She walks into my office moments later, surprising me. I didn’t expect her home for another two hours. I push my chair back, and she sits on my lap. She doesn’t object when she notices Finch lying under the desk.
“Rub my shoulders. I’m so tired.” I do what she says, and she moans under my touch. “I think we should cancel tonight’s dinner with my parents.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to go. I have a bad feeling about it. My mom called me three times today, and I have a feeling there’s going to be some bullshit. I’m not in the mood. I’ll cook.” I kiss the side of her neck while I think of a way to respond. “You can drop off those things you bought for Ruby tomorrow. Did you think I didn’t see them?”
“Sweetheart, she needs a few things.” I rest my head on her back. “I don’t think we should punish her because of her father. Besides, I really want to see her. It’s been days.”
“A few things? You can open up a baby store with all the stuff you stashed away. And I told you not to get attached. Now, look at you.”
“Well,” is all I can think of to say.
“You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I told you a long time ago that I love babies.”
“How about you love on me? Let’s go to bed until it’s time to go to that awful dinner.”
Cori rolls her eyes from across the room, but I bring Ruby to her. The baby reaches for Cori’s wine glass, so I move her away.
“That dress is ridiculous.” Cori fluffs the long, flowy pink skirt, and Ruby gurgles. “I could have made something better.”
“Well, why didn’t you?” I bend down and kiss her cheek. I notice her mother watching us with a wistful look on her face. Her brother is sitting in the living room watching television while the housekeeper brings dinner into the dining room.
“Cori, do you think your dad and I can come visit the shop this week?” Cori’s eyes light up at her mother’s question.
“Yes. I’d like for you to see the before and after.” Cori pulls out her iPad and sits next to her mother. Her father joins them, and I listen as she talks about her vision for the shop and how exhausting it is to start a business.
“Is it legal for you to sell wedding dresses without a license?” Devin asks from the other room. Cori, as if she didn’t hear the question, continues telling her parents about her plans. “You never even went to design school. You never left Shadow Cove. What are you going to do? Make wedding dresses for small-town bumpkins?”
Cori looks up from her iPad, but she doesn’t look at her brother. Her eyes are on me. “Can you fire him or something? His voice is grating on my nerves.”
“Devin, if you don’t have anything nice to say, shut the hell up.” Leander’s voice is firm. Devin tosses the remote on the couch like an angry teenager.
“Why are you always on my back lately?” Devin snaps. “And always kissing Cori’s behind because she’s married and has a stupid business. She hasn’t even sold a dress yet.”
“Hey, now,” I begin in defense of my wife, but Leander cuts me off.
“She’s doing something,” her father says.
“Well, so am I. I’m working my ass off, and all you do is snap at me.”
“If you don’t like it, you can get the hell out of my house and find your own place to live.” Annette gasps at her husband’s booming voice, but Cori gets a smug look on her face.
Devin loses some of his color. Ruby starts to cry, and I walk around with her to soothe her.
“Leander, where is he supposed to go?” Annette asks. “Lay off him.”
“Yeah, that’s how we got here,” Cori says. “Always laying off him.”
“Got where?” Devin challenges, but Cori ignores him and points to something on her iPad for her mother to see. Annette looks from her son to the iPad, but she seems tense. “Such a bitch.”
Without thinking about it, I shove his chest so hard that he falls on his ass.
“Don’t call my wife names.” Devin looks around as if asking for help. Annette reaches for her walker, but her son stands, and she drops her hand.
“Daxton, honey, we don’t put hands on each other in this house.” Her voice is soft as usual, but holds a tinge of annoyance.
