At best, I’m just her sister-in-law. But lately? I’ve felt more like her mom.

Maybe it’s some deeply buried maternal instinct kicking in, or maybe it’s just life’s way of telling me it’s time to start thinking about having a kid of my own. Either way, the thought’s been creeping in more often these days, and it’s... unsettling.

"No need. I just wanted to say thank you," Alice said suddenly, breaking my train of thought.

Her words ...