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“Troy, no. We are not doing this again.”
He took her hands and held on tight. “Please, Hannah. I’ve screwed up, but I’m working on fixing myself. I promise I will do whatever it takes to make you happy.”
She turned her head, wishing she could just vanish into the ground to escape this embarrassing scene, and saw Jake standing in front of the tent, arms crossed over his chest.
She turned back to Troy on his knees, tears streaming down his face. “Please, Hannah. For Emma.”
Anger burned in Hannah’s chest. From inside the tent, she heard cheering and clapping. She hoped whatever was happening would distract people a little longer. “This isn’t going to happen. You need to let go.”
“What?” Troy stood up. The tears dried up instantly, and dark shadows covered his eyes. “Are you serious?’
“Go. I mean it, Troy.”
“I’m not leaving without you!”
He put a heavy, possessive hand on her arm, and Jake was there so fast he almost seemed to have teleported.
He grabbed Troy by the collar and threw him back, sending him stumbling to the ground. The ring box fell out of Troy’s hand, bouncing against the grass.
Troy got up and charged Jake with a roar. “Stay away from my wife!” Troy threw a punch, missing Jake by inches.
“Leave Hannah alone!”
Hannah ran back to the tent. People were clapping and cheering, the music still obscuring the scene outside.
Olivia grabbed her arm. “Oh my God, Hannah!” Olivia’s beamed. “You just missed it! Aunt Rosie’s pregnant! They’re hoping for a girl!”
She looked at Hannah and saw something was wrong. “What is it?” she asked, setting down her drink.
Hannah pointed to the entrance, stifling a sob. “Troy showed up, and now he’s in a fight with Jake!”
Olivia’s expression grew grim and she grabbed Jessie, who was standing a few feet away, chatting with a neighbor. She dragged him, protesting, out of the tent, with Hannah following behind.
“Get out of here, Higgins!” Olivia yelled out, but Jake was holding him fast as Troy squirmed and flailed his arms.
Jesse scowled. “You never learn your lesson, do you Troy?”
“Okay! Okay! I won’t fight,” Troy promised, holding up his hands in surrender, but Hannah didn’t trust a word that came out of his mouth.
Jake slowly loosed his grip.
“I swear I’m making changes, good changes, ask Pastor Phil,” he pleaded. “I got a job, ask Jake. Ask him. I work at the construction site.”
Hannah looked at Jake.
Jake wanted to pretend he didn’t know, make Troy look like the jerk he was, but Jake wasn’t a liar. “That’s true,” he said grudgingly.
He dropped Troy’s arm, and the little man cowered away from him.
Olivia pointed to the road. “Get out of here, before I call the police.”
Hannah just hoped he’d give in before Emma or any of the other kids noticed what was happening.
Olivia pulled out her phone, but Hannah put a hand on her arm. “Olivia, stop. He’s going to leave. Right, Troy?”
“Don’t ever step foot back on this property,” Jesse said.
“Whatever. Hannah, you’ve always been a selfish slut.” He spit on the ground and stalked away. Olivia stood protectively in front of Hannah as Jake and Jesse escorted Troy from the property.
