Sam stared down me, unblinking. “So you changed your mind about leaving. But you could’ve changed it back once you found out you were pregnant.”
“By then he’d left me. I was miserable and freaking out, but Craig was there, and he offered . . . well, he said he’d marry me and be the baby’s father. We’d been hanging out already, and I know now it sounds dumb, but I thought . . . why not? He was so excited, and I figured it might work.”
“Itmightwork.” Sam slammed his hand down onto the table, and I jumped a mile. “God, Ali, when did you become such an idiot? Where did I go wrong, that you thought it was okay to fuck with people’s lives, so long as you didn’t have to be inconvenienced?” He was yelling now, and I cowered, burying my face in my arms.
“Sam.” A soft voice in the doorway pulled our attention away from each other. Meghan had changed into jeans and one of Sam’s flannel shirts. Her hair was down around her drawn face as she glanced from my brother to me.
“Meghan.” He crossed the room to pull her into his arms. “I thought you were going to get a nap before you went back to Savannah.”
She laid her cheek against his chest for a moment, and a surge of jealousy shot through me. I wanted that. I wanted that security, that comfort. It was killing me that I’d never have it with the one person I needed.
“I was lying down, but I could hear you arguing.” She looked at me around his shoulder. “Sam, you need to cut Ali a break. Don’t yell. Let’s just sit down and talk about this calmly.”
“But you don’t know—” He began to speak, and then realization dawned in his eyes. “You do know. You knew already, didn’t you?”
“Sam, don’t blame Meghan.” I couldn’t let my crap get between my brother and the love of his life. “I told her last summer, before the two of you were together. I begged her not to tell you, and I promised I would. It’s all my fault.”
Sam studied her, his fingers gripping her chin. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead into hers for a moment before he looked at me again. “God, Ali. I’m beginning to feel like I don’t even know you. So not only did you lie to me for years, you pulled Meghan into it, too. You put her in a rotten position.”
“I’m sorry.” I wiped at my cheeks. “I’m sorry, Sam. And Meghan. I didn’t mean to screw everything up. I just wanted to protect Bridget.”
A loud creaking outside drew our attention away from the tension in the room. Meghan pushed her hair away from her face and glanced at me. “That’s the bus. Bridget can’t come into this, not right now. How about I take her into town and get some ice cream while you two settle down? Work this out.”
I nodded. “Thank you, Meghan. That would be great. I really appreciate it.” I paused for a beat, and then added, “You’ll keep her away from the Evans’ house, right? Just in case.”
Sam snorted, but Meghan ignored him. “I’ll do my best. But Ali, you need to make this right. I know it’s going to be hard, and painful, but you’ve got to do it.”
I didn’t answer, and she sighed as she stood on her toes to kiss Sam. He caught her arm and pulled her tighter.
“Are you sure about this? I thought you were heading back to the city tonight.”
She touched his cheek. “I think I’ll wait until tomorrow. I don’t have anything pressing back there tonight, and maybe I can help out a little.” She kissed him and went out the front door.
“She’s right, you know.” Sam leaned against the archway that led from the living room into the kitchen. “You need to tell Flynn the truth. Now. Before he leaves town again.”
My stomach clenched. “But what if he tries to take Bridget away from me? Sam, I’ll die. I can’t lose her. She’s my life.”
My brother pressed his lips together. “Yeah, I know. But you should’ve thought about that before you kept her from her dad all these years.”
When I began to sob in earnest, Sam relented, sighing and pulling up a chair next to me. “Come on, Ali. This is Flynn. He’d never take her away from you. But he deserves to know the truth, and he definitely needs to get to know his daughter. If I ever found out I had a kid and the mother hadn’t told me, I’d be furious about the time I didn’t get. But more than that, I’d want to make sure I didn’t miss anything else in her life.”
“Sam.” I managed to speak somehow. “But what if he hates me? What if Flynn . . . despises me?”
He slowly shook his head. “I don’t know, Ali. I guess you take it one step at a time and hope for the best.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and drew me tight to his side. “But I promise we’ll get through it together, no matter what happens. Okay? I’m here for you.” He tilted my chin up until my teary eyes met his. “I always have been. Don’t forget it.”
“HEY, REENIE, YOU SEEN my gray sweatshirt?” I stood at the bottom of the steps and yelled upstairs. A wave of déjà vu swept over me. It felt like I’d never left home, with my sister stealing my clothes.
“No, you big doofus. You left it on the chair in the kitchen and I hung it up in your closet. You know, like, where the clothes live.”
I bit back a smartass retort. I was mature. I wasn’t the little brother. I didn’t have to sink to her level. “Thanks, Maureen.” I took the steps two at a time, and like I’d done my whole life, when I got to the top, I gripped the newel post and swung around into my bedroom door. Only today, I nearly toppled over my mother, who was in the hall, carrying a basket of dirty clothes.
“Watch it, kid. You’re not one of the Flying Wallengos. And you’re old enough to know better.” She fastened me with a quelling look, one eyebrow raised. I dropped a kiss on her cheek before I slid into my room.
“Sorry, Ma. Old habit.” I paused, glancing at her over my shoulder. “You need help with that laundry?”
“No, thanks.” She propped the basket on her hip and leaned against my door jam, studying me. “So. Are you . . .” She licked her lips, and I realized she was nervous about something. “Have you thought about how long you’re staying? In town, I mean.”
I stuck my hands in the front pockets of my jeans. “Uh, well.” I cleared my throat. “I have a job in Los Angeles. Tomorrow. I thought I’d drive into Savannah tomorrow morning, drop off the rental car and catch a flight to Atlanta to make my connection. With the time difference, I can still make it on time.”
