AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But Chance leaned forward. “Yeah, that’s possible,” he said. “It’s more than possible. It’s accurate.”
Sasha turned back to him with a sense of relief. “So, how did it go? You wanted to celebrate New Year’s and Bethany wanted to stay home with the baby?”
“Why would you assume she wanted to have a quiet evening at home and I wanted to party?”
She cocked her head and studied him. “I didn’t assume. I asked.”
He huffed. “Well, as a matter of fact, you have it backward. I’m the one who didn’t want to come. I was more than happy to have a nice dinner, open a bottle of wine, and watch an old movie while Rowan slept in the bassinet. Trust me, my partying days are behind me. But Bethany insisted. She wouldn’t let it go. Wehadto come.”
His wife sighed loudly. He ignored her and went on. “And you know, she’s been so miserable, I thought maybe she just needs to blow off steam. Maybe a weekend away would be good for her, good for us. So I finally agreed. And she’s still being a complete witch.”
“That’s nice. Real nice, Chance.”
“You are.”
Bethany’s eyes snapped, but she took her ire out on Sasha rather than her husband. “He’s not wrong, though. Itisan insulting question. So, because I quit my job to stay home with Rowan, I can’t ever leave the house again?”
“I didn’t say that. And it’s certainly not what I meant.”
Sasha threw Naya a look. “A little help?”
“You’re on your own here,” Naya mumbled.
“She’s been like this since Rowan was born,” Chance complained. “Can you imagine what it’s like to live with someone who’s always this cranky?”
“I’m under a lot of pressure, Chance.” Bethany bit off the words.
“What pressure? You feed the baby and change a few diapers.”
“Oh, no, he didn’t,” Daniel said, wide-eyed.
“Some people lack a self-preservation instinct,” Chris told him. “I think it’s an evolutionary thing. Men like Chance will die out after a few more generations.”
“I’m not sure that’s how Darwinism works,” Daniel said.
“It should be.”
Sasha hid her smile as she turned her attention from Chris and Daniel’s repartee and eyed Chance steadily. “Speaking as a mother, caring for an infant is more involved than changing diapers and doing feedings.”
He dragged his fingers through his hair, leaving it standing on end. “I know. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just … she’s been so unpleasant since we had the baby.”
Maisy squinted at him. “You do know that postpartum depression is a thing, right?”
“I’m not depressed,” Bethany insisted.
But Chance had already grasped at the idea with both hands. “Maybe you are. Maybe we should talk to a doctor.”
“Sure, right, I’m depressed. I’m not legitimately and understandably angry that my husband went behind my back and betrayed me while I was literally delivering the placenta.”
Carl grimaced, and Naya smacked his arm.
“Oh, this again,” Chance said dismissively.
Bethany rounded on him. “I told you no.”
“You were being irrational and emotional,” he shot back.
“What did he do?” Annette asked, giving Bethany a wide-eyed look.
