Page 69 of Shortcake
“So,” Mom said, interrupting all of us. “I was thinking of inviting your sister to come visit sometime this summer.”
The record scratched and Neil, Liam, Chloe, Elaina and I all stopped mid-bite to gape at Mom. Except for Finn who was somehow not shocked enough to stop eating. He kept his head down, pushing his vegetables around his plate.
Neil shifted in his chair. “You’re thinking of inviting Hope? Here?”
Mom nodded. “We all talked about it that first night over dinner when we found out… then, every time I tried to bring it up again, one of you always changed the subject.”
My cheeks went hot as Mom’s gaze landed on me.
One of you. It wasn’t one of us… it was me. I always tried to change the subject away from Hope. Not Neil. Not Liam. Definitely not Finn. Always me.
My whole life I’d wanted a sister. And now that I had one, I was burying my head in the sand, pretending she didn’t exist.
But a theoretical sister was very different from a real sister.
Suddenly, no longer hungry, I pushed my plate away. “And you thought this dinner in front of a stranger would be the place to bring it up?” I asked.
“As I said, I’ve tried to bring it up before. Multiple times.”
I turned my glare toward Finn. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”
He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Hope’s been talking about it more and more whenever we chat.”
I gaped at him, feeling like my insides were being dragged across a cheese grater. We hadjusttalked about this, he and I. Literally a few days ago. He must have sensed my thoughts… or it was written on my glaring face, because he responded with, “I’m not a monster for wanting to get to know my half-sister, Addy.”
I shook my head. “No. But you could have given me a head’s up that this was happening…” And happening sooner rather than later, apparently.
Conrad cleared his throat as he stood and patted Harper’s shoulder. “Come on, Turkey. Why don’t you go do some of your reading for book club tomorrow.”
Harper gave a quick nod, then scurried up the stairs to her bedroom like she couldn’t get out of here fast enough. Conrad on the other hand, busied himself by gathering plates to take into the kitchen.
“Good job,” I said, gesturing to the doorway Conrad left through. “You scared off the people who own the house with this conversation. Are you all proud?”
“It’s not a conversation,” Mom said, firmly. “It’s a declaration. I’m not asking you. I’m telling you, giving you the warning, that I’m inviting her to come stay with me. Whether or not each of you meets and gets to know her, well, that’s on you. But shewillbe coming here for a visit.”
“This is bullshit,” I muttered.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Neil said, solemnly.
I gaped at him. “You do?”
He shrugged. “I’d rather meet her in person now before the wedding. It’d be way less awkward.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I swung my hand around, feeling like I was on that topsy turvy ride at the fair that made me puke up cotton candy. “You’re going to Dad’s wedding?Seriously?”
Sure, I knew my brothers had all had a phone call or two with Hope. I knew we’d all received an invitation to the wedding, and I knew that Finn was definitely going. But Neil had always been as angry as me. And I definitely did not realize that every single member of my immediate family was planning to go down to Texas for this rootin’ tootin’ shindig.
“You’renotgoing?” Liam asked. “We got the invitationmonthsago.”
My cheeks heated, as I thought of that invitation sitting unopened in my laptop bag. “So like, all three of you are planning to go to Texas for the wedding?” I asked.
“All four of us,” Mom said, holding her hand up.
Okay. What the actual hell? “You?” I couldn’t have heard that right. “You’re going to your ex-husband’s wedding?”
Mom nodded. “I talked with his fiancé not too long ago and she was so sweet. She invited me as well. She thought maybe you four would be more comfortable if I was there, too. For emotional support.”
“That’s…” I faded. It was really considerate. But I couldn’t bring myself to say those words. This woman, she was going to be my stepmom.
