"Who are you?" Ryder demanded, though the answer was obvious. Instinctively, he stepped in front of Morgan. He noticed Owen edging closer, too, but Hannah walked straight up to the woman in the flowy orange dress and heeled sandals.
"Aunt Betty? What are you doing here?"
"Oh, Hannah. Where is Morgan?" Betty continued to crane her neck.
"Why?"
"Her father and I want her for a fashion show. She's been ignoring my emails. I went to your house to find her, and your neighbor was extremely helpful."
"There's a reason Morgan has been ignoring you." Hannah crossed her arms. "She made it pretty clear she never wants to see you or Uncle Thomas again."
"Oh, that's nothing." Betty fluttered her hand as if she was swatting a fly. "My daughter loves being a drama queen."
Ryder’s blood was already heated, but it was then that it reached the point of boiling over. "You've got to be kidding me!"
Morgan tugged on his arm. "It's okay. I've got this."
The only sound was a few chirping birds as Morgan met her mother across the yard. Throwing her hair behind her shoulders, she met the familiar gaze of one of her self-involved parents.
"I'm not going with you. I've been ignoring you on purpose. As a matter of fact, I've blocked your email and phone number."
Betty looked incredibly confused. "Seriously? Whatever for?"
"I don't have to subject myself to you anymore."
"I'll cut you off, you ungrateful—"
"I don't care. You don't care, either, so drop the pretenses. I’ve already opened a new account without any of your tainted money in it. I don't want another penny from you."
Lillie came to stand beside Morgan. "She has a family here. We actually love her and care about her."
Betty scoffed, but every adult moved up to stand behind Morgan.
"She's not making a joke, ma’am," Shea said.
Nora put her hand on Morgan's shoulder. Emeline did the same on the other side.
Betty could only stare at all the people in the yard. Finally, she glared at Morgan. "You'll regret this."
"Not fucking likely," Lillie said.
“Leave and never come back. I don’t want to know you, or to spend any time helping you and your precious career.”
Ryder could see from where he stood that Morgan was trembling, but she didn't waver. There was no more backing down from her mother.
Betty turned with a frown and left. Morgan ran to Ryder, throwing her arms around him and sobbing into his shirt.
He held her tightly. “You did so well. I’m so proud of you, darlin’.”
“I just can’t explain the weight that’s been lifted.” Raising her head, she met his mouth for a kiss. “I feel so free.”
“You are, Shorty,” Hannah said. “We’ll always back you up, but you’ve got this without our help.”
As the last of the sun’s rays disappeared behind the treetops and the party was winding down, Ryder and Morgan said goodbye to their family. Everyone left full and exhausted, especially the kids.
“Maybe we should get a dog,” Ryder said as they turned off the lights and locked up. “Nobody has one.”
“Yeah, sure. We can find a shelter nearby, I’m sure.”
