Page 100 of When Wrecked Meets Ruined
Annabel nodded. “He mentioned that. He also said that you’d be angry at him for stepping in, but he felt it was the right thing to do.”
My blood boiled. How dare he keep sticking his nose into my business? “It wasn’t. I can fight my own battles.”
“You shouldn’t have to.” Her eyes met mine. “But you’ve been fighting all your life, haven’t you?”
I stayed silent. Not sure how she’d jumped to that conclusion, but Annabel had met my mother, so I guess it was obvious.
“Why didn’t you say something when it happened?” She tilted her head, searching my face for the answer. “Why didn’t you defend yourself?”
I lowered my eyes to the floor. “Would you have believed me?”
Annabel was silent for a moment, which was the only answer I needed. She would never have believed me at the time.
“I love my daughter. I love her very much. So I didn’twantto believe it. What mother wants to believe that her daughter would take such drastic measures to get attention?”
“I never wanted you to find out,” I admitted. And that was the truth.
Annabel nodded. “You always acted like you didn’t need anyone, but I knew better. And I guess….” She took a deep breath and let it out. “I guess I wanted to be the mother figure you didn’t have. And Ainsley…well, she resented me for all the extra time I spent with you. I’m the one who did this. I’m just sorry that I didn’t see it sooner.”
Having said her piece, she stood up and left a ten-dollar bill for the coffee that she’d left touched. “Take care, Evie.”
“You too.”
I watched her walk out of the diner, unsure how to feel about Annabel’s apology or Ridge’s attempt to clear my name.
After work, I picked up Wren from Luisa’s house and took her to the adventure playground in the park. It was so hot I felt like I was going to melt.
Afterward, I took her to McDonald’s for a Happy Meal. She ate all the chicken nuggets and threw most of the fries on the floor. Then she kicked and screamed at the top of her lungs until I took her out of the highchair. I knew better than to set her down when she was in this mood, so I carried her to the car and wrangled her into the car seat.
The terrible twos were no joke. My sweet, adorable sister had a temper. She threw a tantrum as soon as we walked through the front door and threw herself on the floor, pounding her fists on the linoleum.
I tossed Wren in a cool bath and let her cry until she got so tired that her eyelids fluttered, and I had to haul her out of the tub before she drowned.
She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, and I sighed a breath of relief.
* * *
Later that night, I sat on my bed and re-read Ridge’s letters. Then I took a deep breath, and I called him.
“Why did you do it?” I asked as soon as he answered. “Why did you talk to Annabel?”
He paused for a moment. “Because she needed to know the truth.”
“That’s not for you to decide.”
“If you’re expecting an apology, you’re not going to get one.”
Typical. “I told you to stay out of my business.”
“And I told you that youaremy business. So stop fighting me on everything, Evie.” He let out a weary sigh, and we lapsed into silence.
I chewed on my thumbnail and tried to figure out what to say. I wasn’t angry with him for going to see Annabel. Which surprised me. The old Evie would have been furious.
I waited for him to speak, but he didn’t, and I knew why. Ridge was just as stubborn as I was. He was waiting for an apology or some acknowledgment of what happened Saturday night. I squeezed my eyes shut.
Why was this so hard? “I know you’re nothing like Chad Miller. And I believe you about Callie.” I used to see how she looked at Ridge at school, and I could tell she had a massive crush on him, but I don’t think he even noticed.
He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t even know how she ended up at that party. I didn’t invite her. But I should have sent her home as soon as I saw her.”
