Page 103 of So Much More
“First it’ll be the two of us meeting for dinner on Friday evening, and then if that goes well, I’ll meet Emily on Saturday.”
“She sounds like a good mom.”
“Yeah, I like that she’s being careful with her daughter’s heart, even though I’m dying to meet my niece.”
“You’ll meet her. There’s absolutely no way Andrea won’t fall in love with you.” He tilts my head so he can kiss my temple. “You sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
“I’d love to have you with me, but you need to be here for your mom and sisters in case things go poorly with your dad.”
My body moves with his chest as he takes a few deep breaths, and I feel his heart pound against my back.
“Things had better not go poorly,” he grits out between clenched teeth.
“I hope not, and I wish I could promise you things will be fine, but you need to be prepared for the worst, for the girls’ sake.”
“I don’t want to think about what the worst would be.”
“Be ready to get them out of that house if you need to. I know your mom is determined not to leave, but you need to protect your sisters in any way possible—not only from physical harm but also from additional emotional harm. Do you know exactly when your dad will be served the papers?”
“The current plan is Thursday at one o’clock.”
“You’re taking the day off work, right?” I ask.
“Yes. Ash and I both are.”
“Okay, that morning, after you know your dad has left for work, go get the girls and take them to your apartment. Keep them there for as long as you need to—overnight or for a few nights if necessary. They don’t need to witness what happens at home.”
I feel him nodding. “I like that idea, but I can’t leave them alone, and I don’t want Mom to be alone, either.”
“Then you stay with them and let Ash be with your mom.”
“I think that might work.”
“Tomorrow you’re telling your sisters what’s happening?”
“Mom is bringing them to our place tomorrow evening, and we’ll tell them together. They’re going to be mad we didn’t tell them before now, but we couldn’t risk them letting something slip in front of Dad or to any of their friends. It’s still a little risky, but they’ll never forgive us if we wait until Thursday to tell them.”
“If they need someone who’s not family to talk to about it afterward, bring them to me.”
He squeezes me. “I told you you’ll be an amazing mom. You’re already proving it with the way you care for my sisters.”
forty-five
“Do you want us to put off our trip to Arkansas so we’ll be here for you next weekend?” Wendy asks Ash and me. We’re eating lunch at Pat’s Diner after church while discussing the logistics for the week.
“No,” I say, and Ash shakes his head in agreement with me. “You need to do this. You’re ready to meet your sister and niece, and I don’t want our family’s mess to keep you from meeting your own family. You’re going.”
“Okay.” She places her hand on my arm. “Thank you.”
I know she feels bad about the timing, but if she doesn’t go this weekend, she won’t have another chance for at least another six weeks, due to scheduling issues. I’m not letting her make that sacrifice for me.
Leslie looks at Wendy with a question in her eyes, and Wendy nods.
“I can stay, though,” Leslie says. “I can be here for the girls if both of you need to be with your mom.”
“No,” Ash now says. “Wendy needs you with her, and you haven’t seen Shannon in a couple months. Randall and I talked earlier this morning about bringing Melissa in on what’s happening. We’re going to tell her what’s going on and see if she can spend time with the girls if needed next weekend.”
“Oh, that’s a great plan,” Wendy says. “Your sisters had a blast with her at the lake.”
