Bill glances up from his plate, clearing his throat. “You went to Carnage?”
She nods. “This morning when I went out. Charlotte assured me that Haidyn was taking care of her, but I couldn’t do nothing.” She smiles. “And that cat of hers…Muffin is so adorable.”
Bill looks like he wants to talk to her about going there but is choosing to bring that up later when they’re alone. As far as I know, Janice has no clue that her ex-husband is a prisoner of ours. She thinks he’s dead. Something tells me Bill doesn’t want her to know the truth.
Sin is shoveling his food into his mouth, and his mother frowns. “Easton, are you in a hurry to leave?”
“No. But I’ve learned that having kids means you either eat quickly or you’re eating cold food.”
Elli laughs, rubbing his back. “Take your time, Sin. It’s okay.”
“He’s not wrong.” His mother chuckles, looking at Eve, and I hold my breath, hoping she doesn’t ask her about children. I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable about there not being any children in our future. “Eve?” she says.
“Yes, ma’am?” She looks up from her plate.
“Please call me Janice. I was updating my calendar yesterday and Bill told me that your birthday was a month ago.”
I frown, wondering why she didn’t mention it.
Eve doesn’t respond to that.
“I know we missed it, but I want to throw you a party. It’ll be a small get together. Here at the house.” Janice smiles excitedly.
“I don’t celebrate birthdays,” Eve states, looking up at her through her painted lashes.
“Oh.” Janice’s face falls.
Bill takes his wife’s hand and brings her knuckles to his lips and kisses them. “I think a birthday party is a great idea.”
“No, Bill, she doesn’t want one,” she whispers to him, but we can all hear. “I shouldn’t have overstepped?—”
“Don’t you think so, Eve?” he cuts off his wife, looking at mine.
“Yeah.” She nods at Sin’s mother. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.” Her eyes drop back down to her plate, and a silence blankets the large room.
The sound of one of the babies filters through the baby monitor that Sinhas on the table. “Told you. They have perfect timing.” He grabs his wife’s plate.
Elli stands and so does Sin. “What are you doing?” Her eyes drop to her lunch in his hand.
“I’m going to feed you while you feed them,” he answers.
She rolls her eyes but smiles as she gives him her back and he follows after her.
EVERETT
I’m wandering around the house aimlessly. I needed a second to myself. To clear my head.
It’s still weird to be around so many people at once. I’ve never known what it feels like to have a family or have someone who wants to throw me a birthday party. I hate how excited I got when she said that. But then I quickly felt guilty for wanting something I don’t deserve.
I have no friends to invite. And as much as they want to be, they’re not my family.
Making my way slowly up the staircase, I step onto the second floor and enter the room that Bill told me was mine.
I have a room here.I shouldn’t be surprised, but again, I’m not sure how to feel about it.
Opening the door, I step inside. It’s got an instant calming feel to it. Soft yellow curtains frame French doors that open to a balcony. Pristine white carpet with a light blue rug. A king-size bed sits in the middle of the room with pastel-colored throw pillows atop it. The old me would want to vomit. The new me wants to crawl into the bed and close my eyes. Imagine what it would be like to have a childhood in this house. To know what it feels like to be loved.
“I wanted to make it as welcoming as possible.”
