Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Conner shot his wife a quick look, immediately changing his tune. "See? I told you not to come, but you just had to. And now your sister's kicked you out anyway. You're pregnant, but you're running around like nothing's different. Seriously, who does that? Once we get back, you're checking into the hospital, no arguments."

Annie rolled her eyes. "If you want to stay in the hospital, knock yourself out. I'm going home."

When the weather turned cold, Maja's injured hand ached-sometimes so badly that even holding a pen hurt all the way to the bone.

A few days later, some relatives showed up. "Hey, sis, our sister-in-law sent us to install a space heater for you."

Louisa was always dropping by to check on her oldest daughter, making sure she was warm. She'd have extra-thick blankets stuffed and sent over. Whenever the family made dumplings, she and her husband would drive over with a batch, just

for Maja.

"Mom, Dad, you really don't have to keep coming over. Annie's about to have her baby, and it's so gloomy here. I don't want any bad vibes rubbing off on her," Maja said, gently ushering her parents out.

The sun hadn't even come up yet-past the solstice, winter mornings always dragged.

At Maplewood Estates, Henry was already being pried out of bed.

kept his eyes closed as his mom wrangled him into

are you taking our little

him off with Dad. Maybe Grandpa can teach

Henry's handwriting looked more

rubbed his eyes, yawned, and just sort

dad first? Older folks are always busy before the

him around or scoop him up. Even on his grouchiest days, a snack would cheer him up. Now that he was older and had his own opinions, taking him out was a whole

Andre nodded. "Good idea."

perked up and climbed into Mia's lap. "I wanna go to

cradled his squishy cheeks, amazed at how little he still seemed. "Mommy has to work today,

leaned on her shoulder, giving his dad

was busy seeing friends. "Is

what his son could be like-if Henry got wound up, there was no settling him. "He's three now, and

part of

layers. In the summer, I could just carry him out in his