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Sara looks mortified and tears well in her eyes. I have to push hard against the anger that builds inside me when I see my girl start to cry. I remind myself that Susan is her mother and that this must be a hard moment for her, too. I take Sara in my arms and tell her, “It’s gonna be okay. We’re all adults here. Just breathe. We can sit right here until you’re ready.”
“I don’t know what to say to her,” Sara replies, sniffling and wiping her tears angrily.
“You don’t have to justify anything. It’s an uncomfortable situation, and she’s probably out there trying to figure out what to say to you, too.” I try to speak in a flat tone, but deep inside, I’m seething because I never want to see Sara upset.
“Maybe she left. Can you go see?” I’m loath to leave her alone, but I nod and get off the bed.
Susan is seated at the kitchen table, talking to someone on the phone and refusing to make eye contact with me, so I walk right by and go outside. I walk to my truck, planning to pretend that I need something from it, and end up face-to-face with my father.
“What are you doing, Sam? She’s your step sister!” he yells and shakes his head disapprovingly at me.
I rub a hand on my forehead. “I met her before I knew you married her mother, dad.”
“What does that matter? When you found out, you should have backed off,” he tells me, pointing an accusing finger at my chest.
“Why? We didn’t play in the backyard together and eat family dinners. Susan didn’t bathe me and tuck me in at night. You’re acting like we have some kind of family bond. We don’t. We met and had chemistry and now we’re together. Just like you and Susan.” I try to keep my temper in check, but I hate how they’re acting like we’re doing something awful.
“Ha, chemistry is it? Or is your dick doing all the thinking for you?” He steps back and snickers.
“We’re together. She’s my girl,” I tell him, my voice low but with conviction.
“Well, that would be a first, wouldn’t it? We have a realtor for a walk-through any minute now, so it’s probably best if you leave.” He turns his back to me and walks toward the front door.
“Sure, but I’m taking Sara with me.”
“Good. Her mother doesn’t need this right now. We’ll discuss it after we take care of our business.” He opens the door and steps inside. I hastily follow him.
Sara is standing in the kitchen looking down at her feet when we come in. Susan stares at my father and says, “Do you believe this?”
“I told Sam that we’ll discuss it later. Let’s just get this walk-through taken care of.” He’s frustrated, and I can’t really blame him.
“Sara, let’s go get some breakfast.” For a minute, I thought she’s going to refuse, but she rushes back to the bedroom to put herself together as I go to the living room to collect my jacket. I reach into my pocket and pull out my cell phone. There’s a missed call from a number that I don’t recognize and a new voicemail. I’m about to check it when Sara comes in and tells me she’s ready, so I put the phone back in my pocket.
We get in the truck and I take her hand, grazing the back of it with my mouth. “It’s going to be okay.”
“She’s really mad.” Her eyes are red and puffy, so I lean towards her and plant a kiss on her forehead.
“It’s okay, we’ll get through this together,” I assure her. “You’re mine and they’re just gonna have to accept that.”
7
News at Six
Sara
Sam and I have breakfast then go to the shelter to check on the volunteers and pick up my car. When we enter the building, a volunteer named Kelley hands me a phone message scribbled on a post-it note. I look at Sam and smile.
“What’s that smile for?” He tilts his head to the side, a half-smile playing on his lips.
“Are you ready to be famous? They want to interview you on the news tonight.”
“Seriously? Come on,” he grumbles.
“You said you would,” I remind him. With a hand on my hip, I point the paper to him. “And hey, at least something good will happen today.”
His gaze softens, and he comes up to me for a hug. “Anything for you, princess.”
* * *
