Page 24 of His Wounded Heart

“I left you,” I whisper.

“You were trying to better yourself so you could earn more money, remember? You were bound and determined to make our situation better.”

“Yeah, and instead I came back broke and pregnant.”

“You gave us all Bella. She was a shining light.”

“Another mouth to feed.”

“Hush up. She was the best thing that ever happened to this family and you know it.”

I suck down the tears that are ready to fall. I can’t lay my past on Evie; I’ve said enough.

“Trenda, you might not be willing to tell me everything, but now I know, this man needs to die.”

I can see the feral look in my sister’s eyes and don’t doubt her words.

“He’s in my past. I never want to think of him again.”

“Give me a name.”

My laugh is weak. Evie is serious. “Nope, not going to happen. No matter what, he fathered Bella, and that’s a gift. He’s done. Over. Never to be thought of again.”

“That’s not true. He’s holding you back from living a happy life. It’s killing me that you won’t open yourself up to happiness.”

I frown. “What are you talking about? I am happy. I have my daughter and all of you. I don’t need a man to complete me. What’s more, I know for a fact I would choose a loser. So this topic is closed. Got it?”

“Trenda, I absolutely fucking agree that you don’t need a man to complete you. You are perfect the way you are. All I’m saying is that opening up your heart, just a little bit so that you might find someone special would be a good thing.”

“You lucked out with Aiden.”

“Yeah, I did. God knows I wasn’t open to love, but that bastard just steamrollered right on past every single fence, gate, and barrier I had. I didn’t stand a chance.”

“Well, there you go. You didn’t have your heart open to love, to get your one and only, why are you feeding me this garbage that I need to open mine? Especially when we know that my heart and brain are flawed and they pick assholes.”

“Asshole. You’ve picked one asshole, not plural. You were young and stupid. You’re my big sister. Who do I come to for advice? You. Why? Because you’re wise, and these days you would see through an asshole like the one in Nashville.”

I reach out and take my little sister’s hand. She grasps it and holds it tight.

“I appreciate everything you just had to say. I do. But a man just isn’t in the cards for me,” I whisper.

Now Evie looks as sad as I must have just a minute ago.

“Okay,” she says softly. “But I’m going to say one more thing, and then I won’t bring this up ever again, okay?”

I sigh, then nod.

“Kids watch their parents. They emulate their parents. Pushing men away, and never being open to a relationship with a man, are those the traits you want Bella to emulate?”

I bite my lip and look over at the fridge where school pictures of Bella and all of her artwork are hanging. I can’t deal with what Evie is saying. I just can’t. Not after thinking about Brantley and what really happened the night I left him. I turn back to her and paste a smile on my face.

“So, you want a baby, huh?” I ask.

Evie sighs, then smiles. “Oh, yeah. I want a little girl just like Bella.”

“I want to hear more.” I smile as I guide her back to the table.

Evie hadn’t left much of the coffee cake. Just two slices left, one for Bella and one for me. We will have them for dessert tonight. I’ll never know where Evie puts away all that food in her tiny body, and never gains weight. It must be how fast her mind spins.