“Or did you use contraception?” I went on, tilting my head.
“Because I find it rather curious that Callie was born just seven and a half months after your wedding was registered.”
I winked. “Tsk, tsk.”
Her face spasmed like a distressed asshole coping with food poisoning.
Callie looked between her mother and me.
But the tears were gone.
“She was premature,” she spluttered, but her cheeks were bright red.
“Probably desperate to get away from your rotting soul,” I muttered.
Callie snorted and covered her mouth with a napkin.
All I saw were two sad middle-aged individuals. Francine probably resented Callie for being born and her husband for being stuck with him.
“We’re leaving,” Francine said, standing up to glare at her husband. “I will not be disrespected like this.”
I placed my arm around Callie, my fingers resting on her arm.
“Don't bother coming to our wedding, nor do I want your bullshit near our children,” Callie said flatly.
Francine’s jaw dropped, and she stared at Callie in astonishment.
Clapping wasn't appropriate, so I turned and kissed the top of my baby’s head.
“You can both leave. Forget you ever had me. It would be best for everyone.”
Martin looked dazed.
Francine began screeching at him before storming out of the room. Martin stood up, didn't say a word to Callie and followed her.
They both deserved one another.
Chapter 23
Callie
The door slammed shut, and I exhaled—finally. I hadn’t even realised I’d been holding my breath.
No sorrow followed. Just… liberation.
Like a weight I’d carried since childhood had finally slid off my shoulders. I could finally stand tall without the weight of their disappointment.
Alistair’s voice broke through, casual as ever. “You know my family are Catholic too, right?”
I turned to him, and the corners of my mouth lifted despite myself.
“Yeah, but they’re not assholes,” I said, just as the low rumble of my dad’s Volvo engine started up outside.
I narrowed in on him as the realisation hit me.
“Wait… why did you know when my parents got married?”
More to the point—how had I never made the connection?
