Page 68 of Fake Engaged to the Enemy

“Come here and see my ring,” June gushes. “Crimson proposed to me, you know. And you’re going to be my maid of honor.”

June, Grandma, and Katherina are all standing on the porch. It seems to me that June is trying to go inside but Grandma won’t let her.

Katherina looks like she’s about to throw up.

“Mom,” I say roughly. “I’ve had a hard day. I don’t want to talk about your engagement.”

June folds her arms, pouting. “But I drove all the way out here. Why are you being so rude to me?”

“I’ve had a hard day,” I repeat.

“It can’t be that hard! How much effort does it take to say congratulations?” June narrows her eyes at me. “And when I’ve just said you get to be my maid of honor. Well, no matter. When is your wedding? I want to make sure mine is first. It’s not fair for a daughter to steal her mother’s thunder.”

“Mom, now isn’t a good time. Why don’t you go into town and get a hotel room, and then I’ll come buy dinner for you?” I suggest with one eye on Katherina. How much was said before I arrived?

June wrinkles her nose. “At least there’s that. You’re not as ungrateful as this one.” She gestures carelessly at Katherina. “She’s such a disappointment.”

Anger flashes through me.

Katherina bursts into tears and takes off, running behind the house.

I open my mouth to start shouting, but Grandma beats me to it.

“June, you are going to leave Sandburrow and never come back.” Her voice is low, cold, and calm.

I’ve never seen her this furious. I actually take a step back, my heart jumping to my throat.

June stares at her. “What are you talking about? Can’t you see how these girls are acting?”

“You never deserved either of your beautiful daughters. I don’t know what I did to screw up raising you so badly, but I’m not letting you hurt them anymore.” Grandma draws herself up, her gaze like steel. “You’re going to leave my property now before I call the cops.”

“You’re the one keeping my daughter from me!” June shrieked.

Grandma pulls her phone from her pocket. “And I have everything we agreed to in writing. You said Katherina could spend the summer with me.”

June curled her hands into fists. “You old—”

“Leave, or I’m calling the police,” Grandma repeats.

June spits at her and kicks over a potted flower as she leaves. When she drives off, tires spinning, she deliberately crashes through the rose bushes lining the driveway.

Grandma lets out a shuddering breath. “I need to call the sheriff and let him know what’s happening.”

I nod, stunned. Did that really just happen?

Katherina must be devastated right now.

As narcissistic and neglectful as June was to me, she’d never called me a disappointment to my face.

I find my sister in the old treehouse. She’s wrapped in a tight ball, sobbing. I silently put my arms around her, holding her gently.

“You don’t… have to,” Katherina sobs. “I know I’m—not—worth—”

“You are worth it,” I tell her firmly. I rub her back softly. “I’m so sorry that she said that. It’s not true. You are beautiful and smart and kind. Grandma loves you. And I love you, too, Kitty.”

Katherina continues to sob, but now she leans into me.

Tears flow freely.

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