“Knock, knock,” Julie said, poking her head in the front door.

“Oh, hey, sis. What a surprise to see you so early this morning. Everything okay?” she asked as she walked into the living room.

“Yeah, everything is great. Just thought I’d stop by before work and see how you’ve been doing. I feel like I never get to talk to you anymore between work and planning the wedding.”

Janine sat on the sofa and patted the seat next to her. “Come sit.”

“Are you all right?” Julie asked as she put her purse on the back of the chair and sat on the sofa.

“Of course! Just enjoying some coffee before my first classes. You want a cup?”

“No thanks. I had some of Dawson’s coffee this morning.”

Janine chuckled. “That’ll put hair on your chest.”

“Definitely. I swear his coffee is thicker than tar!”

Janine had missed these times with her sister, especially mornings. When they were living together before Julie married Dawson, they were like teenagers again. Late night talks, early morning walks. Coffee, chips and the occasional cupcake. Now, it seemed like they were growing apart. Julie was a new mother again, and Janine had no kids. Julie had a business, a husband and a granddaughter. Her life was full, and Janine was starting to feel like hers wasn’t.

“How’s Dylan?”

Julie laughed. “He’s a handful, as usual. Dawson signed him up for karate to work off some of that excess energy and teach him discipline.”

“Oh, that’s great!”

“Yeah, he starts next week. But he’s a great kid.”

“He is. Y’all are really blessed,” Janine said, taking another sip of her coffee, trying not to make eye contact.

“Okay, what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“Sis, I know when something’s bothering you, and something is definitely bothering you. What is it?”

Janine sighed and put her mug on the table in front of her. “It’s no big deal, really.”

“You look sad, and that’s a big deal to me.”

“I just feel a bit… empty lately.”

“Empty? But you have the yoga studio and William. Wait, is everything okay with William?”

She nodded her head. “Yes. Better than ever. And his charter business is going really well.”

“Then why do you feel empty?”

“I hate saying this because I don’t want to make you feel bad…”

“Did I do something wrong?”

Janine’s eyes widened. “Oh no! Not at all. It’s just me. I’m a little envious, that’s all.”

“Envious?”

“You have it all, Julie. A marriage, a new son, a granddaughter, a business. I guess I just wish my time would come to start my own family.”

Julie rubbed her arm. “Your time is coming, Janine. I just know it.”

“I mean, I’m too old to have a child biologically. That ship has sailed for me. But, I’d love to adopt like you did. I think I could provide a great home.”

“You absolutely could!”

“I just don’t want to do it alone.”

“You want to get married?”