Page 91 of This Moment

Doug leaned back in his chair and looked at his wife. “You’re not jealous about Opal’sshenanigans,are you, dear?”

“Shut up, Doug.”

“Grandmother, that isn’t a nice thing to say,” Millie stated.

Lacy looked at her granddaughter and mumbled something under her breath before standing and walking out of the dining room.

I watched as Doug took the drink Sally had brought and downed it. Everyone else seemed to be oblivious to how Lacy was acting, or that Doug seemed extra annoyed with his wife. Opal and Macy were lost in a conversation as Kian and Will discussed his new job.

Mark leaned in and whispered, “So, what do you think of the parents?”

Turning my head to look at him, I replied, “They’re…um…”

I let my words fade when I realized I had no words to describe his mother and father.

“I couldn’t have said it any better.”

I let out a soft breath. This was going to be a long weekend.

The second the door shut in the guest house I faced Kian. “Oh. My. God. I don’t know where to even start!”

He laughed and loosened his tie. “It’s a lot to unpack, isn’t it?”

I kicked off my shoes and shook my head. “The way your mother treats Sally is unbelievable. Why has she stayed working for them as long as she has?”

“Sally stays for us; plus, she really doesn’t have to deal with my mother very often. Dad will come and stay a few times a year, but he’s not as bad as my mother.”

“It was really making me mad. And Macy pretends she doesn’t care that your mother doesn’t pay attention to the kids, but I can tell it bothers her.”

“You think?”

“Yes! I saw it in her eyes when your mother patted Millie on the head. She patted her!”

Kian walked into the kitchen. “Drink?”

“No, thank you,” I answered as I followed behind him and slid onto one of the stools. “And what in the world is going on with Opal and your mother? And why does your father think it is all amusing?”

Kian took a long drink from his beer and released a long sigh before speaking. “I think it has to do with the whole thing involving my mother, Opal, and Jake. I mean, my mother left my father for Jake. She got pregnant. They got married. Then she cheated on Jake with my father. It’s like this weird circle she did.”

“Did it seem like your mother was bothered that Jake and Opal are spending time together?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. She did seem a bit annoyed. And my father was poking fun at my mother, that’s for sure.”

“Wow, I’m so sorry.”

He tilted his head and studied me. “Why?”

“I can’t imagine growing up with parents like that. I can almost see why Mark is in the CIA.”

Kian laughed then let it fade away as he looked at me. “What’s wrong?”

Sighing, I slowly shook my head and blinked back my tears. “I miss my parents. I miss hearing their voices and seeing my mother’s smile on FaceTime. I miss my brother too.”

“I know it’s hard having to keep your life a secret right now. Hopefully it will be over sooner rather than later.”

“Speaking of that, did Mark tell Macy he’s in the CIA?”

“I’m not sure if he’s told her or not. He did tell me he wasn’t telling our parents. I think he likes keeping them in the dark.”

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