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“No, I’m too nervous now to leave him. I wanted him with me today.”
“Did you talk to Chris?”
“He came back right after I talked to everyone last night. He’d forgotten where all his stuff was. But we made up and are going to take it one day at a time. I can’t even imagine marrying him right now. I have to focus on my son.”
“Having a kid sure changes everything. Okay, then. I’m going to invite myself to lunch at Maggie’s house and then get back to work.”
He turned to leave but she wanted to apologize to him before he got away. “Dave, one more thing. I’m sorry about yesterday, about my swim. Chris was upset about it and I’m sorry for causing an issue with him and you guys.”
“Hey, you didn’t offend me,” he replied, barking out a laugh. “Like Katrina said, we’re just one big family. It’s all good.”
“Well, whatever. I said my piece.”
“And I accept your apology. You can tell Chris that for me, although it’s not necessary. See you later!”
Annie watched him walk to his truck, get in, and aim for Maggie’s cottage. Justin’s truck was there. It was a family luncheon. Inexplicably, she felt left out. Chris was their half brother, not a Chastain.
“Stop it,” she mumbled, crouching down to play with her son for a while.
“Is he gone?” Kelly hissed from the hallway.
“Yep, he’s gone.”
“I guess it’s true then. My mother hurt my nephew.”
Teary-eyed, Kelly came around the counter and sat on the floor next to Stevie, who immediately put his arms around her neck and sat on her lap, the love between them clear.
“She admitted that it was a tug-of-war that got out of hand. I know how stubborn Stevie can be.”
“Just like my brother,” Kelly said, grimacing. “My mother used to fight with Steve all the time. She’d catch him and drag him to his room, often snagging him with her nails, just like this.” She pointed to the scratches on the back of the toddler’s neck. “It was a classic parent-child battle. I swore I’d never have children because of my mother’s interaction with Steve. You saw how permissive I am with my son. And now she’s doing the same thing to his kid. You’d think she would have learned her lesson by now.”
“Dave said she might have to take parenting classes. I know she’s got to be upset. I’m sorry it came to this. But I’m glad you’re not angry with me.”
“Not at all. We work well together; my mother and I, not so much. Don’t get me wrong; I love my parents. But right now, with my father and Lola’s disgusting affair, and this latest crap with my mother falling off the wagon, I’m over it.”
“I want my son to have a relationship with his grandparents, so hopefully this isn’t going to cause long-lasting problems.”
“My brother shouldn’t get away with it, either.”
Frowning, Annie wasn’t sure what Kelly was getting at. “Steve didn’t do anything wrong though.”
“I disagree! After not seeing him all week, he left his child with his drunken mother so he could take his girlfriend to the diner. He needs to be held accountable.”
Annie thought about what Kelly had revealed. Evidently, Steve had lied, saying they were going to Walmart. She wasn’t going to go into that with Kelly. But she would call her lawyer as soon as she got home.
A customer came in, looking for a kitten to adopt, so Kelly got up to assist with that. At the same time, Annie’s phone beeped. It was Chris.
“I’m at the house. I might drive over to Mobile and rent a truck to move my furniture in.”
“Wow, it’s really happening then.”
“It is. I’ll probably spend the night, Annie. By the time I get a truck and load it up, it’ll be late.”
“It’s probably for the best,” Annie said, feeling uncertain and not exactly knowing why.
“How’s everything at the rescue?”
“Good. I’m going to whisper so let me know if you can hear me.”
