Page 96 of Finding Hope

Jack takes Emma from my arms and sits her on his hip as he throws his other arm over my shoulders. Standing tall and proud, he faces the lady as she stops in front of us.

She’s checking me out in a way Kit never did. I thought I was scared of his sister, but this woman,thiswoman holds all the power.

“Bambie,” Jack begins seriously. “I want you to meet Nelly. Mama, meet Britt.”

Mama?

She smiles so fucking genuinely, I can’t even help returning it. Extending my hand, she takes it between hers and squeezes comfortingly.

“Brittany. It’s so lovely to meet you. I’m sorry my children are immature fools.”

“Mom!” Jimmy’s cry cuts off on a pained gurgle as she snaps her head around and pins him with a glare. “Never mind.”

Lips pursed, eyes rolling, she turns back to me. “I’m so sorry about them. I tried, I really did. But they’re adults, now. They have kids of their own, they pay their own bills. I failed as a mother, seeing as none of them matured past their fifth birthday.”

“But Mom! Don’t be fooled with her innocent act! You should’ve heard the things she said about us.”

My eyes snap to his.Don’t you dare!

He smiles evilly. He would totally dare.

“James.” Nelly glares over her shoulder a second time. “You were the youngest. You were my baby, and thus, you got away with a lot. Butyou’re a grown ass man, now. Grown or not, I will smack you if you talk back again.”

When she turns back to me, he rolls his eyes behind her back. “I’m sorry, Mama.”

“Mmhmm.”

“Hey, Britt,” Jon murmurs mischievously. “I didn’t see your car outside this morning. You just get here?”

The heat rushes to my face.No! Don’t do this.

“I saw it,” Aiden adds seriously. “It’s out the front.”

Jimmy’s smug grin grows. “It’s so strange that you’d parkallthe way out the front.”

I glare. Parent-teacher dynamics can go to hell. If I could set him on fire with my eyes, I would.

“I didn’t get a text that the gates opened,” Jon ponders as he literally takes his phone from his pocket. “No, wait, I see it.” His eyes meet mine. “They weren’t opened. But security was breached.”

I bite my lip. I want to feel the sting. I want to feel anything other than the humiliation.

“Security was breached?” Kit conveniently asks with a smile.

Oh. My. Damn!

She knows damn well security was breached. I was in her house!

“Uh-huh,” Jon continues. “But, last night. Not today.”

Brooke and Alex, the six-year-old cousins, cry out and giggle. “Did you sleep in Uncle Jack’s room?”

Jimmy’s smile is victorious. “Well, hell.” He leans back in his chair and laces his hands behind his head. “My work here is done.”

Rolling her eyes, Nelly snags a rolled-up newspaper from the kitchen counter and pegs it at her son with surprising accuracy.

“Don’t mind him.” She turns back to me. Her hand comes up like she’s going to pat my shoulder, but instead, her soft fingers touch my neck. “I have cream for that that I could lend to you. Eczema really bothers me sometimes, too.”

Turning on her heels, she walks back to her seat and sits down, elegantly crossing her legs as she picks up her tea. Those are the things she’s doing, but in my mind, all I see is a hand suspended in the air, then a dramatic mic drop.

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