Page 49 of Save Me

“Um…because you’re a huge suck-up?” she mocked, tossing the towel onto the kitchen table. “I’ll be right back.” In her bedroom, she quickly changed into a different pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt before walking back out to the living room where Jamie was pacing. “Okay, seriously. What’s going on?”

He looked a little wild-eyed when he faced her. “She’s making everyone crazy, Ry!”

“Mom always makes everyone crazy! You’ve just never noticed it because when I was around, she focused all that craziness on me.” Walking into the kitchen, she grabbed herself a bottle of water and offered one to him.

“No, thanks.” Sighing loudly, he dropped his hands to his side. “Fine, I’m finally seeing just how much of her attention went on you and honestly, Ry, I don’t know what to do about it. I had two servers quit, Uncle Ronan’s threatening to go on sabbatical, and Dad’s gone fishing four times in the last week.Fourtimes!”

“Uh…yeah, I’m not sure what that last part has to do with anything.”

“Even he needs to get away from her!” he said loudly. “I’m telling you; you need to come to the pub and work this out.”

The bark of laughter was out before she could stop it. “Oh, sure! After you made it sound so appealing, yeah, I’ll just stroll right into the lion’s den so everyone else can be happy!” With a snort, Ryleigh walked over and sat on the couch. “Try again.”

“It will be different this time. I promise!”

That just made her laugh again. “Jamie, you’re delusional. Ari told me all about what happened last weekend.” She paused. “And this past weekend, the one before. The one with the turkey dinner.” Another snort. “I can’t believe she made my favorite meal like that.”

“What did Ari tell you?”

“That you all tried reasoning with Mom and she pretty much yelled at all of you and told you to mind your own business!”

Scrubbing a hand along the back of his neck, he nodded. “Yeah, okay. That day she was still very pissy. But this Sunday was totally different.”

“Somehow I doubt that, but…go on.”

“She was a little more reasonable and I heard Dad telling her she needed to apologize to you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Really?” she asked sarcastically. “And did anyone else witness this, or were you the only one?”

“I’m sure the others heard it.” But there was very little confidence behind his words and normally Jamie was confident about everything.

Without breaking eye contact, Ryleigh got up and walked across the room and picked up her phone and typed out a quick text to their siblings.

Ryleigh: Did anyone overhear a conversation between Mom and Dad Sunday?

Arianna: You’ll have to be more specific. There was a lot of talking

Patrick: There was an argument about Dad going fishing again, but we all know what that’s about

Arianna: She carried on like she thought he was having an affair!

Arianna: Is that the conversation you’re asking about Ry?

Liam: I missed the fishing conversation but I did hear her telling him his corned beef was dry. Lol!

Patrick: Oh, yeah…

Arianna: It definitely wasn’t his best

Liam: What’s this all about Ry?

Ryleigh: Jamie claims he overheard Dad telling Mom she needs to apologize to me and I’m calling bullshit

Patrick: Um…

Liam: I didn’t hear that

Arianna: Yeah, sorry. I didn’t hear that

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