“You did what, Sylvie ?” I ask again.
“Dandy.” Dad quickly stands between me and the table. “Not in front of the kids.”
“Tough shit.” I go around him. “She did this in front of her children, not me, and she’s not going to use them to control this situation.” I take a step toward her, and she jumps out of her seat. “What the fuck did you do that for?”
Taking my wrist, Rip steps between my sister and me.
“Not in public,” he warns. “But if you want to do this, I can make it happen.”
Sylvie gasps and jumps back.
“I’ll bring her to you.” The words are a warning to Sylvie, who is now standing next to Dad.
“Serena, take the kids,” Dad orders.
Mom jumps out of her seat and takes Tim and Eva to the bathroom, but the baby has now fallen asleep in his stroller.
“Sylvie, what is this?” Dad rubs his forehead in exasperation. “You know damn well this is none of your business.” He gestures between me and Rip. “You have enough on your plate, don’t you think?”
“Dad, I was trying to help her. Gavin’s not a criminal,” Sylvie says.
I scoff, and Gavin starts backing away.
“Take one more step, and I’ll break both your fucking knees,” Rip says without bothering to look in Gavin’s direction.
Gavin stops in his tracks.
“Don’t threaten him,” Dad says.
“You’re not in a position to tell me what to do, Sheriff,” Rip replies.
“Hold on.” I raise both hands as I address my sister. “With all the shit going on in your life, you still had time to call my ex so he can come here and do what?”
Sylvie looks to Dad as if he has answers, but he puts his hands up and shakes his head.
“Instead of focusing on your sorry, pathetic excuse of a husband and sham marriage, you decide to stick your nose in my business?”
Rip rubs my shoulders, but he doesn’t speak.
Sylvie opens her mouth, but no words come out.
“What? The cat’s got your tongue now, bitch?”
“Enough with the name-calling,” Dad warns.
“You think my language is the problem here, Dad?” I stare at my father, who is busy glaring at my sister.
When no one speaks, I decide to address the room, “Do you want to know why I broke up with Gavin?” When no one answers, I continue, “For the last four months of our relationship, I gave him half of the rent, and he pocketed that money. I didn’t sell my car. He totaled it. Then, he stole the few thousand dollars I had saved in my bank account. He fled, leaving me to deal with our landlord, and I had to take out a high-interest loan to pay the back rent. I had no choice but to move back home, broke and in debt.” I point to Gavin. “This is what you want me to go back to, Sylvie ?”
She has tears streaming down her face now, but I’m not moved. She would do this when we were kids, too. She’s notorious for starting shit and crying for sympathy.
“Stop with the fake tears.”
“I didn’t know that.” She wipes her tears.
“And that made it okay, even though you know I’m in love with Rip? Who is amazing to me, by the way, but maybe that’s your problem. You’d probably be a lot less of a bitch if he treated me the way your husband treats you. Misery loves company, right? And you’re the most miserable bitch of all, Sylvie.”
“Dandy, now, that’s harsh.” I don’t answer my dad or heed his warning tone.
