izzy was stunning, with curly auburn hair and striking green eyes.

“Have a good time.”

“We will,” Gray said. “Gotta run. We’ve got a plane to catch. Happy New Year.”

“Same to you. Safe travels. Bye, Simone.”

“Bye,” Simone said from the backseat. When they were back on the highway, Simone said, “She’s your sister, right?”

“That’s right,” Grayson said. “I also have Vanessa, Ally and Sarah and three brothers, Noah, Jackson and Henry.”

“You’re so lucky to have all those brothers and sisters. I wish I had one.”

Emma sucked in a sharp deep breath. Simone had never said that before.

“Maybe someday you will,” Grayson said to Simone, looking up to catch her gaze in the rearview mirror.

“Maybe.”

Emma turned to say something to Simone, but she’d put her earbuds back in and was once again watching the world go by out the window. Emma turned back to face the front.

“I take it she hasn’t said that before?”

“Never,” Emma said softly. “I had no idea she felt that way.”

He reached for her hand. “It’s probably all the time with the Abbotts that made her see what it’s like to have a lot of siblings around.”

“Maybe.”

“Hey,” he said, meeting her gaze. “Don’t let it bum you out. From what I can see, she lacks for none of the important things, thanks to her amazing mom, who makes sure she has the best of everything.”

“I’ve tried.”

“And you’ve succeeded. She’s the nicest, sweetest little girl. You have so much to be proud of where she’s concerned.”

“Thank you. That means a lot to me. I got really lucky that she was a sweetheart from day one. She makes it easy. For now, anyway. I’m dreading the looming teenage years.”

“She’ll be fine. She doesn’t have it in her to be a monster.”

“Time will tell.”

“What were you like as a teenager?”

“I was as rebellious as I could be given that my mom was sick for most of my teenage years. I got away with murder because they weren’t really paying attention. That’s how I ended up with a dirtbag boyfriend who treated me badly.”

“I’m trying to picture you rebellious.”

“I was quite feisty back then,” she said, smiling at him. “Now I’m a very upstanding, responsible mother who leads a life of routine and predictability and is focused entirely on my child. Until recently, that is.”