AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Maddox’s eyes welled up, and then he started crying. Ellie wrapped her arm around him, and he let her. He cried into her chest, and the helpless look in Savannah’s eyes told me she might burst into tears at any moment.
“Look what you didnow,” Gloria sneered, her eyes on Ellie.
Perhaps I should’ve listened to Ellie when she’d said this was a bad idea. I just hadn’t realized their relationship had become so explosive. I hated it for Ellie, and I hated it for all of us. Tessa would’ve hated it too.
“Now, Gloria—” Dan said.
She held up a hand. “No. You always make excuses for her, but I will not be treated this way in my own home.” Gloria stood from the table, placing her palms on the surface.
“Thank you for dinner,” I said to Dan. “It’s time for us to go. Come on, kids.” I stood and grabbed Savannah’s hand, eager to leave before the situation could get any more out of hand.
“That’s not necessary,” Gloria said, then glared at Ellie. “If anyone should go, it’sher.”
Ellie picked up Maddox, carrying him toward the door. She spoke to him in hushed tones, and I watched them go.
“Daddy, I want to go,” Savannah whispered, her voice carrying through the room.
I rubbed her shoulder, trying to remain calm. “Yep. We’re going, sweetie.” My voice was tight. “Can you grab your sweater? I’ll be right out.”
She nodded and snatched it from the chair before bolting for the door. As soon as I heard it close, I turned to Gloria.
“That was completely uncalled for.” I was so angry, I was practically vibrating with the force of it. “And if you ever speak to Ellie or my kids like that again—” I shook my head, trying not to completely lose it. “Family dinner will be off the table.”
FIVE
I stared up at my parents’ house, still fuming about the whole astronaut thing. I could notbelievemy mother had said that. I couldn’t believe she’d crush her grandson’s hopes, and his spirit, by telling Maddox that we couldn’t fly to heaven, no matter how much we might want to.
I wanted to scream at her. Slap some sense into her.Something.
Maddox was four years old.Four!
He’d lost his mom and was just looking for a little comfort.
Tristan placed his hand on my thigh, perhaps sensing the murderous turn to my thoughts. “You okay?” he mouthed.
I glanced back at the kids, noting their downturned expressions. Then I faced the windshield and shook my head. No. I wasnotokay. Because those kids were hurting. Maddox and Savannah were hurting.
All evening, I’d held it in. For years, actually. When my mother belittled me and my choices. When she made snide remarks. I’d let so many things slide, but this time, she’d gone too far.
I clenched my fists, wishing I could go back in time and erase that entire conversation. It was irrational, I knew. But I would do anything to protect those kids, and I did mean anything.
Tristan gave my thigh a squeeze then released me, yet the feel of his touch remained. For a moment, I forgot about my mom and focused on his hands. It was as if he’d branded my skin.
During the drive home, I toyed with my necklace—the one Tessa had given me for my eighteenth birthday. It was a gold outline of a chrysanthemum with my name as the stem of the flower. She’d told me chrysanthemums were symbols of optimism, friendship, and joy. All the things she’d said I’d reminded her of.
She’d added a matching gold chrysanthemum charm to the bracelet she’d always worn. I peered out the window and wondered what had happened to it now that she was gone. I hoped Tristan had saved it for the kids. One of her most prized charms had been a disk with Tristan’s, Savannah’s, and Maddox’s first initials.
As we drove through town, I admired the storefronts, studying the new arrivals in an effort to calm myself. Lick was still there, of course. I was going to have to pay the ice cream shop a visit soon. The bookstore, Bibliolater. I’d seen posts about a mystery event coming up, and I studied their window display for any clues. I was intrigued, and I knew the kids were too.
We passed by the restaurant Larkspur. A new yarn store—Get Knotty. AndThe Vinehad posted about it and several other upcoming developments, as well as a new “Ask V” advice column. If I’d dared to write in, I wondered what pearls of wisdom V would’ve had about my mother, Mayor Gloria Curran.
When we got home, the kids asked me to put them to bed. I went upstairs to help them get ready, and Tristan took Rex out. While Savannah showered, I grabbed a pair of Maddox’s pajamas from the drawer and set them on top of the dresser.
“I don’t want those,” he huffed.
He grabbed the space-themed pajamas and shoved them back into the drawer, before grabbing a pair of dinosaur ones. His movements were agitated, and he avoided my gaze.
“That’s fine,” I said in a calm tone.
