Chapter 47

ANNA

As James lays out his rules, I can already sense things are about to go sideways. Mom and I have three more weeks until the twins arrive, and we’re hoping to keep them tucked away as long as we can.

“We’ve driven five hours to be here, don’t you think it’s a bit much to impose these rules on us?” Ruby challenges James.

“No, because we chose this location for a reason. And you’re aware of that reason.”

“Olivia could surely make another trip to Sun Peaks,” she suggests, rolling her eyes.

“No, she can’t, Ruby,” Mom snaps, barely containing her anger. I can feel it radiating in the room, and so can Ruby.

“Why would you even suggest that? Have you seen Olivia at all in the past few months?”

Ruby shakes her head.

“So how would you know what she’s capable of?” Mom fires back. Dad wraps an arm around her, rubbing her shoulders in an attempt to soothe her.

“I’m doing it,” I tell James, and quickly text Jim and Lizzie. I don’t care about appearances, Liv needs her rest. And this situation is already veering off course.

Anna

They’re here, we’ve been talking for one minute and it’s already getting too heated. Can you come and pick her up?

“Okay,” James says. He takes my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

Liz

Two minutes.

The tone of the message is clear. If Lizzie knew how to use emojis, I’m sure she’d be sending me all sorts of devilish ones.

~It’s kind of funny, when you think about it.~

“And?” James asks.

“Two minutes.”

A knock echoes at the door. I glance at James and start laughing. James joins in, fully aware that a storm is brewing.

James rises to let Lizzie in. She’s at the sink in a flash, washing her hands with an excessive amount of soap, scrubbing furiously.

I can tell she’s fuming. I stand and walk over to the sink.

“Lizzie, I’m okay,” I assure her. I wrap my arms around her, resting my head on her shoulder. She returns the side-hug and takes a deep breath.

“I know you are, but they don’t get to mess with Liv. Is she staying the night?” she asks, a hint of anger in her voice. But I know it’s not directed at me. It’s the situation, or them. Let’s go with the situation…

“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know. I’ll try to come and get her, though.”

“No, no,” she says, shaking her head. “You focus on yourself. Get that fresh start you deserve. Let me take care of my niece and granddaughter.” She sighs deeply, then turns and pulls me into a hug.

“I’m okay, and so is Liv. She’s sleeping. Mom is also okay. If anything happens, I’ll let you know, alright?” I promise her.

“Anything, okay? I want to know everything,” she insists.

I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. “Yes, yes, Auntie,” I respond with a nervous laugh. You have to love this woman. Who else would do this for someone who isn’t even related by blood?

Honestly, who does this for blood relatives? Not many, that’s for sure.

“Okay, I’ll go fetch my little munchkin,” she says and walks away. “I’m taking some clothes and stuff!” she calls from the stairs, causing us all to laugh.

Well, everyone except Ruby and Peter. They just stare at us, clearly confused.

“Liz seems upset,” Mom observes with a chuckle.

“Yeah, she is. You know how she gets when it comes to Olivia or me,” I confirm.

“Sweetheart, it’s because of you,” Dad says knowingly. I shrug.

“Who is that?” Ruby finally asks, sounding bewildered.

I roll my eyes, not really wanting to answer. But Lizzie, with her impeccable timing, walks into the kitchen holding my daughter.

Liv’s head is resting on Lizzie’s chest and her legs are wrapped around her.

“I’m the one who met Anna when she was homeless and six months pregnant. I’m the one who took her in and cared for her like she was my own. So I’m family.

“And I’m the one who’s taking my granddaughter out of here before you make her even sicker,” she declares.

I beam at Lizzie. “Auntie, we’re okay. Liv is sleeping,” I tell her, pointing at Liv, who is snoozing on her arm like a little rose—or more like a sack of potatoes that’s hard to hold on to.

Lizzie lifts her up so Olivia’s head rests on her shoulder.

“I’m not worried about Liv. I was never worried about Liv,” she says with a sigh.

“I’m okay, just take care of Liv for me. I’ll keep you updated.”

“Momma?” a sleepy little voice pipes up. Her voice has changed a bit during the treatment, and she’s getting more and more tired.

James and I go over to Liv and give her a kiss. “You’ll be with Aunt Lizzie today, baby,” James tells her, kissing her cheek.

Her head jerks up. “Hi, Lizzie,” she says, hugging her.

“Hi, baby.”

Mom and Dad join us. “Sleep tight, baby girl,” Mom says. A giggle fills the room as Dad kisses Olivia’s forehead.

“Poppa. Gigi,” she says with a smile.

