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I laugh, kissing the baby’s head, and continuing to humFlowersas I move with him.
“Here’s Huxley,” Mack says, and we glance over as he comes into the room. To my surprise, he doesn’t walk over to us, but instead goes up to the bar and orders a drink. We watch as he downs it in one.
“Uh-oh,” Elizabeth says. “Something’s wrong.”
Puzzled, I exchange a glance with Evie, and then we watch Oliver order another drink and bring it over to us.
“Hey,” Elizabeth says. “Everything all right?”
“Yep,” he says.
“Where’s Titus?” I ask.
He glances over his shoulder. “On his way, I expect.” He has a sip of his drink.
“Out with it,” Chrissie says. “What’s going on?”
He hesitates. Then he looks at me.
I hand Robin back to Abigail. “What’s the matter?” I ask, my heart starting to race.
“I’m sorry,” he says. He puts down his glass. Then he comes over and puts his arms around me.
Baffled, I slide my arms around his waist and rub his back. “Come on, tell me, what’s going on? Is it something to do with Titus?”
“No, no. It’s Dad.”
I move back. “Is he all right?”
“Yes. But… Titus told me.”
I go still. I know what he’s referring to.
“What do you mean?” Evie asks. “Told you what?”
Oliver looks at his sisters. “When Heidi left the house, she had a big argument with Dad.”
“Yeah,” Chrissie says, “we know. She told us.”
“Did she tell you that he hit her?”
They all blink, then turn to stare at me.
“What?” Evie demands.
Abigail’s jaw has dropped. “You’re kidding.”
“A backhander across the face,” he says. Now I understand. I thought he was upset, and he is, but that’s not his strongest emotion. He’s absolutely furious.
“You’ve spoken to him,” I whisper.
He looks back at me, lowering his arms. “I asked him to leave, and I told him he’s not coming to the wedding.”
My mouth opens, but no words come out.
“Shit,” Mack says.
“Oh my God,” Chrissie whispers, looking at me. “He hit you?”
