Page 125 of Push

Toby took a slow step toward his mother. “I know what I’m saying.” His voice stayed low and controlled. “And if you think I don’t have another trip to the cops in me, think again, Mother. Leave now, or I’ll file a report aboutyou.”

“Are you threatening me?” She was so shocked she put her palm over her heart.

He jerked his chin in a nod. “But it’s not a threat if I mean it, right?”

“Tobias.” She was so stunned she could barely speak. Then her chin lifted, proud to the very end. “Look what that…that…thing”—she pointed an accusing finger at me—“has reduced you to!”

Toby slapped her hand away, and he didn’t flinch when she gasped. “Howdareyou? Gwen stood by me even when she shouldn’t have. I love her unconditionally and completely. Sheis everything to me. My family—the family inthishouse—is my entire world. I won’t put them second again, and certainly not foryou.”

Sarah’s face paled. “I’m yourmother!” she cried. “Do you hear yourself? Your father would roll in his grave to hear you speak like that!”

Toby normally withered when she used those words against him, but today, he stood even taller. His shoulders straightened, and he looked her dead in the eye.

“Good!” he bellowed. “He was a horrible father and a terrible husband. If he’d disapprove of the way I’m acting now, it probably means I’m finally heading in the right direction!”

Toby didn’t wait to hear the words she sputtered through the tears streaming down her face. In two quick strides, he was back inside the house, and even as she wailed his name, he slammed the door in her face.

Part 4

We Find Our Feet

39

He Went to Lunch

Toby

Noah wasn’t a fanof his white sneakers. Every time I attempted to stuff his foot inside, he curled his toes and kicked his legs. Sighing, I glanced at the nursery ceiling. Would socks do? Probably not.

Gwen had been panicking about Catalina Serrano’s Sunday lunch all week. She’d twisted herself into a ball of nerves and over-analyzed every detail—her outfit, ouroutfits, how to style her hair, and what food to bring. On the nosh front, she’d eventually settled on a cheese platter. Apparently, you can never go wrong with cheese.

The only problem left to tackle was shoes. I got the sneakers ready, out of sight under the changing table, like a ninja.

“Your mama wants you to meet all her nice friends today,” I told Noah. “You need to look spiffy.”

Not that he wasn’t already looking cute as heck in his overalls with the teddy bear on the front pocket, but I wanted one lessthing for Gwen to worry about. I tickled his chubby belly, and when he wriggled in a mass of happy squeals, I popped on the sneakers.

“Winner, winner, chicken dinner!”

I hoisted Noah on my hip and headed for the bedroom. When I stuck my head through the doorway, Gwen stood beside the dresser, still wearing only her white bra and panties.Sensible, she called that set. Usually, that sight would’ve had a certain General of the South primed and ready for battle, but Gwen’s frown was a bucket of ice water on my crotch.

Her fingertips traced the edge of the oversized yellow envelope on the dresser. Twenty-something pieces of paper spelling out every interaction with Kayleigh—that I could remember—were inside. I’d puked my guts up after writing it all down. Even a long run hadn’t killed the shame. The only thing doing that project proved to me was that I’d been a shit husband.

“Do you think you’ll read it?” I asked Gwen from the doorway.

Her head turned, eyes wide. She hadn’t realized I was there. She’d been off with the fairies since I’d handed her the envelope two nights ago. I’d expected her to tear it open and pore over every page the second I’d given it to her. Instead, she’d accepted it with a tight smile, slipped it on the dresser, and the ticking time bomb had sat there ever since.

“The hearing for the restraining order is tomorrow,” I reminded her gently. “Will you open it before then?”

“Yeah. Probably. I just…” She swallowed. “I didn’t want anything to ruin today.”

I nodded. I understood her apprehension. The two of us had been standing hand-in-hand on the edge of a cliff since the night of the party all those weeks ago. Everything I’d said or done to inch us back to safety would come undone once the envelope was opened.

“Nothing’s going to ruin today. It’s going to be awesome,” I reassured Gwen, dialing up the enthusiasm to overcompensate for her nerves. “Heaps of food, good company. Well,somegood company.” Not her stupid brother, that was for sure. “Plus, we’re coming with a babyandcheese. We’ll be the hit of the party!”

Gwen rolled her eyes, but I could see the hint of a smile. “Zach’s bringing his kids, right?” She grabbed her white sundress off the bed and slipped it over her head.

“Yeah, but John and Maree can’t make it. They’ve booked a weekend away at the Blue Mountains. Maree was losing it, though. She’s itching to get a look at Liam in person.” I grinned. “You should’ve seen it. She fell all over herself trying to explain that the reason she wanted to meet him wasn’t because he’s sohandsome, but because he’s such a goodbusinessman. And John…” I shook my head, laughing.

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