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“Do you want me to—” I pushed my chair back, ready to stand, when Sarah placed her hand on my arm.
“I think Bella can take care of her own child, babe.” Sarah’s tone was sweet, but I could hear the snide remarks bubbling underneath.
I watched as redness appeared on Bella’s chest and rose to her face, and I wasn’t sure whether it was from anger or humiliation; possibly both. At one point, I would have known exactly what she was thinking and feeling. But not anymore. It killed me how far apart we had drifted.
“It’s fine. I got him.” Her hands shook as she fumbled unsuccessfully with the buckles as Brendan continued to fuss.
“Here.” Ashley stood, shoving away Bella’s hands. “Let me help.” She took over, unbuckling him from the seat, then picked him up and disappeared through the open archway that led into the family room to calm him. But his call of my name was still loud enough we could all hear.
“Excuse me,” Bella mumbled as she moved toward the kitchen. I expected her to slide the large gray barn door fully shut, but it stood half open, giving me a view of her small frame leaning on the island, head bowed as if she was trying to compose herself. It killed me that I couldn’t be sure if she was crying or not.
“This is ridiculous,” Ashley snapped at me moments later as she reentered the dining room with the still screaming Brendan. “He wantsyou.”
Sarah shook her head, and I was about to tell her to get over it when Ashley beat me to the punch.
“Oh, Lord.” Her dramatic eye roll told me she’d had enough. “You’re going to have to get used to this, Sarah. Rhett is like an uncle to Brendan, and sometimes heonlywants Rhett.”
“Here, I’ll take him. Want to sit with me, little man?” I reached out and took Brendan from Ashley. He leaned back against me and stuck his thumb in his mouth, finally content.
Sarah huffed and crossed her arms. Her icy glare that was now directed at Ashley spoke volumes.
Well, this went to shit quickly.
Ashley glanced through the open doorway into the kitchen. “I’ll go see if Bella needs help getting the desserts.” She jerked the sliding door fully shut behind her, causing the black track above to vibrate from the force.
Wow, she’s pissed.
An awkward silence hung over the table, and all eyes were on me. But I wasn’t sure what they expected me to do or say. I didn’t realize there would be this much hostility between Bella and Sarah. I wouldn’t have called them friends exactly, but at work, they seemed fine until yesterday.
“Where’s the powder room?” Sarah asked my mother, refusing to meet my gaze, clearly pissed at me too. What did she want me to do, refuse to take Brendan? What the fuck would that have accomplished?
“Through the kitchen. Off the mudroom on the right,” my mom explained.
“Thank you.” Sarah exited the dining room, but she didn’t pull the door shut all the way, leaving a few inches of space remaining, which caused her voice to carry from the kitchen and into the dining room. If Bella and Ashley were talking prior to Sarah entering, they knew to stand on the far side of the kitchen, away from all of us. But Sarah didn’t know how sounds carried in our house, so instantly we heard her shrill voice. Ashley and Bella either didn’t care that we could hear Sarah as well, or they were purposely letting her make an ass of herself. My money was on the latter. I closed my eyes and cringed as I heard Sarah’s words.
“He’s mine, and you need to back off… It’s none of your business if the baby is his… You both need to mind your own damn business… Stay out of my way… You’re just a jealous bitch.” At Sarah’s last words, my father and I both stood.
“Not in my house,” my father growled at me.
“I’ll handle it,” I promised my dad as I handed Brendan off to Mom. When I entered the kitchen, Sarah was gone, and the girls were talking.
“This is exactly why it needs to be permanent,” Bella said before they both glanced up.
My head was spinning, and I couldn’t even process what they were talking about. But Ashley’s glaring eyes directed at me made it apparent she blamed me for this mess. Bella’s anger was different, blazing through every part of her body from her crossed arms, red cheeks, and the fire in her gaze. I couldn’t tell if it was directed at me, Sarah, or the world.
Why can’t shit ever be easy?
“Where is she?” I asked as I balled my hands into fists at my sides.
“Bathroom.” Ashley pointed over her shoulder toward the entrance to the mudroom.
“I tried, Rhett,” Bella barely got out through gritted teeth.
I nodded. Knowing she did but unable to voice words. My frustration was getting to me. So I gave her shoulder a squeeze as I walked past.
“God, you’re such an idiot,” Ashley snapped at me. I didn’t know what I’d done to her personally, but whatever. I’d deal with my sister later.
As I entered the mudroom, Sarah exited the powder room. Her eyes widened, taking in my face.
