As soon as I hung up on Jo, I spent a good thirty minutes fretting over what to expect.

Like a loyal friend, she had acted like I hadn't ghosted on her and was on her way to shower me with what were likely to be loving comments.

Despite not wanting anyone to know about what I was going through, I knew I'd have to come clean about Kylie's disappearance. 

I wouldn't be able to catch her up on my life without mentioning Kylie at all. It also wasn't fair to keep her in the dark. We were all good friends now. 

After taking a hot shower and researching what made a decent mother, a harsh knock sounded on the front door.

Fluffing my unruly hair and sundress, I yanked the door open, only to gasp at what I saw. 

I should have known that with them being married now, Josephine would bring Niall along with her.

Oh, yes. That was right. She was a Horan now. 

She didn't wait for an invitation; handing a rather large oval cake to her husband, she bounded over the threshold, enveloping me in her arms. 

"Oh, Kristina-"

Shrieking like some deranged person, she leapt back, resting a hand on my flat stomach. 

"Sorry- I need to be delicate with you!"

I laughed as Niall set the cake on the kitchen counter. 

"It's not that serious. At least not yet."

After another moment of surveying me, Josephine hugged me once more, giggling. 

"I can't believe I'm going to be an aunt! Whose is it? How can you know already? I mean... I saw Cole on the television-"

I glowered.

How could she think of me that way?

Had it really been that long since we'd spoken? 

I wanted to scream that her observation was ridiculous, but all I could muster were a few tears. 

"It's- it's Hero's-" I sobbed. 

Jo went silent. She looked back at Niall who shared a knowing expression. 

She ran a hand over my red locks. 

"Oh, I suppose that makes sense. I'm so sorry."

I pulled away, eyeing Niall suspiciously. 

"I'm guessing you've heard from him lately."

He shook his head, burying his hands in his pockets. 

"No, as a matter of fact, I haven't. I promised Jo here that I would try to keep in contact, but he ghosted on everyone."

I frowned, knowing all hope was lost.

He really was gone forever. 

Sensing my sadness, Jo gathered me in her arms, leading me to the couch. 

"Enough about him. Let's just focus on you and what you need. Tell me what's been going on."

I instantly swiveled around, eyeing Niall.

If I came clean now, the secret would be revealed outside of our inner circle.

Could I trust him not to run his mouth?

"Kylie and I have been hanging out lately."

Josephine's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. 

"Good. I'm glad you guys really did move past your differences. How is she?"

I stared down at my lap, entwining my fingers together. 

"Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. She and I were investigating Diedre."

Niall joined his wife on the couch, pulling her close as she continued questioning me.

"Diedre? Hero's grandmother?"

I nodded. 

"The very same. This may not be very believable, but a while ago... she tried to have me kidnapped. Kylie has certain connections and found out that the kidnapper is a bad man. Well, apparently he caught onto what she was doing and... she's missing now."

Josephine gripped tightly onto Niall's arm. 

"Hang on- missing? Why am I just hearing about this? Have the cops been notified?"

I shook my head.

"No, but I have good reason for that. Do you remember that guy Kylie was seeing online? Well, his family are detectives or something like that.  They're looking into her disappearance."

Jo stood to her feet looking at me in disbelief. 

"I mean, I don't have anything against the guy, but can we really trust him?"

"Yes," I replied, "I mean, initially, he wanted to keep this on the down-low, but this man is in love with Kylie. If you want, I can set up a meeting with him. He'll tell you everything."

Niall now stood, pulling Jo into his side protectively. 

"Okay, okay. Let's all take a breather. If anyone is meeting anyone, I'm going to be present. Shall we bite into this cake?"

As if forgetting about the issue at hand, Josephine squeaked and ran to the cake which I now recognized as a large soccer ball. She winced after seeing my response. 

"Sorry. It was the only cake Safeway had on hand. Now that you're eating for two, I'll give you a gigantic sliver."

I didn't bother complaining. 

The frosting was the best part.