Page 17 of Their Forever Daddy

“I don’t want to talk about this.” Edie shot them all a look that should have clearly said that was the end of the conversation as she picked up a spoon and dug into the brownie sundae. Just because she was pissed at Kessily for tattling on her didn’t mean a perfectly good dessert had to go to waste.

But her warning went unheeded. “Too bad,” Taylor said with a shrug, grabbing her own spoon and leaning forward. The motion had her shifting on the hard bench and she winced as she scooped up a spoonful of brownie and ice cream.

“What kind of trouble did you get yourself into now, Taylor Grace?” Edie asked, sending her a pointed look.

Pink colored Taylor’s cheeks as she jerked a shoulder. “Ian took exception to how I handled some things this afternoon.”

“What things?”

Clearing her throat as more color filled her cheeks, Taylor lowered her gaze to the plate in the middle of the table. “Um, specifically the thing I said when he offered Jesse a ride home.”

Edie wasn’t about to let her off the hook that easily. “Which was?”

“Something along the lines of ‘Absolutely the fuck not’.”

Beside her, Ginny let out a low whistle. “How are you even sitting at all right now?”

“Very gingerly,” Taylor grumbled. “And I’m still mad about it.”

“Taylor…” Torn between gratitude and guilt, Edie sighed. “Don’t go getting yourself in trouble on my account.”

“Too late.” Taylor’s chin took on a stubborn tilt Edie recognized all too well. “And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Edie swallowed hard to force the lump in her throat back down. “Well, with any luck it won’t be an issue again. If Jesse has any sense, she’ll be gone by the time I get back to the house.”

Three meaningful looks passed around the table and Edie rolled her eyes. “I’m serious. I made it clear I didn’t want her there.”

“Did you actually use the words ‘You have thirty minutes to pack your shit and get out’?” Reaching across the table, Carly scooped up a chunk of brownie and popped it in her mouth, her eyes fluttering closed with a groan. “Oh my god. This is amazing. I’m going to tell Matt I need one of these a week until the baby comes.”

“Might as well get away with it while you can,” Taylor agreed with a giggle.

“Exactly. But we’re getting off track.” Carly jabbed her spoon in Edie’s direction. “What did you say to her when you left?”

Resigning herself to their probing, Edie picked up her wine and gulped down a mouthful. Combined with the brownie, it was almost too sweet, but it was also just what she needed right then. “Before or after she set my kitchen on fire?”

Outrage exploded around her, and she let it play out for a minute, casually sipping her wine before waving a hand to calm them down. “Relax, my little guard dogs. It was an accident. But…” She trailed off, uncertain if she wanted to tell them the whole truth.

“But, what?” Ginny prodded.

A warm hand settled over hers, and she looked up to find Carly watching her with an uncharacteristically solemn expression. Of all her girls, Carly was the first to crack a smile or make a joke. She was like a ray of sunshine, even after living through the worst kind of grief imaginable.

It was that grief that had brought them together. The shared heartache of putting the man you loved in the ground well before his time. And because of that bond, and the bond she shared with all her girls, even the one not at the table tonight, she knew she had to be as honest with them as she would expect them to be with her.

“She asked me spank her.” Ignoring the soft gasps around her, Edie forged ahead. If she didn’t get it all out now, she never would. “And, God help me, for a minute I was tempted. So fucking tempted. She was standing there, looking exactly how I remembered, her cheeks all pink as she waited for me to punish her and I just… couldn’t.”

“Because you’re a good person,” Carly said softly, giving Edie’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“No.” Tears clogging her throat, Edie shook her head. “Because I wanted it so fucking bad. I realized how easy it would be to just let go of all the hurt and the anger and fall head first in love with her again. And since the whole reason she came to town was to tell me she’s getting married, I’d be the worst kind of fool if I did that.”

“Oh, Edie.” Now it was Taylor reaching for her hand, comforting her, as Carly leaned her head on Edie’s shoulder.

Giving in to the need for comfort, for companionship, Edie let her head fall to the side, her cheek pressing against Carly’s soft hair. “I wish she’d never come back to Lost River.”

“Want us to go evict her from your house?” Ginny’s skin seemed to practically glow with righteous fury. “I’ll get Rex to help. He’d be happy to throw her out on her ass.”

“No.” But it warmed all the cold places inside her, knowing they would do it if she asked. “If she’s still there in the morning, I’ll… I don’t know exactly, but I’ll figure it out.”

“Well, consider it a standing offer. From all of us,” Ginny said, Taylor and Carly both murmuring in agreement.

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