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Marlow glared at him. “She’s my mother. There’s no law that says I can’t speak to her,” she said petulantly.
“Like hell there isn’t,” Andrew shouted. “She left us. Did you forget that?”
“No, I didn’t forget. I’m just not sure I care anymore.”
Holt’s lips parted like she’d punched him in the stomach. “Did she tell you she left because of me?” His voice was deathly quiet.
Marlow paled. “Holt. I told you, I shouldn’t have said that. I was lashing out. It was an awful thing to say.”
“Answer the question.”
She popped up from her chair and took her wine with her over to the window.
“What the hell? Dad gave up everything to take care of us. What if he’d abandoned us too?” Andrew followed her. “How could you betray him like this? Betray all of us?”
Trish glanced at me, her expression helpless, just as I felt.
“I didn’t betray any of you,” she yelled.
Ella shrieked back, a series of sharp wails in succession. Trish was halfway out of her seat when I motioned for her to sit.
I lifted Ella from the carrier and bounced her until she quieted.
“What was I supposed to do? Refuse to give her a chance?” Marlow stared out the window.
“Yes. That’s exactly what you should have done.” Andrew folded his arms across his chest.
“You still haven’t answered my question.” Holt’s voice had a quality I’d never heard. There wasn’t only hurt and betrayal, it was as if he’d turned off the part of him that felt.
“It doesn’t matter—”
“It does to me.” He slammed his bottle on the table.
“Yes. She said she left because of you, okay?” The second the words ripped from her mouth, Marlow covered it with her hands.
Wordless, Holt stood. He grabbed his keys off the counter.
“Holt. Wait up, man.” Andrew streaked across the room, but he wasn’t fast enough.
I jumped when the door slammed. Stared at it as Andrew followed after him.
Slowly, I pivoted toward Marlow. With measured steps, I crossed the distance between us.
“I understand arguments. Saying things you don’t mean. But that—” I pointed toward the door, my hand trembling with rage. “What you just did. I will never, ever understand. And if you can’t be more respectful, you aren’t welcome in this house.”
I turned away, unable to look at her a second more. Blake wailed, no doubt affected by the tension. Ella screamed in response, and I passed her off to Trish before I doubled back.
I poked my finger into Marlow’s shoulder. “He loves you. He’s been there for you his whole life. And you thinkshe’sworth more?” I threw my hands in the air. “What you’ve got is rare. And you’re a damn fool not to see it.”
I’d almost reached the kitchen when her words stopped me in my tracks. “You don’t know anything. About me. About Holt. About Celia. About Cameron. About my family. So don’t you dare judge me.”
“I don’t have to know everything. Ifeelit. If I had what you do, I’d never throw it away.” I tried and failed miserably to keep my anger in check. “And Marlow, an apology isn’t going to cut it. Even if Holt forgives you, I don’t know if I ever will.”
“I don’t give a damn what you think of me. I finally have a mother, and I don’t have to justify that to you or anyone.”
“I hope she’s enough, because you may have just lost the rest of your family.”
Marlow sank her teeth into her lower lip and straightened her shoulders. “Thanks for dinner.” She picked up Blake’s carrier and her bag.
