“Listen. I appreciate that you guys are telling me the truth now, but I need you to promise me that if anyone ever tells you to keep something from me, you ignore them and come straight to me. I don’t care if it’s one of your uncles, a teacher,your grandparents, or your friends; you tell me right away, even if you think someone will get hurt if you do.”
They both promise to talk to me instead of keeping it to themselves, and then I ask, “Is there anything else you guys want to talk about?”
“Can you ask Gia to come over to read us a story tonight?” Leah smiles at me.
I shake my head, fighting a grin. “I’ll ask her, but don’t count on her being able to do it, okay?”
“Okay.”
“What’s for dessert?” Lauren jumps off my lap to clean up her spot. Leah follows her lead, peering into the freezer to see our options.
I sit at the table, stewing for a bit longer. I can’t reconcile the woman who shouldered the burden after Hannah died with the one currently saying vile things around the girls. How can they be the same person?
Have I been blind to who Kathy really is? How many things has she said to the girls that they just brushed off, not knowing I’d be pissed if I heard it? Lauren made it clear that she doesn’t want to spend time with them, and there’s no way in hell I’ll force them to go over there. At a minimum, I’ll make sure I’m around every time they want to see the girls to ensure that Kathy doesn’t have the leeway to spout her bullshit anymore.
And to tell Leah to brush off a bully as if it’s no big deal? That’s unacceptable to me, especially when this isn’t the first time she’s had an issue with the boy.
I don’t want to be the bad guy. It’s shitty to limit the amount of time they can spend with their grandkids, but they also have to show me and the girls respect. They don’t get to voice their displeasure about my life in front of the girls. If they have a problem, they can discuss it with me.
It’s going to take a Herculean effort to havethis conversation without getting pissed. I can predict exactly how Kathy is going to take me dictating what she can and can’t say around the girls. This won’t end well at all, but I can’t stay silent.
If I let this slide like everything else, Kathy will only continue to escalate, and my girls deserve better.
CHAPTER 30
Gia
“Am I doing this right?” I whisper to Lauren.
She looks at the yarn monstrosity in my hands and starts to giggle. “I don’t think so… What are you trying to make?”
“It’s supposed to be a mitten.”
“I’m not sure that’s going to keep your hands very warm.”
She’s got a point. There are giant holes in places where there shouldn’t be.
A laugh bubbles up my chest until I can’t hold it in anymore. “I’m horrible at this.”
Lauren grins at me. “It doesn’t really matter as long as you’re having fun.”
“Well said, Lo Lo.” Muriel nods at her granddaughter, a proud smile stretching across her face. “The crochet club isn’t about the crafts you finish, it’s about spending time together and having fun.”
The rest of the women sagely nod in agreement.
Holt’s assistant, Beverly, leans forward to pat my leg. “As long as you have some hot gossip, we’ll let your skills slide.”
“Beverly,” Muriel admonishes.
She cackles. “I’m teasing! Sort of. We are glad you’re here though.”
This is my third time attending a crochet club meeting. I probably won’t ever get the hang of crocheting, but spending time with these women is the highlight.
Muriel and Marcie are the self-appointed leaders. They keep everyone organized and in the loop about the gatherings. There are five or six women who attend every meeting, but about fifteen total in the group.
I brought Lauren and Leah with me today because Holt went to talk with Kathy about the things she’s been saying to the girls. I hate that I’m the reason there’s conflict between them. If she can talk through her main issues, maybe they’ll be able to work everything out. Holt didn’t seem optimistic when he left earlier, but for the girls’ sake, I hope she surprises us.
“I made this for you, G.” Leah rushes around the table to stand next to me. She holds up a pipe cleaner that’s been bent into a bracelet with plastic beads strung on it.
