“And you haven’t told me?”

“It’s hard, Sam. With all you’ve been through and everything.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t be happy for you. Who loves Jack more than me?”

“Only me and Spence.”

Sam hugged her. “And I’ll love this one just as much. I promise.”

Angela’s eyes went bright with tears. “Fucking out-of-control hormones.”

Sam laughed and reached for her sister’s hand. “Are you going to find out what you’re having this time?”

“I want to, but Spence doesn’t.”

“Well, find out and tell me!”

Angela’s pretty face softened into a smile. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“I’m happy for you. You know that.” Sam pushed around a toy car Jack had left on the table. “I saw a doctor friend of Nick’s today. He told me about some new laser treatment that’s working wonders for women who’ve had endometriosis. But I don’t know.”

Angela gasped. “What don’t you know? You have to do it!”

“It’s not that simple. I don’t think I could go through that again.”

“You have to! You have to at least try!”

“I shouldn’t have told you.”

“What did Nick say?”

“I haven’t talked to him about it. I don’t want to get his hopes up.”

“Or yours.”

“Or mine.”

“Sam, if there’s a chance, even the slightest chance, how can you not try?”

“I just heard about it a couple of hours ago. I haven’t had time to even process it yet.”

“Will you tell Nick?”

Sam shrugged. “I’m mad at him right now.”

“Why?” Angela asked, alarmed. “What’d he do?”

“He made me go see his doctor friend Harry who poked and prodded me in ways and places I’ve never been poked or prodded before.”

Angela howled with laughter. “Oh the nerve of him! You have to dump him. Immediately!”

Sam shot her a dirty look. “Harry says I have to give up soda. Entirely. Because of my stomach.”

Angela stared at her sister. “Shut up. No way.”

“Yes way. I’m already going through withdrawal. And it’s all Nick’s fault.”

“Seriously. He must be punished.”

Sam stood up. “I’m glad you agree. I’ve got to get on that. Tell Jack I’ll see him this weekend.”

“I predict you’ll be horizontal under Nick in…” She consulted her watch. “Twenty minutes.”

Rolling her eyes, Sam headed for the front door. “Whatever,” she called over her shoulder. “I’m not the one who’s knocked up.”

“Yet,” her sister shot back.

Sam headed for her car, refusing to even entertain the possibility. She couldn’t go through that again. She just couldn’t.

Sam parked behind Nick’s car on Ninth Street and headed for her dad’s.

“Lieutenant!”