Page 62 of Hidden Truths

I quickly get up and put a bag together for Willa to take with her. She grabs it and squeezes my arm. Jo follows them out.

“I’m staying,” I hear behind me and sigh.

“Belle, come on. She’s here to yell at me, not you. There’s no reason you need to deal with her. You don’t either, Dad,” Cal says, looking suddenly exhausted.

The doorbell echoes through the room. Cal sighs again, knowing he isn’t going to win. He looks at me, his eyes pleading for something. I don’t have time to figure out what before he’sturning and heading to the door. The three of us follow him, silently offering our support.

It’s ridiculous that this is happening for one woman. But I guess that’s what happens when it’s a parent. I can’t imagine what it’s like being raised by someone who uses you more than they love you.

The moment the door opens, Paula storms in like she owns the place. She looks around the foyer and then spots everyone else.

“Of course you’re all here. You always love to gang up on me,” she sneers, storming past everyone, not even acknowledging I exist. Which I’m honestly not that mad about.

“What are you doing here?” Belle asks her. She looks just like her mother. They have the same shade of dark brown hair and blue eyes. But where Belle likes to leave her curls free, Paula’s are pulled tightly into a bun at the back of her neck.

“I came to meet the granddaughter you were hiding from me,” she says, glaring at Cal. I want to punch this woman in the face. I’ve never punched anyone before, but I think she might be the exception.

“You’re not welcome here, and you will not be in my daughter’s life,” Cal says, much more calmly than I think I would’ve managed in his place.

“Of course I am! You are my son, and she is my granddaughter. I will be in her life, and you will let me see her this instant!” Paula stomps her foot. I snort at the action before I can stop it. It was such a childish move coming from a grown adult.

“Oops,” I say under my breath as Paula turns her hateful gaze to me.

“And who are you? The help? My bags are in my car. Go get them and take them to the biggest guest room.” The womantosses her keys to me. I keep my hands down and let them fall to the floor at my feet.

Cal moves in front of me, forcing his mother to look at him instead. “That is my future wife you’re speaking to, and you will show her respect.”

Paula laughs humorlessly. “Oh, is that how this all came about? She tricked you with her magic cunt and now you have a baby with her? She trapped you, Callahan. Don’t be such a fool.”

“Magic cunt?” I say, baffled by her language.

“You should have listened when I warned you,” Paula sneers.

“You’re the one who texted me? I wouldn’t call it a warning. I thought some tabloid got my number. I blocked it and haven’t heard a peep since.”

“What texts?” Cal asks, eyes narrowing on me, but I shrug.

“It was literally two texts that told me to watch my back and then nothing. It was a while ago, and I honestly forgot about it.”

“I have to take out the trash, as usual!” Paula yells, reaching out like she might grab me. Cal pulls me behind him again.

“Enough, Paula!” Jason yells, shocking us all. Apparently, his ex-wife brings out the anger in him. “How dare you come into this house and be so disrespectful!”

Paula looks shocked. So do Belle and Cal. I don’t think Jason has ever raised his voice to her. I’m kind of loving it.

“That woman has been more of a mother to my granddaughter than you ever were to our children, and you will not speak to her like that,” Jason continues. “Callahan has made the choice to remove you from his life. Maybe instead of coming in here and embarrassing yourself by pointing fingers, you should go do some self-reflection.”

“You’re not welcome here,” Cal says. I move to his side, taking his hand. He squeezes it, letting me know he appreciates it, but he keeps his eyes on his mother.

“I’m your mother!” Paula screams. “I raised you! You have no right to push me away like this!”

“I was done with you the day you accused Belle of ruining her relationship with her abuser,” Cal says, standing his ground.

Paula scoffs, sounding a lot like Mav’s mom. Maybe there’s something in the water up there. “You know how dramatic your sister is. How was I supposed to know he’d get a little too obsessed with her?”

“He tried to kill her!” Jason shouts. There’s a vein pulsing in his forehead that has me a little concerned for his health.

“She’s not even the dramatic one,” I mutter. Everyone’s eyes turn to me. I really need to work on saying things more quietly. “What? It’s not my fault she doesn’t know her kids.”

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