Page 228 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2
“I only wanted to protect him,” she whispered. “I’m a mother and it’s what we do.” A soft smile hovered around the corner of her mouth as she stared at my round tummy. “You understand, don’t you?”
Damn it all to heck. My eyes started watering. Ididunderstand. My babies hadn’t even been born yet and I knew I would kill anyone who messed with them. It was a primal sort of urge to destroy any possible danger or hurt…God bless him, but I was still side-eyeing Matt, their own father. Yeah, even him.
I nodded slowly and watched the smile blossom on her face. I wanted to hate her for never truly giving me a chance, for not accepting me and making me feel unworthy. I wanted to hate her, a part of meneededto hate her. The sad, vindictive, angry part of me which I swore to leave behind. I was in the chrysalis stage of my life, subject to growth and change, hopefully I would emerge a strong butterfly able to follow my own destiny on the streams of life’s winds. Oh man…this was brain waffling, and I was starting to get hungry.
Raising my arms slightly, I shrugged, magnanimously offering the olive branch. “It’s ok.”
I would forgive, but I would never forget. They were all getting side-eyed for life! Not the twins, they were my girls. Portia hugged me. I wasn’t sure if it was our first proper hug. It was. Was it? My ex-mother-in-law hadn’t previously been touchy-feely with me.
“You’re pregnant,” she murmured. “And beautiful.” She pulled back to peer at me. “We’ll have to do something about your hair though. I can get you an appointment with my stylist,”
Matt cleared his throat, loud enough to get his unspoken point across quite clearly.
“If you would like me to, that is,” Portia added.
“It’s been out of control the last month or so,” I didn’t think she was trying to insult me. Maybe she simply didn’t know how to talk about my hair and this was her way of trying to establish a link.
“The hormones.” both she and Hannah said in unison.
Hugging me again, she said in my ear. “I want us to get past all the unpleasantness, please forgive me. I just want my son to be happy.”
“Stop monopolising her,” Grump’s irritated reprimand had us both stiffening.
“And I apologize in advance for the old codger.” she murmured before pulling away.
“Well, young lady,” Grumps elbowed his son aside. William Jr had lost his space to the old man. “What do have to say for yourself?”
“Grumps,” Matt called in warning.
The foyer suddenly felt small and cramped as Grumps and I faced off.
“What?” Grumps snapped waspishly. “I’m trying to have a conversation with the girl and everyone is getting in my way with all this foolish, soppy nonsense!” He glared at Hannah. “Crying? Get a hold of yourself. You need to deal with your wayward daughter,” Grumps gave Natty the once over and shook his grey head. “You look horrendous. What’s next? Body modification? I know about these things, don’t think I don’t. I’m not an old man who is ill-informed. Cutting off your lovely hair like that.”
Nicki and Natty shared a quick grin before moving behind their parents, probably seeking support and protection. Matt moved just a bit closer to me. I appreciated him for it.
“Matthew told me what you did.”
I twisted my head sideways to catch Matt doing that apologetic look again.What I did?Oh, things were going to get rowdy here. I tried to think of my blood pressure and the babies. Stress wasn’t good for them.
“Excuse me?” It was a fine balance, my blend of annoyance, politeness, and downright disbelief.
Grumps snorted at me. “Don’t take that tone with me. How could you put my boy through months of worry? You should have never gotten divorced. I accepted you into my family, which let me tell you, was a battle with my conscience,”
“Grumps,” A chorus of chastisement rose up from everyone, Matt was the loudest, while I stared agog at my old nemesis.
Grumps being Grumps continued to have a go at me. “He said you only told him last week. You were planning on keeping my great-grandchildren from us. Did you do the paternity test?” Grumps levelled his favourite grandson with a fearsome scowl. “Did she do the test? You were separated for a long time, no telling what she got up to. She’s a pretty little thing-”
“You bastard.” I blurted out, unable to keep quiet anymore. “I’m not taking any of your bull this time around. No way. I will ban yourcrotchety, rude, yes rude, old self from my children,” I turned to Matt, one hand over my tummy. “I’ll ban them all.”
“Too right we will,” Matt was quick on agreeing with me as he matched his grandfather’s glare with one of his own. “Stop it before I throw you out,” He observed the rest of them. “I will throw you all out.”
“I haven’t done anything, Uncle Matt.” Nicki said.
“Of course not, darling,” Matt smiled at her. “Never you.”
“Me either,” Natty obviously felt left out. Thinking about it, Nicki was Matt’s favourite. I told him ages ago about that favouritism.
“Or you, Trouble,” he added before pointing a stern finger at Grumps. “Do not annoy me.”
