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“Why are you with him, then?” Betty gets off the couch to face me. “Is it for his money? Because he’s so successful now?”
My trembling hands clench at my sides. How dare she?
“Or is it because you can’t let go of Trisha?”
I grow still at the sound of her name.
“Is that why you’re clinging to Jackson? Because by having him by your side, you still feel like you have – ”
“Enough!” I snap at her.
She can insult me all she wants, but I’m not going to let her drag Trisha into this.
“Are you saying you love him, then?” Betty asks me as she looks into my eyes.
Again, I freeze.
“Are you saying you’re not just physically attracted to this Jackson who looks very different from the one you used to have a crush on? That you don’t just feel obliged to love him because you think he loves you?”
I don’t answer. I don’t know the answer.
I know I’m supposed to say yes. That’s what a real fiancee is supposed to say. But I can’t. I can’t make up an answer when the question feels too real.
Am I just physically attracted to Jackson? But if that’s the case, doesn’t that mean all I want from him is sex? If so, why would I get mad at him for having sex with me?
Why do I want to stay by his side, then? Because of Maisie? Because I want to help him take care of her? Am I just trying to repay his kindness, or is it something else entirely?
Betty snorts. “Just as I thought, you don’t love him.”
I glare at her. “And you think you’re an expert in love, do you?”
Betty’s eyes grow wide.
Right. I can throw insults, too.
“You think that loving your granddaughter means having her all to yourself,” I go on. “Do you think that taking Maisie away from her father will make her happy?”
Betty’s jaw clenches. Now I’ve made her mad. Well, that means we’re on the same playing field now.
“Are you presuming to know what’s right for my granddaughter when you’re not related to her in any way, when you’re only using her father for your own selfish needs?”
I hold my chin high. “You think it’s none of my business. Maybe you’re right. Well, now you know how it feels to have someone meddle in your business the way you’ve been meddling in mine.”
The veins on Betty’s forehead look like they’re on the verge of popping.
“Why, you little bitch!”
“Says the woman who came here just to insult me. Hasn’t anyone taught you that if you can’t say anything kind, you shouldn’t say anything?”
Did she think that she’d win by trying to make me feel like dirt? All she’s accomplished is to show me just how despicable she can be.
Betty doesn’t answer. Her eyes glare at me. Well, she can glare all she wants, but I’m not going to turn into stone.
“Just go,” I tell her calmly as I gesture to the front door.
For a moment, she just stands there, still glaring, seething. Then she draws a deep breath, grabs her purse and walks out of the room. Moments later, I hear the front door opening and slamming shut.
I sink into a chair and touch my forehead.
God, Maisie’s grandmother is such a pain to deal with. It’s almost worse than the hangover I was feeling earlier.
I let out a sigh as I look at the ceiling then close my eyes. Betty is just so exhausting.
I think of going back to bed, of taking the rest of the day off as well. Instead, I sit up. I’ve shown Betty that she can’t squash me so easily. I’m not letting her stop me from doing what I have to do.
Besides, Jackson might have told Ken I’m not going to work because I’m not feeling well, but I’m sure she’s still pissed I’m not there.
I stand up and walk to the front door.
~
“Well, well, well.” Ken puts her hands on her hips as soon as she sees me. “Look who came back from the brink of death.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t come in this morning,” I say as I pull the chair out of my desk. “I feel better now.”
She leans on my desk. “Do you mean that the alcohol has worn off now or that you and Jackson have made up?”
I look at her with arched eyebrows. “What?”
Did Jackson tell her what happened?
“No, he didn’t tell me anything,” Ken answers my silent question. “But it doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together. There were some open bottles of wine lying around when I got here. Only you and Jackson were here yesterday. You weren’t feeling well and he seemed pissed. So yeah, I think you had your own little party, got drunk, had sex, and both regret it now that you’re sober.”
