I stare down at her, having already answered this question numerous times, plus she already knows who she is.
“Liv’s sister,” I repeat.
Mia looks back at me and shakes her head before quirking an eyebrow that is essentially her calling me out on my bullshit.
“Butwhois she? Like really?”
I look across to my sister who quickly turns away, refusing to get stuck in the middle of this, unlike Mase who is now sitting the other side of our niece.
“Yes, Dec, who is Anita, like really?”
I fight off the near overpowering urge to tell him to fuck off and address Mia. “I don’t understand your question.”
Mase sniggers while Mia rolls her eyes. “Who is she to you? Why have you brought her here?” She turns to my brother. “Uncle Mase, doesn’t Liv have some brothers?”
He nods his head. “She does.”
“So why aren’t they here too, Uncle Dec?”
And now there is nowhere to hide. I have just had my arse handed to me by my almost teenage niece and I have no clue what to say. Fortunately, Mase chooses this moment to come good and save me.
“She was at a loose end, so Liv and I invited her to come to ours, but then Grandma reminded us we were coming over, so, we asked if Anita could come with us, and as Uncle Dec is really unpopular and has no friends, Anita is keeping him company.”
Mia laughs at the last bit but seems to buy what Mase is saying.
We are all distracted by the sight of one of our stepsister’s, Imelda entering the room with her children and husband, Christian.
“Great,” mutters Mase at the sight of Olivia’s former boss who is still a dick to her, Christian, who is already making a beeline for us.
“If it’s not the Chuckle Brothers.” He laughs, taking a seat next to me which if he insists on sitting with us, it’s better next to me rather than Mase who is more likely to punch him, especially if he starts hurling shitty comments and insults Liv’s way.
I look across and see a group of children, including Christian’s, chatting and playing together.
“The kids look well,” I say, hoping to strike up a safe conversation.
He shrugs and heads into territory that is anything but safe, although I am unsure if he realises just how potentially unsafe it might be.
“I hear we have another waif and stray interloper in our midst.”
I frown my confusion at him, unlike my brother who physically bristles.
“And rumour has it that she is of the Carrington variety.” The contempt with which he says Olivia’s maiden name is shocking and unmistakable.
I resent his derogatory tone when referring to Anita, and I don’t know why, but I have an overwhelming urge to point out that Anita is not a Carrington but assume his issue with Anita is her connection to Olivia.
“Back the fuck off,” Mase says in a hushed tone. “You start your shit today, Christian, and I swear to everything I hold dear that I will put you on your arse before throwing you out of this house and you won’t be coming back.”
Mase gets to his feet just as Olivia returns with our mother and strides over to stand between them, one arm draped around each of them.
Christian openly sneers at Olivia before scanning the rest of the room. “Where is she then, the other Carrington slapper?”
I am scanning the room myself, looking for Anita, focusing on Tommy returning without her when my brain deciphers what Christian has just said and my fury rises in an instant.
“Watch your mouth,” I snap, not as quietly as my brother judging by the eyes in the room focusing on me. “You don’t even know her, so wind your neck in or it will be me rather than Mase putting you on your arse.”
He looks slightly taken aback, not that I can blame him for that. I am a little taken aback by my reaction. Mase is the fiery one not me and yet, where Anita is concerned, I will fight for her. I will defend her against any insults or threats because she is mine and I love her.
“Fuck!”