“See you tomorrow, sweetheart,” Lizzie and Liv say before they leave.

We all settle back around the table, and Ruby clears her throat. “Why’d you send her away?” she asks, her voice trembling.

“Because I want her to rest, and I have a feeling this conversation isn’t going to be a peaceful one. It was already heading that way,” I reply honestly.

“So, this Lizzie woman. You trust her?” she questions me, her tone skeptical.

Mom rolls her eyes and Dad looks livid. “What are you implying, Ruby?” Dad snaps.

“I’m just asking if she trusts her,” she defends herself.

“Of course she trusts her. Lizzie took Anna in, gave her a job, and provided a home when you kicked her out.

“Meanwhile, instead of making Becca feel capable of caring for her own daughter, you threatened with damn lawyers.

“So, yes. That woman is trustworthy—she’s the one who’s messed up the least out of all of us!” he shouts, slamming his hand on the table, making it shake.

“Dad!” I cry out, my eyes pleading, but I can see he’s too far gone.

“Honey, stop it. You’re scaring Anna,” Mom tells him.

That does it. He sits back down, running his hand through his hair.

“Yes, I trust her,” I tell Ruby.

Peter looks at me, his eyes wide. “So, is it time to address the elephant in the room?” he asks, trying to lighten the mood.

“I guess it is,” I reply, giving him a grateful look. I glance at James, and he knows what I need. He fills my cup with chamomile tea and gives me some sweets to go with it.

He places it in front of me and I take a sip. “God, that’s good.”

“So, the elephant in the room is, do you want to be part of this family?” I ask, directing the question at Ruby.

I know Peter wants nothing more than to have me back. He understands why I couldn’t let him back into my life, and honestly, I’m still not sure if I want them in my life.

But I have to try and give them a second chance.

Ruby looks at me, uncertainty in her eyes. “I don’t know,” she admits.

“Then why are you here?” Mom asks her.

“I wanted to see you,” Ruby says to Mom, and my heart aches. Dad looks at me and shakes his head in anger.

“You could’ve visited me anytime. I live in Sun Peaks, five minutes away, Ruby. So why are you here?” Mom demands.

“I guess I wanted to see how Anna’s been doing these past few years. Like where she lives, how she’s been, that kind of stuff,” she says, looking around our house.

“So you didn’t come here to talk things out? To see if you and Anna could move forward?” James asks her.

“Move forward? From what?” she asks him.

Seriously, what the hell? She abandoned me, accused me of God-knows-what, and now this? What the fuck?!

“Maybe from what you did to her?” Dad interjects.

I look at him and Mom. They both have the same stunned look on their faces. They probably can’t believe what they’re hearing.

She rolls her eyes. “Are we still harping on that? It’s in the past. Besides, didn’t it turn out well for you in the end? Look around you, Anna,” she says.

“It…i-t—It turned out well?” I shriek. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Why do you keep bringing up the past? It happened, so what?” she argues.

“So what? So what? Did you really just say that?!” I scream at her, throwing my cup of tea on the table, not caring about the consequences. It hits the floor in an instant, shattering into pieces.

But I don’t give a damn.

“You made me homeless! You called my child a sin! You didn’t love me! You fucking hurt me!” I yell, slamming my hands on the table.

“But it turned out well, didn’t it?” she states proudly, as if all of my success was because of her.

“Out,” I hiss.

“What?” she asks. Peter looks at me with an apologetic smile.

“I said, out!” I gesture toward the door.

“Anna—” she starts, but I shake my head.

“~No way~,” I think to myself.

“No!” she yells back.

“Why did you come, huh? Why did you give me that half-assed apology weeks ago, just to show up now and break my heart?” I turn her around and push her toward the door. “James!”

James rushes over, knowing there’s nothing he can do to change my mind. He opens the door and I push her out.

“And don’t come back! You and I, and my family, are done if you can’t apologize for what you did. A real apology, not just one Peter made you give. You don’t deserve to be in my house! Have a nice life.”

I slam the door shut.

The door closes with a bang and a wave of pain surges through my body. It’s just the stress, it’s just Braxton Hicks. I take a deep breath as the pain subsides.

But then another contraction hits me. I shake my head.

~No, no, no~

“It’s too early! No! It can’t be!” I groan as my body contracts again. I double over as the contraction intensifies. “God, not now.” A tear rolls down my cheek.

The pain, the fear, and all the emotions blend together. I’m a fucking mess.

“A?” James asks.

“The baby is coming. Call Jasmine, Lizzie, and Brittany,” I tell him, gasping for breath.