after all this time

Macy was certain she'd fallen off the radar some time ago after having Poppy. Of course, the infant came a little early, although Macy felt as if she'd been pregnant too much of her life.

Now Macy's back ached and she couldn't remember the last time she'd had a good night's sleep. While Poppy seemed to enjoy her crib, Stephen was a restless three year old who always needed to be entertained.

His vocabulary was growing, but he still had time for a Gummy Bear's video.

Poppy was dark-eyed with lots of dark curls like her father, yet there was that splotchy heart mark on her forehead. It was the same mark Stephen had.

Macy was proud to be a mom, but it didn't get the housework done. She and Draco were always behind. There was never enough room in the trash for disposable diapers and when Ste showed up, she felt even worse.

"You should have called," Macy fretted still in her winter pajamas in the late afternoon. She asked about Gabby. Macy couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her sister.

"I don't guess you heard the news," Ste said as he was stooping down to let Stephen climb up to him.

"I don't watch the news," she said ever so dreadful, as she plopped down on the couch with Poppy, who looked blankly at Ste.

"Gabby and I broke up," he said but he didn't look too hurt about it. He talked about the bakery and how he was running it, but he had new help as of late and it wasn't so bad. "Guess it's for the best."

Macy almost sighed wondering what he really meant. She really didn't know what to say about her sister Gabby. It didn't feel right to talk about her since Macy had her own problems she wouldn't wish on anyone. Still, she was happy to be with Draco and to have a family with him.

Ste brought her some sandwiches. "I have this friend who does a pop-up at the bakery on Saturday mornings. I wouldn't call her a chef, exactly, but she's inspiring." He smiled.

"Oh." Macy smiled back, trying not to make much of it, but it was good to see Ste smile. "Maybe, maybe you could bring her next time."

"We're not that close." He shook his head no as if he was now the not-dating type.

Macy nodded, knowing when to shut up. "It's good to have friends. You, have to have friends. You need them."

"I know." But he was even lipped as if he'd been the sole survivor of his past with his brother. "Things are different now," Ste told her. "Maybe..maybe it wasn't meant to be with Gabby. Maybe..we both learned something about ourselves."

Still, she could see a sadness in his eyes. "I-I didn't really like myself when I was with her. And I know she deserved better."

Macy felt as if she knew him better than her sister ever would. Macy hoped he found his own happiness, after all.