Page 137 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

“You gave me a fright.” I chuckle as I look up at her but Mother is back to sewing and not paying attention to me.

Right. After she helped with my neck the other day, we haven’t really talked to each other since. I shouldn’t allow it to hurt me so much, but it stings every single time she doesn’t reply.

Time.

Mother just needs time to gather all her thoughts and come to terms everything. I can be patient and can show her that even if she is pushing me away, I won’t go away and I’ll be there for her.

Mother deserves that.

I push myself up off the ground and walk toward the dishes and start putting them away. We aren’t starting huge projects anymore since the baby could come any day and I miss them. I hate this time in between, not knowing if I should start something or if I need to wait.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

My eyebrows pull together as I look at the door before looking at Mother.

“Are you expecting anyone?” I ask.

“No,” she replies and holds her stomach again.

I walk over to her, ignoring the knocking on the door again and kneel in front of her. “If you are having contractions, let me know so I can get the midwife.”

“Not yet. They aren’t contractions, just the baby kicking my stomach demanding to be let out, but my water hasn’t broken yet,” she replies.

Nodding, I stand and walk to the door right as the person knocks again.

“What can I do for yo—” the words fall off my lips as I stare at Avira. “What are you doing here?”

“Are you going to let me in?” she asks.

Unease fills my body as we stare at each other. I don’t want her in the house, not when Mother is so close to going into labor.

“Well?” she impatiently asks once again.

“What are you doing here?” I keep my body in the doorway so she can’t get in.

“Adeline,” she growls. “Let me in so we can talk.”

“About what?”

She glares at me. “You know what it’s about. Let me in so we can talk.”

“I don’t know if that is wise,” I start off. “Mother is about to go into labor, and I have a lot to prepare beforehand.”

It’s not a lie, but I also really don’t want to talk to my own sister. A lot has been going on, and she is the last person I want around at the moment.

“Adeline, who is at the door?” Mother asks.

“Avira,” I reply.

“Let her in!”

Sighing, I open the door and allow Avira to walk into the house. She gives me a smug look as she walks by me, and I grit my teeth to stop myself from saying something nasty to her. After closing the door, I walk back into the kitchen to see Avira next to Mother, her hand on her belly.

“Oh, the baby kicked.” She looks shocked.

“That’s what they do,” I sarcastically say, rolling my eyes as I lean against the counter and look at her. “What do you need so desperately to talk to us about?”

“Adeline!” Mother scolds me, but I don’t pay any attention to it.