“Why not?” he asks, almost as if offended.
“Because you can’t always do it, but I love that you want to.” I lean in and kiss his cheek. “I’ll miss you.”
“Me too. I’ll call you tonight, but it might be late. Don’t wait up for me if you’re tired.”
I pout, but I don’t pry or ask him where he’s going. Our food is brought out, and when I see his omelet, I lose my appetite for my French toast.
“Why did you order that?” he asks. “It’s sugar and empty carbs. You need protein.”
“You’re right,” I say as I switch my plate with his.
“I don’t want that sweet shit.” He sighs, flags the server, and orders himself another omelet.
From the corner of my eye, I notice my mother and sister watching us. My mother’s expression is stoic, but my sister narrows her eyes at us. Mom says something, and they both look away from me, continuing their conversation.
I curse under my breath while I wait under the awning outside of Seven Heaven. Heavy rain falls, and Rip insists on getting the car while I wait. My sister wheels the stroller around while my mother goes to get her car.
I look down at my sleeping nephew and smile at him. He has his little pink lips puckered while he slumbers. Sylvie pulls down the visor on the stroller, shielding him from my eyes.
“Really, Sylvie ?” I ask with an eye roll.
“Yes, really,” she whispers. “As long as you’re with him, you can’t see or be around my kids.” She tilts her head to the side and gives me a smug look.
I wonder how long she’s pondered doing that. She was always like this when we were children. If I don’t do what she wants, she thinks she could punish me by taking something of hersaway from me. It didn’t work then, and it sure as hell isn’t going to work now.
“What do you think he’s going to do to your kids?”
“I’m not willing to find out. So, I guess you’ll have to walk away from him then.”
“When did you become this version of yourself?” I gesture at her. “Judgmental, mean, and manipulative.”
“Those are my conditions if you want to see your niece and nephews.”
Getting closer, I laugh in her face. “Fine. They’re your kids, so you call the shots.” I take a few steps away from her. “I don’t know who the hell you think you’re trying to control, but you’ve lost the plot, girl.”
Her mouth hangs open as if she’s shocked by my reaction.
“You’re choosing that criminal over your niece and nephews?”
“What are his crimes?” I ask. “Tell me. As far as I know, he owns businesses and runs a club. Do you know something I don’t, or are you just repeating what your husband says?” I’m not that naïve. I know Ripley doesn’t operate on the correct side of the law, but no one has ever been able to prove anything.
“You sound like one of those women who—”
“Don’t make me tell you what type of woman you sound like.” I gesture at her, and she takes a step back.
“So, you’re choosing him then?”
“I’m not doing a damn thing, Sylvie, because I don’t take ultimatums from you. Never have and never will. But if you don’t want me near your kids, I won’t be. Remember that’s what you want because you’re gonna get it.”
Ripley pulls up to the restaurant, and my mom drives behind him. Sylvie sticks her nose in the air and pushes the stroller past me. The rain falls harder, and she’s soaked by the time she leaves the safety of the awning.
Ripley emerges from his truck with an umbrella and walks me back to his car. I get in while Sylvie is still putting her baby in his car seat.
“You okay?” Ripley asks a few minutes later when he pulls into my job’s parking lot and stops his truck in front of the entrance.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“What did the evil empress have to say?”
