But thanks to Kasimir, there was at least one thing Josie would never need to worry about: money. The day after she left Russia, before he’d even gotten the land in Alaska, he’d placed an amount in her bank account that she still couldn’t even quite comprehend, because it had so many zeroes at the end.
“Josie? Is everything okay?”
Looking up, she saw Bree in front of her. Her long blond hair tumbled over her flower lei and white cotton dress as she looked at her sister with concern.
“You look beautiful,” Josie whispered. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Cut the crap. What’s wrong?”
Trust her sister to see right through her. Forcing her lips into a smile, she said, “It’s your wedding. We can talk later.”
“We’ll talk now. Is it Kasimir?” Bree’s gaze sharpened. “Has he tried to contact you?”
“Contact me?” Josie gave a low, harsh laugh. “No.”
Bree scowled. Then grabbing Josie’s hand, she pulled her out of the outdoor bar and into a quiet, dark gazebo in the shadowy garden overlooking the cliff. “Look, you’re better off without him,” she said urgently. “Plenty of other fish in the sea. You’ll find someone really great, who appreciates you—”
Josie flinched. “I know,” she quickly said to end the horror of the conversation.
“Then what?”
She paused. “Let’s talk about it a different day. After your honeymoon.”
“Honeymoon?” Bree grinned. “I’m living in Hawaii, in my dream job, with the man I love! I’ll be on honeymoon for the rest of my life!”
“I’m so happy for you,” Josie repeated, ignoring the ache in her throat. Resisting the urge to wipe her eyes, she looked down at the wet, soft grass beneath her feet. “After years of taking care of me, you deserve a lifetime of love and joy.”
“Hey.” Bree lifted her chin gently. “So do you. And I can’t be happy until I know what’s going on.”
Josie blinked back tears, trying to smile. “You’ve always been a mother hen.”
“Always.” Her older sister looked into her eyes. “So you might as well tell me what’s going on, or I’ll be pecking at you all night.”
Josie took a deep breath.
“I’m...I’m pregnant,” she whispered.
Her sister gasped. “Pregnant? Are you sure?”
She nodded.
Bree took a deep breath, then visibly gained control of herself. “It’s Kasimir’s.” It was a statement, not a question.
“He doesn’t know.” Josie looked away, blinking back tears. “And I don’t know if I should tell him.”
“Are you going to keep the baby?”
Josie whirled to face her. “Of course I am!”
“You could consider adoption...”
“I’m not giving up my baby!”
“You’re just so young.” Bree’s hazel eyes were full of emotion. “You have no idea how hard it is. What you’re in for.”
“I know.” Josie swallowed. “You were only six when Mom died, and eighteen when we lost Dad. All these hard years, you’ve taken care of me...”
“I loved every minute.”
Josie looked at her skeptically.
“All right,” Bree allowed with a grin, “maybe not every single minute.” She paused. “I was so scared at times for you.”
“Because I was always screwing up,” Josie said sadly.
“You?” Her sister’s lips parted, then she shook her head fiercely beneath the colored lights of the wooden gazebo. “I was scared I would fail you. Scared I’d never be the respectable, honest, careful mother you deserved, no matter how hard I tried.”
Something cracked in Josie’s heart.
“That’s why you hovered over me?” she whispered. “I thought I was a burden to you, forcing you to give up ten years to look after me.”
“I felt like the luckiest big sister in the world to have a sweet kid like you to look after.” Bree took a deep breath. “But you don’t know what it’s like to raise a child. To fear for them every moment.” She looked down at the wet hem of her white dress. “To pray that your own stupid mistakes won’t hurt the sweet, innocent one you love so, so much.”
“You worried you might make a mistake?” Josie said in amazement. Shaking her head, she patted her sister’s shoulder. “You gave me a wonderful childhood that I’ll never forget.” Josie bit her lip, and forced herself to say what she’d been too afraid to say before. “But I’m all grown up now. You don’t need to be my mother any more. Just be my sister. My friend.” She looked at her. “Just be my baby’s aunt.”