Page 54 of Crashing Into Me
Paula started the fireplace and turned slowly around to face them both. She took a slow, deep breath and tried to calm the rage bubbling in her chest.
“Mom, this is the same girl who was sleeping with every guy with a trust fund in New York, so excuse me for not feigning happiness for my brother,” Paula replied, placing the fire poker back into its holder as Kim burst into more tears.
Paula walked over to her and sat next to her. She picked up her hand and looked her in the face.
“I’m sorry, but I’m also going to need you to collect your belongings and leave my house,” Paula cooed.
Kim’s face crushed under the weight of the words. Her eyes were huge, darting from Paula to Maureen.
That felt good,Paula thought.
Maureen stood up, her mouth hanging open in shock. “Paula!” She managed to squeeze out.
“Mother, this is my home, and I choose who I want in it. She isn’t someone I’d associate myself with, and I don’t want her here.”
Maureen looked at her daughter and couldn’t find the words to retort. Kim stood, waiting and watching Maureen for a rebuttal. After a few more seconds, she ran out of the living room down the hall, the door slamming behind her.
“I suppose I should leave too if that’s how you feel,” Maureen said, smoothing her dress down.
“I never said you weren’t welcome here, but if you want to leave, mom—I’ll see you later.”
Maureen stood frozen, her face now flushed, confused. Kim came out of the hallway, dragging her suitcase, crying hysterically.
“Wait a minute, sweetheart. I’ll be joining you,” Maureen called out to Kim.
She stalked down the foyer and out of the house with Kim slamming the front door behind them. Paula took a breath, stood up from the couch, and walked into her kitchen. Two down, one to go, she thought and leaned onto the kitchen counter.
Kayden trotted down the stairs, his eyes barely open and his hair a wreck.
“What’s going on?” He grumbled, rubbing his eyes.
When he opened them, he froze.
“Hey, baby brother,” Paula chirped, smiling.
“Paula!” He hurried over and gave her a huge hug.
Paula held for a few seconds longer than he did. She had become so proud of her brother that she wished she hadn’t wasted so much time making life harder for him.
“I’ve missed you, too. So glad you came for the opening,” he replied, and she let him loose.
“Me too,” she said, fighting back the tear that sprang to her eye.
“You just getting in?” He asked, walking into the kitchen and getting coffee grounds out of the cabinet.
“I got in last night, actually,” she admitted.
“Really, where’d you stay?”
“Spence Hotel,” she slid into the barstool as he filled the coffee maker with water.
“Spence Hotel? Why?”
“I’ll explain over coffee,” she replied.
He turned to her and smiled.
“You hate my coffee,” he grinned as he set it to start.
