Page 96 of Forsaken Oath

I glance toward the front door when I hear an engine rumble to life, and my resolve hardens. No one’s taking a damn thing from her—or from her sisters—ever again. Not while I’m around to stop it.

“Alright, Viv, get it set up. I’ve got a quick phone call to make,” I mutter, stepping out of the sliding glass door and onto the patio.

The phone rings twice before someone answers, “Robert, Robert, and Robert Law, this is Sheila. How may I direct your call today?”

“Hey, Shelia. It’s Beau Carter. Is Robert still practicing family law?”

“Good morning, Mr. Carter. He sure is. Let me transfer you.”

41

ELOISE

The door slamsbehind me with a resounding thud, the sound echoing through the quiet house. For a moment, I just stand there, my hand still clutching the doorknob, my heart pounding against my ribs.

Seeing Darla always rattles me, shakes loose the carefully constructed walls I've built to protect myself - to protect my sisters. Her words, slurred and venomous, claw at the back of my mind, threatening to drag me under.

After everything I’ve done for you . . .

Ungrateful little bitch . . .

I take a deep breath, pushing down the anger and hurt that always rises in Darla's wake. I can't let her get to me. Not anymore. I've worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let her poison seep into the life I've built for Vivie and Margot.

Squaring my shoulders, I head back toward the kitchen, bracing myself for the questions I know are coming. But when I round the corner, the scene that greets me stops me short.

Beau and Vivie sit at the kitchen table, the pink donut box between them. They’re laughing, his deep chuckle mingling withher bright laughter. Warmth blooms in my chest at the sight, momentarily chasing away the chill Darla always leaves behind.

They look so normal, so at ease with each other, that for a moment I forget the storm that just blew through.

“Okay, the cruller one is good, but I think I still like the jelly better,” Vivie declares, licking a spot of raspberry jam off her thumb. “Eight out of ten.”

Beau nods sagely. “A solid choice. The cruller is still a ten for me.”

I clear my throat softly as I step fully into the kitchen. Two pairs of eyes—one bright blue, one deep brown—snap to me. Vivie’s smile falters for a second before she pastes it back on, a little too bright to be genuine.

“Louie, you have to try the cruller! Beau says it’s his favorite, but I think you’ll agree with me that the raspberry jelly is better.” She holds out a piece of each donut, her voice just a touch too loud, too cheerful.

My heart clenches. She's trying so hard to pretend everything is normal, that she didn't just hear our mother screaming obscenities on our front lawn. The urge to wrap her in my arms, to shield her from all the ugliness in this world, hits me like a tidal wave.

But I force myself to smile, to match her too-bright tone. “I don’t know, Viv, it’s hard to beat a classic cruller.” I take the proffered pieces of donut from her sticky fingers and pop them in my mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “I was thinking, after we’re done with the donut test, we should swing by Fiction & Folklore.”

Vivie’s eyes light up at the mention of our favorite bookstore downtown. “Really? Can I get a new book?”

I grin, relieved to see genuine excitement replace the forced cheer on her face. “Maybe a couple of them if you find some good ones in her used section. We’ll make a morning of it.”

Vivie’s such a reader that if I let her, she’d fill up her whole bedroom with stacks of books.

“Yes!” She pumps her fist in the air before turning to Beau. “Wait. Do you like to read, Beau?”

He winces, sliding me a look I can’t decipher. “I’m not a big reader.”

She stands up from the table and dusts her fingers off over the box. “That’s just because you haven’t found the right book yet. You should come with us. I’ll help you find the perfect book.”

I clear my throat. “Oh, Vivie, he can’t?—”

“It’s a date,” Beau interrupts me.

“Perfect. I’ll be ready in ten minutes,” she sing-songs, skipping down the hallway toward her bedroom.

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