Page 78 of Forever Christmas
“What are you doing here?”
He takes a step back. “Now, that’s no way to greet your father. After all I’ve been through.” He looks at the ceiling, shaking his head. “I practically keeled over a few months ago and you aren’t even happy to see me.”
“No, I’m not,” I say.
“Gavin,” Mom says. “We broughtsome things for the baby. Should we bring them up from the car?”
“No,” I say. The anger runs deep, set in my bones. I couldn’t shake it if I tried.
“Is the baby okay?” she asks. “Is that why you’re so upset?”
I don’t plan to say this, but it just comes out. “He hit me, Mom.” I point at my father. “He kicked me. Cuffed me. Tossed me around. He demoralized me and made me feel worthless. And youlet him.”
She presses her hand to her throat. “What are you talking about?”
“You knew,” I say, but then I falter.Did she?
Scenes fly through my head. The garage. The backyard. By the car. In the driveway. She wasn’t around.
But then a few more come forward. At dinner, while she put food on our plates. In the living room, parts of broken vacuum cleaner spread out on the carpet.
She saw. Sheknew.
“What are you talking about?” my father says. “The boy needed guidance. He was a klutz and a screwup and dumb as a damn post. I had to mold his pathetic ass.”
The women in their saris turn to look and scoot farther down the window.
“Do not cuss in here,” I say. “I’ll get you thrown out.”
Dad shakes his head. “This is the same shit you were pulling when I was in the hospital.” He shiftshis stance, lifting his arm like he’s about to make a point.
But I knock his hand aside. “You are never going to get near my son. I will not have you abusing him and acting like it’s for his own good.”
I’m about to turn and walk away. I’ll get them banned from the NICU. Hell, maybe I’ll call child protective services and get custody of June. Actually, she’ll probably stay here without all that.Let them try and take her back. Just let them try. She’ll be great help for Corabelle. I’ll enroll her in school here.
My mind whirs, so I don’t feel the pull on my arm until it nearly stops me.
It’s my mother.
“Can I see him?” she asks. “I never saw Finn.”
I glare at her. “Tell me why either one of you should see my son.”
My father hollers down the hall. “Leave him, Alaina. Let’s go thehell home. He’s not worth it.”
Mom closes her eyes for a second. She’s struggling.
“Alaina! Now!” he yells.
She looks at me. “You are right. I knew. I was weak. I didn’t know what to do. He was my husband.”
My jaw sets. “He still is. So go be his wife.” I start to turn.
She grabs my arm.
“No,” she says. “I’ll leave him. I’ll leave him and live in California rather than spend another daywithout you.”
Shock blasts through me, hot and unexpected. I turn to her. My dad is still standing by the nursery, hands on his hips, glowering.
