“Oh, sweetie, they will. We’ll talk about you all the time, and we’ll bring them to visit you.”

Kate brightened. “You will?”

“Of course. We’ll all come.”

“I’ll miss them,” Kate said with a last look at the babies. “I was unprepared for how much I’d love them.”

“And I was unprepared for how much I love you,” Andi said.

Kate stepped into her stepmother’s outstretched arms. “I love you, too,” she whispered.

Jack walked into the room with his hair still wet from the shower to find his daughter silently weeping in his wife’s arms. “Hey, hey, what’s this all about?” He ushered them into the hallway and closed the door to the nursery.

“Kate’s feeling sad about leaving her baby brothers,” Andi said as she wiped the tears from Kate’s face.

Jack kissed Kate’s forehead and hugged her. “We’ll send lots of pictures,” he promised. “Are you ready to go?”

“Almost,” Kate said. “I have a few more good-byes first.”

“I’ll grab your bag and meet you downstairs when you’re ready,” Jack said.

“Thanks.” Kate opened Eric’s bedroom door and crept into the quiet room. She kissed the sleeping boy’s warm neck until he woke up with a giggle.

“I’m going now,” Kate signed.

His big blue eyes were solemn. “No, I won’t let you.”

“Take good care of our babies for me, okay?”

He nodded, and Kate held out her arms to him. She hugged him for a long time before she pulled back to look at him. “You are my brother, and I love you, Eric Harrington.” Jack’s adoption of Andi’s son had only become final a week ago, but he had felt like a little brother to Kate for much longer.

“I love you, too,” he signed.

“Want to help me wake up Maggie and Jill?”

He grinned and jumped on her back for the ride down the hallway.

Kate wept until long after they crossed the Newport Bridge on their way to Interstate 95 south. Saying good-bye to her sisters, her grandparents, Andi, and Eric had been awful. For the first time, Kate questioned the wisdom of what she was doing. She’d been so sure it was what she wanted, but the reality was daunting. However, it was all in motion now, and there was no turning back.

“You okay, hon?” Jack asked.

“I guess so. Leaving was worse than I thought it would be.”

“I don’t think there’s any way to adequately prepare for leaving home.”

“I’ve been so focused on where I’m going that I haven’t given much thought to what I’m leaving behind.”

“You’ll probably be homesick at first, but as you make friends and get into a routine, it’ll get easier.”