It’s not for a room full of people to know her business. To know her past unless she shares it. It’s not for me to use her pain as collateral damage to vindicate my actions.
“It’s very clever that you would remember such insignificant details if you weren’t trying to hide something nefarious,” Macie remarks, cocking her head to the side.
“Macie,” Dad hisses. “What are you saying?”
Fingers threaded together at her midsection like some demonic choir boy, Macie never spares him a glance. Her entire focus is on me.
“I’m trying to decide if — as a mother — I should be concerned for my daughter who was clearly so young when—”
“Careful,” I warn slowly, dangerously. “What you are about to do is defamation and I will sue you for slander. I have evidence to back up everything I’m saying. When I take you to court, and I will, I will ruin your life. So, before you say another word, ask yourself if you’re ready to get destroyed.”
I wish I felt joy at the loss of color in her cheeks.
I wish I could look at my dad, but shame at putting him through this when he is innocent has me fixed on the woman at his side.
“This... this is outrageous,” she stammers. “Threatening to sue family for being simply concerned—”
“Enough,” I cut her off firmly. “Out of respect for my dad, I will let you walk away right now, but if you ever make even a hint that there was ever anything inappropriate between me, Domand Isla, there won’t be a hole you can crawl into that I won’t drag you out of. I love Isla and Dom. That is all anyone needs to know about that.”
Chapter Twenty One
?Dominic?
Fuck, my boyfriend’s hot.
I’ve watched him in court and got hard seeing him so poised and smart, addressing important matters that I can never focus on. But watching him take down Macie…
If there weren’t still people in the room, I would drop to my knees and... well, show him exactly how proud of him I am.
But he’s sitting with his dad. The two have been in deep conversation for nearly an hour. Poor Walker has aged visibly and drastically since his wife lost her ever-loving mind.
He hasn’t said much to the rest of the family. Jacob tried to show his support by clapping his brother on the shoulder and announcing in a slur that, “Those damn bitches never know what they want.”
I’m going to pretend he was talking about Macie and not Isla.
Walker said nothing in response and Jacob promptly dropped his head back against the armrest and started snoring.
That seemed to be the cue a few people were waiting for. Parents with younger children bundled them up and hauled them to their cars. Even though they hugged Nick and gave Isla awkward waves, there was no mistaking the discomfort clinging to their smiles.
“Fuck them,” I want to tell Nick.
Literally not a single one of them means a damn thing to any of us beyond a few hours during a holiday, but I know it’sdifferent for him. These are his family. His people. Their cold shoulder is hurtful.
“Well, that was the most exciting Christmas this family has ever seen.” Grandma Lee shuffles up to stand next to me. Bony fingers stuff her tangle of yarn into her carpet bag. She seems even smaller with the bulky jacket bundled around her thin shoulders. “They’ll get over it, and if they don’t, fuck’em. Do you really need them in your life?”
“No, but it’s not my choice,” I murmur, eyes staying fixed on Nick.
“Nicolas is a smart kid. He’ll figure it out.” Her gaze drifts to where Isla is gathering the discarded cups and plates strewn across every available surface. “She’s a good one. It’s about time life went her way.”
I don’t speak and she doesn’t wait for an answer. Carpet bag clutched at her side, she ambles in the direction of the door.
In the sitting area, Nick captures Isla’s hips in passing and he pulls her down into his lap. The gesture startles Walker. His gaze jumps to Isla, then his son. Clearly his brain is working overtime, processing if he should say something. But in true Walker fashion, he accepts the situation with hesitance and a pleading glance around the room.
No one’s paying attention. The few left behind are too busy forcing the drunk people into their coats.
It’s definitely the shortest party we’ve ever had, but it’s not usually this exciting either.
It’s hard to say how this will end, but I have no doubt the phone tree between the aunts will be intense tomorrow once everyone sobers up. Some will take Macie’s side, but a much larger portion will agree with Nick, simply based on the display of silent support I watch take place.
