Strays

I'm Sorry

Chapter Fourteen

Jaycee 

I'm currently at Opie— I mean Lyla's — house. Not for long, though. We're just picking up the kids: Ellie, Kenny, and Piper. Lyla's going to be busy for a few days, so I'm stepping in to pick up the slack with my little nieces and nephew. Normally, Aunt Gemma handles this, but since she's gone MIA lately, it falls on me.

I don't mind, though.

It takes a village to raise kids, I know that firsthand. The little one growing inside me is going to be a part of that village, too. I want them to know the good aspects of this life and none of the bad. Wishful thinking, I know... but it's all I have right now, especially with Charming being as dangerous as it is these days.

"You got everything?" I ask Kenny as we load bags into the back of the SUV.

He nods, carefully placing his backpack on top of the others. "Yeah. Got my games, so I'm good."

I glance toward the girls. "Piper, Ellie, you guys all set?"

They both nod, climbing into the backseat. Once we're all in, Donny starts the engine, and I do my ritual seatbelt check. Yes, I'm that kind of Auntie. Safety first when you've got the future of the world sitting behind you.

Halfway to Encino, I turn in my seat to look at the kids. "Alright, squad, do you want me to cook when we get home, or should we grab some pizza to go?"

"I vote pizza," Donny throws in before the kids can even breathe.

Predictably, three voices chime in right after: "Pizza!"

I laugh, shaking my head. "Alright, alright, democracy wins."

After dinner: pizza and breadsticks, of course, I decide it's time to pass on a little family tradition. I gather Piper and Ellie in the kitchen to teach them how to make Aunt Gemma's apple pie recipe, the same one she taught me when I was their age.

Ellie stands beside me, watching intently as I slide the pie into the oven. "Aunt Jaycee?"

I close the oven door and glance at her. "Yeah, babe?"

She hesitates, biting her lip. "Is it true you're... gonna have a baby?"

My eyebrows shoot up. "And where'd you hear that?"

Of course, I shouldn't be surprised. They aren't kids anymore, not really. They're teenagers now — which is wild considering I was around their age when both Ellie and Kenny were born. And now here we are, full circle, them calling me Aunt Jaycee. It really does take a village.

"Uncle Tigger was talking about it on the phone," she says matter-of-factly. "He said he was happy for you."

That's my Tiggy.

I smile softly. "Well, babe... yeah. I am having a baby."

"I hope it's a girl!" she says, practically bouncing.

Kenny groans from across the table. "No way. It's gonna be a boy."

I chuckle. "Glad you two are so invested."

Piper, quiet until now, carefully unrolls a sheet of parchment paper on the table. I notice her hunched over it, focused. "What's that, Pipes?"

She beams, holding it up proudly. "It's an art project for school."

I lean in to take a look. "Wow... this is amazing."

Before I can even ask, Kenny chimes in: "It's Uncle Jax's bike."