Page 98 of The Wish List
“Impossible,” he whispered.
“Not when I believe it to be inevitable.” She moved toward the door. “Would you keep the manuscript to yourself? As much as I appreciate your faith in me...in us...” She clenched her jaw and tried to stem the tide of tears she knew was coming. “I wish I deserved it.”
Then she opened the door and walked away from the best man she’d ever met. If Freya had ever questioned whether she was a true master of self-destruction, she had her answer now.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ABEADOFsweat rolled between Trinity’s shoulder blades even though it wasn’t exactly warm in the small office where she waited for the baptism to begin a week later.
She should be out in the vestibule greeting the few guests she’d invited to the service, but for some reason, Thomas refused to stop fussing. It was unlike the baby, who Freya had nicknamed “Little Buddha” because of his serene personality.
He rarely cried in earnest but had been cranky since he awoke this morning, which made Trinity irritable as well.
She didn’t like the feeling of not being able to comfort her son.
“You want me to take him?” her mother asked. May sat on the striped damask sofa across the room from Trinity, watching her pace back and forth with Thomas.
“I want him to stop crying before the baptism. He’s got a fresh diaper and ate an hour ago. I checked his outfit to make sure nothing was poking or scratching him. Why won’t he stop fussing?”
“Babies cry,” May said matter-of-factly. “It doesn’t mean you’re a bad mom, Trinny.”
“I didn’t think that,” Trinity lied, although that was exactly what she feared. Somehow the people closest to her—her mom, sisters and their neighbors plus Greer—everyone attending the baptism would think Thomas was crying in response to something she had or hadn’t done.
If only she could figure out what it was.
“Everything okay?” Beth asked as she opened the door.
“Minister says five minutes,” Freya added, giving Beth a slight shove to make room inside the office.
“Don’t push me.” Beth elbowed Freya, and Trinity half expected to see them start rolling around on the floor, pro-wrestling style.
“Would you two knock it off?” she said on a hiss of breath and then grimaced as Thomas’s chin began to tremble. “It’s okay, sweet boy,” she sang in a soft voice, bouncing him as she started to pace again. “Your two aunties are still acting like fools, but they’re going to behave so I don’t have to kill them.”
Freya laughed. “Catchy tune.”
“You might have missed your call as a recording artist,” Beth said.
“World-class arguers and comedians. I hit the sister jackpot with you two.”
There was a moment of awkward silence inside the room because Trinity never snapped at them.
“Come on, Trin.” Beth stepped forward. “He’s just having a bad day. It happens to everyone.”
“Especially Beth.” Freya tried to put an arm around Trinity’s shoulders as Beth took Thomas from her.
“Maybe Dad needs an opening act,” Beth muttered then glanced at May and cringed. “Sorry, too much.”
Trinity shrugged out of Freya’s grasp and covered her face with her hands. “I don’t want us to fight anymore.” She looked up and dashed her fingers across her cheeks. “I’m tired and hormonal, and my boobs leak every time I start to cry. Stop making me cry.”
“We don’t want you to cry,” Freya said, sounding appalled.
Beth’s eyes widened. “Of course not.”
“It makes me sad that you hate each other.”
Her two older sisters shared a confused look.
“Trin, we don’t hate each other.” Beth kissed the top of the baby’s head when he gave a little squawk. “Sisters argue.”
