Page 82 of Honey Bee Library
Crap.
I didn’t bother to look at her. I already knew she was staring at me like she was expecting an explanation. Instead, I turned to the stove and stirred the bubbling water, desperate for something to do. I didn’t want to answer the questions that I knew were clawing their way out of her.
“Nancy told me about the drama last night at the diner between Willow and some woman. When she took out her phone to show me, imagine my surprise when I see my sister sitting at a table with some strangeman.” She punctuated the last word with her expression and tone.
“It was nothing,” I said, hoping that if I remained calm, so would she.
“Nothing?Nothing?” She scoffed. “If it was nothing, why did you sneak out?” Her finger was up now and she was pointing it in my direction. “You only hide things that you are ashamed of.” She blew out her breath. “I should have known you would do something like this.”
That was too far. I whipped around and glared at her. “Well maybe I wouldn’t feel like I had to sneak around mybabysister if you got off my case once in a while.”
Her eyes were bulging. She had not anticipated me snapping back like that. “Sabrina, need I remind you?—”
“No. You don’t need to remind me. I’m better.” Tears began to fill my eyes. I was tired of this. I was tired of living in the shadow of some of the darkest moments of my life. “You need to trust that I’m better.”
Her lips were drawn tight and her skin was flushed. I could tell she was holding in a lot of words and, at any moment, they were going to avalanche from her mouth. Once they started, she wasn’t going to stop, and I didn’t want to be here to take the brunt of it.
“I’m moving out,” I said, fear gripping my chest. I squared my shoulders as I faced my sister’s reddening face.
“Where are you?—”
“I have a place.” I racked my brain, and the only person who came to mind was Liam. He’d said he would help me. I was going to cash that favor in. “The guy I saw last night.”
Abigail folded her arms across her chest as she snorted. “And what are you going to do for mon?—”
“I’ll figure that out.” My confidence was wavering, but I was determined to remain strong. “I got the job at the library. I can find another if need be.”
I turned off the burner and held Samuel closer to my chest. I stared at my sister before I grabbed the diaper bag that was sitting on the counter and brought the strap up onto my shoulder. “I’ll be back to gather my things, but we’re moving out.”
I didn’t wait for Abigail to respond. I marched over to the front door and pulled it open. Once I was in my car, I drove to the local McDonald’s and parked. I was shaking as I stared out the windshield. I turned to look at Samuel in the mirror hanging on the back of his seat. He was smiling at himself.
“What did I do?” I whispered to myself as I settled back against my seat. I closed my eyes before my hand found the diaper bag and I rummaged around for my phone. I found Liam’s number—I’d typed it in last night after I got home just in case I needed it—and pressed talk.
Three rings and he answered.
“Hello?” His voice was smooth like hot chocolate on a winter’s eve.
“You’re right,” I whispered. “I want some freedom.”
26
EMERY
I sighedand shifted on Timothy’s bed. My son was passed out asleep next to me, his dark hair tickling my face as his head slipped lower and lower down my shoulder. I quietly closedCharlie and the Chocolate Factoryand put it on the nightstand next to his bed.
My eyes felt heavy, and I rubbed them to wake myself up. I still had a load of laundry to do and dishes to wash before I could crash. A day of board meetings and interviews had left me exhausted. Add an evening of running after Timothy, and I was ready to climb into my satin pajamas and pass out. But I couldn’t.
A mother’s work is never done.
I made sure to hold Timothy’s head as I slipped off his bed and twisted so that I could lower him down onto his pillow without waking him. Once he was tucked in with his nightlight on, I tiptoed out of his room and softly shut his door behind me.
Our condo was quiet as I made my way down the hall and into the kitchen, where I turned the faucet on so the water could heat up.
“He asleep?” Noah’s voice startled me. I turned to see him emerge out of the shadows.
I pressed my hand to my heart in hope of calming it to a manageable beat. “Yeah. Out like a light.” I offered him a weak smile. “You can go to bed if you want.” I yawned. “I’ve got a load of laundry to start and some dishes to do.” I nodded toward the sink.
“You sure?”
