Page 13 of Bleeding Hearts

Her boys mumble in unison, “What the hell?”

Alicia snickers and then scolds them. “Mind your business.”

And Bethany hums like she’s sad it ended so quickly before hollering at the boys. “Move, so I can try this bad boy out. You helped build it, Finn?”

I don’t catch the rest. As I walk across the street, my focus is fully on my sister, looking like someone ripped the rug out from under her.

“Why are you crying?”

She pats the spot next to her and waits for me to sit. “You did a good thing there. You can explain that little peck later.”

I grunt and tug her closer. “Maybe.”

This elicits a small chuckle from her before she sniffles. “No wedding. He called it off. He’s moving to New Zealand. No warning. No explanation. Just an, ‘I don’t think I’m ready to get married, and when they offered to send me to New Zealand, I saw that as a sign.’ He leaves in an hour. A fucking hour, Nolan.” She wipes her face off with a well-used tissue. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to use the forbidden F word.”

“Sometimes it’s necessary.” I kiss the top of her head. “He’s an asshole. You can do better. I never liked him. I’ll grab thegirls. We can have ice cream for dinner, then head to the beach to watch the sunset. Unless you’d rather go do that with Rylee.”

“Nope. She’s working. Me and her can bash his shit later. Get really drunk on that expensive alcohol he drinks because he thinks it makes him sophisticated. God, I hate him.” She blows her nose and grabs another tissue. “Hope you can get a refund on that trip you bought us.”

It was a non-refundable purchase, but I’m not telling her that. “Actually, I think you should go. It’ll give you a chance to get away and maybe have some fun. Do all the things you know he’d be too much of a pussy to do, which is probably anything fun.”

“I don’t know if I can do that,” Cora sniffs.

“Just think about it.”

“I will, but I make no promises.”

We stand together and then turn around and head inside. Holding the door open for her, I glance across the street. Too bad I can’t take Bethany on that trip just to get away.

I bet she’d love a trip like that.

I know I would.

Chapter 7

Bethany

The sound of the doorbell interrupts our peaceful morning, causing me to divert my attention from Jodi, who’s busy cooking breakfast for everyone. It’s late August, almost two months since the accident. Jodi is here because we sent Alicia on a date with Dillon so those two could make me a niece or nephew.

Things between them are progressing fast. Her seriousness about having a baby made the prospect of her using a stranger’s sperm unacceptable to Dillon. Doing that meant she wouldn’t have help from the baby daddy, something he found disturbing, so he offered his services with a promise to not let her do it alone, even if things between them never took off. He vowed to be a father to their child, a good one. It’s sweet and I can’t fault her for wanting to give her child more.

But I also see the flip side to why a donor could be beneficial. Sometimes I wish my boys’ father was a donor with zero influence on our lives. Things would be so much easier.

When the doorbell rings again, I’m about to tell one of the boys to answer it, but Finn darts past, bee lining it to the door. A few seconds pass. I hear chatting, so I assume it’s one of his friends.

“Mom! There’s a man here to see you!” Finn calls out from the entrance. “And he has a shiny new car he says is yours!”

“You’re getting a new car?” Jodi flips the hash browns and wipes her hands on the towel over her shoulder. “How did I not know this?”

“Because I’m not. Not yet at least. The insurance hasn’t settled with the other company. It’s in dispute. And since I can’t drive, I’m in no hurry.” I turn my wheelchair around and push my way to the front door. “Plus, I don’t think they deliver new cars.”

Stepping up behind me, she grips the handles, taking over and pushes me down the hall just as Felix and Nicky skirt past us. As they walk outside, I hear all three boys gasp.

“Sweet ride, Miss Rogan.”

“We should take it for a spin, Mom.” Felix whistles as he steps back inside. “Too bad I don’t got my permit yet.”

His grammar is a mess, making me cringe inwardly, but I paste on a smile for the man on the front stoop.

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