Page 58 of The Baxters
“Mom wants to feed him.” Again Brooke stuck up for Ashley. Her tone was louder than Luke’s, and she seemed to catch herself. “Never mind.” She stared at Luke. “One of these days you’re going to have to get off your high horse, little brother. No one can stay perfect forever.”
Brooke didn’t wait for Luke to respond. Instead she gathered her purse and Peter and Maddie and bid the family goodbye. “We want to get home before the sirens go off.” She glanced back at Ashley and then cast a quick smile at her parents. “Thanks for the food. The wedding was great.”
A round of hugs and kisses and Brooke’s family was gone. Erin went up to her room, probably because she could sense things weren’t headed in the right direction.
Great,Ashley thought. Now Luke could take verbal swings at her all night long. Ashley watched her mother resume her spot near Cole’s high chair, feeding him the last of his meal.
This time her brother didn’t have to say anything. As Landon worked on the dishes, Luke simply tossed a sarcastic glance in Cole’s direction and then raised his eyebrows at Ashley. In a voice only she could hear, he muttered, “Some mom, Ashley. One of the best.”
That was it. Ashley slammed her water glass down and walked to her mother. “Move, please.”
Her mom looked up, confused. “Ashley. What’s wrong?”
“Just let me do it. Please.” She shot daggers back at Luke. “My brother thinks I should be feeding Cole. Every time. Always.”
From where she was standing she could see Landon in the kitchen. He looked over his shoulder and hesitated. For a moment Ashley wondered if he might say something to her, try to calm her down. But apparently he knew better because he shifted his focus back to the dishes.
John returned to the dining room just then. “What’s happening here?”
“Luke.” Ashley waved an angry hand in his direction. “He accused me of being a bad mom, never doing the work. He said my son won’t even know me when he’s older.” She turned to her mother again. “Please, Mom. He’s my son. I want to feed him.”
With no choice, her mother stood and gave Ashley the chair. She took it with gusto, slamming herself into the seat and pulling the high chair closer. “I can feed my own baby. Just trying to let Mom be a grandmother. But whatever, Luke.” She glared over her shoulder at her brother, who was helping Landon in the kitchen now. “Just so you know. You’re a terrible example of a Christian. All judgment and hatred. Really nice, Luke. You never even—”
Before Ashley could finish talking, Luke slammed a plate down on the counter and it shattered into a hundred pieces.
“Luke!” Their dad stepped forward. “That is completely—”
“Not now, Dad. Please.” Luke stormed toward Ashley and suddenly he seemed to notice Cole. The child’s eyes were big, like he was very aware of everything happening around him.
“Watch your tone.” Ashley hissed. “If you have something to say, don’t yell.”
“Whatever.” Luke dropped his voice. “My point is, you leave your kid with Mom and Dad constantly. For what?” He pointed at her. “So you can hit the town with your friends?” Every word dripped with venom and disapproval. Luke leaned on the table so he could get closer to her. He grabbed the cap to Cole’s juice bottle and pointed it at Ashley. “I just want to go on record saying I think you’re pathetic. A pathetic example of a mother.”
Landon was drying his hands, headed their way. “Luke, take a breath.” Landon’s voice was calm, quiet. Probably because he was stunned that the fight was happening now, while he was visiting. He nodded at Luke. “You don’t mean that.”
“Actually, I do.” Luke slammed the cap on Cole’s tray.
“I should go.” Landon looked at Ashley and then at her parents. “I’m sorry. This is… I shouldn’t be here.”
As Landon left the room, Ashley watched her dad step closer and grit his teeth. He pointed to the back door. “Both of you, outside on the porch. Go make things right and don’t come in till you do.”
Ashley couldn’t believe this was happening. She was on her feet, trying to make sense of it all. First, Landon had witnessed the whole thing, and now this? Was herdad serious? Go outside and talk things out? Just then Erin came down and stared at Ashley and Luke. “Are you two for real? Fighting like this… with Landon here? I can hear you all the way in my room.”
“It’s not your business.” Luke was clearly still hot, like he wanted to punch his hand through a wall. He turned to their father. “With all respect, Dad, I don’t want to talk to Ashley. Not now.” He shot her another mean glance. “Not ever.”
“Same.” Ashley didn’t want him to have the last word. All of this was his fault.
Luke shook his head, his expression proof that he had nothing but disdain for her. He headed toward the stairs and on his way he caught Landon at the front door, just leaving. “Why in the world you still love my sister, I’ll never know.” He released a single mean laugh. “She isn’t worth it.”
“Luke, hold on!” Their father’s voice was angry now, too. “Don’t you leave this—”
Before he could finish his sentence a coughing sound came from Cole. Ashley turned to him and panic seized her. Her son’s face was bright red, his eyes strangely wide.
He made the sound again. A tight raspy noise like he wasn’t getting any air.
“He’s choking! The juice cap!” Ashley screamed the words, but she couldn’t move.
“Dear God, no!” Her mom raced for Cole and took him out of the high chair. Her father was there, too, andboth of them began patting Cole’s back. Hard. “Come on, baby, cough it out. Come on, Cole!” Her mom had never sounded so desperate. She patted him again. “Dear God, please.”
