Page 72 of Bullied Mate

Mom pressed her lips into a tight line as she lifted her teacup. Fingers that once used to shake violently were now as confident as they had been years ago. Years before Leo was born, she had played piano and sang. She was starting to do those things again, a little at a time.

Leo crawled into my lap. “Dad, when is Galanthia coming back?”

“I’m not sure,” I said for the fifth time in an hour. At least he hadn’t heard much from the rumor mill—or maybe he had, and he was just being polite by not saying anything. “I don’t know.”

“She was mad, wasn’t she?”

Bethany sighed. “Some women just can’t handle the heat.”

“I said it’s fine, Bethany. Thank you.”

Mom squinted at her nurse and shooed her off. That was one thing I appreciated about my mother. Whoever didn’t need to be involved was sent away. And since this situation didn’t concern Bethany or whatever feelings she might have for me, she wasn’t welcome to make comments on Galanthia.

Nobody was welcome to comment on the situation, honestly. But I didn’t have much control over the things outside of this house.

Unfortunately.

“How is that lovely Amazonian woman?” Mom inquired. “I haven’t seen you two hanging out lately.”

“Haven’t you heard?”

She scoffed. “I don’t plug into that nonsense. You know that.”

Leo reached for the collar of my shirt. He tugged on it sleepily, yawning every so often while he fought his drooping eyelids. The kid was tired and needed a nap, but he kept pestering me about Galanthia instead.

I knew it had been a mistake to let her in. I should have kept her separate from Leo, then I wouldn’t be dealing with my kid getting upset over someone who didn’t intend to stick around.

“She seems to have your heart,” Mom commented. “You seem to have hers.”

“I don’tseemto have anything, Mom.”

She pointedly set her teacup in its saucer. “You don’t have to speak to me like that just because you’re mad.”

“I’m not mad.” I hauled Leo up and propped him with his arms around my neck. “Leo, please. Just take a nap, kid. I’m tired of fighting you.”

“I want to see her,” he whined. “I miss her.”

Another yawn. Another argumentative kick. This kid was really battling it out with his nap schedule. Though he usually was good at sticking to his routine, he’d been a lot to handle this week.

I wondered what it was about Galanthia that he missed so much. I supposed I could have asked, but I didn’t want to have that conversation with so many ears around.

I bounced Leo like he was a toddler again. “Come on, kid. Just knock yourself out.”

“I don’t want…to sleep…I want…”

If he said it one more time, I was going to lose it.

Mom looked sympathetic while I bounced my kid in my arms. After a few minutes, he settled in and started snoring lightly. Exhaustion hit like a train careening off the tracks into a stationary building. I knew it was coming. I just had to brace myself for impact.

But nothing could have prepared me for the collision. I was totally burned out on my own kid. Which was entirely unusual, considering my level of energy could typically handle his swings. Lately, it had just been a nightmare and a half. Temper tantrums, resistance, and defiance had been part of his attitude.

Goddess, the attitude was ridiculous. Mom had commented on it a few times, citing the fact that his behavior had taken a turn for the worse when Galanthia left our lives.

I mean, that wasn’t my fault, right? It wasn’t like I could control how Galanthia felt or responded to me. I was just upset about her putting Leo to bed. That was all. Why hadshegotten upset over that?

I sighed while carrying Leo to the spare bedroom. Bethany swept in like a hawk trying to catch a field mouse. She helped with the sheets, grabbed a stuffed bear, and tucked it into Leo’s arms. She gave me a brilliant smile that spoke of her admiration, and that just made me feel so bad.

“Bethany, I’m glad you’re so helpful. I appreciate it,” I told her in a low voice. “I’m just not that interested in you.”

---