“Thanks, Dad,” Mia said. “You’re the best. I promised to help with the bedtime duties tonight, but I really want to see the new cria and the kittens.”

Jesse shook his finger at her. “But if there’s not any cake left when I get done, you’re in big trouble.”

“Must’ve been nice growing up in this house,” Stevie whispered to Cody.

“Yep, it was, at least, part of the time, but we weren’t the Waltons. We had our fair share of problems,” he told her. “You had mealtimes with your family, didn’t you?”

“Not like this. Think about it. Mama, Daddy, and one child. We talked about our day, but when supper was over, Mama and I cleaned up. Daddy took care of whatever jobs needed attention around the place, and then we all went our separate ways. I did a lot of reading in my room,” she answered.

“I didn’t mean to be eavesdropping on your conversation with Cody, but you missed not having brothers or sisters, didn’t you?” Pearl asked.

Stevie nodded. “I really did, and it’s even worse now since Mama is gone. There’s no one to share the memories with, or to fuss about tattling when we were kids.”

“I’ll be your little sister,” Mia offered. “We’ve already got stuff in common. I like alpacas and cats, and so do you. And I can argue with the best of them. Just ask Mama.”

Addy and Jesse had each picked up a baby carrier and were headed out of the room, but Addy turned back and nodded. “She’s a professional at that for sure. But she’s too young to be your sister. I’ll take that job and she can be your niece.”

“Aww”—Cody nudged Stevie with his shoulder—“they’re fighting over you.”

“Too young!” Mia said. “There’s nineteen years between me and the twins. I bet there’s not that many years between me and Stevie.”

“See what I mean,” Addy said with a smile. “She’s good at arguing.”

“There’s probably about nineteen years between us too, but I’ve never had a niece.” Stevie remembered when she had first heard that Addy had a baby and that she wouldn’t tell anyone who the father of the little girl was. She had envied her for having that much backbone and for doing what she wanted, no matter what anyone else thought of her.

Mia raised her chin. “Then I’ll be your niece, Aunt Stevie. Does that mean you’ll spoil me since I’m the only one you have?”

“As long as you don’t expect me to give you my last bit of chocolate. I’m very stingy with that.”

Pearl giggled. “Honey, you could be blood kin to Mia if you like chocolate that much.”