My Sister’s Castoff Fiancés, My Triple Jackpot

I casually locked the phone screen, raised the cup of tea to my lips, and watched the dramatic family farce before me.

My darling older sister, Josie Sonnenfeld, leaned into the couch of the Sonnenfelds' resplendent living room as tears ran down her face. She'd disappeared for three years, only to turn up heavily pregnant.

"Dad, Mom… That man from abroad isn't my soulmate at all! He's a conman! He took all my money…"

Josie sobbed as she caressed her round, protruding tummy, looking forlorn. "After living outside for three years, I've finally understood that no excitement or adventure could compare to the safety and stability of home.

"I've had my fun, and now I just want to settle down with someone honest and grounded."

Sitting across from her, my parents were red-eyed with tears as they crooned sympathetically, "Oh, our poor, precious Josie! You've been through so much!

"All that matters is that you're home now. We've got money; keeping you under our roof won't be any trouble at all!"

As it turned out, the return of the prodigal daughter was worth more than silver and gold—but at whose expense?

Mom turned to look at me after consoling Josie. The kind, motherly expression she'd worn a second ago was immediately replaced by a stern, cold one. "As you can see, Laura, your sister's pregnant. The tiniest bit of stress is bad for her.

"We brought you home from the orphanage all those years ago so you could be Josie's walking blood bank. For the last three years, you've been living like a queen because of the engagements.

"You should move out of the master bedroom now that Josie's back."

Dad chimed in agreement, "We'll throw a homecoming dinner party for Josie tomorrow. Her three fiances from all those years ago will be attending as well.

"They were unaccomplished then, but I heard they'd made something of themselves recently. Josie will choose one of them to be her baby's father.

"Laura, I expect you to step back into the shadows voluntarily instead of shamelessly hogging your sister's rightful place."

I set my cup of tea down and nearly sputtered in disbelief.

Did Mom and Dad truly expect me to back off and let Josie reclaim those three men? Did Josie think they were meat in a marketplace, where she could choose one of them on a whim to be her child's father?

I had a feeling that if those three territorial lunatics were to hear this, they'd burn the Sonnenfeld estate to the ground just to make a point.