Tristan heads straight to the couch, grabs my coffee cup right out of my hand, and takes a long drink. “This needs rum,” she mutters before throwing herself back on the couch. “And less coffee. Definitely needs more rum than coffee. Although dealing with that woman is really a job for tequila.”
“I take it things didn’t get any better after I left?”
She gives a quick shake of her head. “It went further downhill. I’m the World’s Worst Mother, in case either of you missed the memo on that one. I’m the only mother ever who had to take their child to the emergency room because they fell and hurt themselves. I should be living like a nun. You answering the door this morning led her to confirm her belief that I am a woman of loose morals.”
“Did she really say it like that?” Monroe questions with a laugh. “A woman of loose morals?”
“She sure did.” Tristan nods her head, downing the rest of my coffee before handing me back the empty mug. “And I’m tromping all over Trevor’s memory by letting you be such a large part of Stella’s life.” She gives me a weak smile. “Stella calling you My Owen Daddy on the way out the door nearly caused her to have a heart attack. I’m breaking her heart all over again by showing Stella that her father is so easily replaced. And she was on the phone with her lawyer when she stormed out of my house and told me that she would not be joining us at the farm to decorate. Instead, I will dress Stella in suitable attire so she can take her into Savannah for a proper meal.” Tristan picks up one of the half a dozen throw pillows Monroe has scattered along her couch, holds it up to her face, and uses it to muffle her scream of frustration.
“Mama!” Stella dances over. “You’re silly!” She crawls up in her mother’s lap, throws her arms around her neck, and snuggles in. “Where’s Grandmother?”
I’m still in shock that Stella actually has to call her Grandmother. It’s so stiff and formal. I called my grandmothers GG and Gam. I hate to think what will happen to Stella if she has to go live with Gloria. She’ll suck all the joy and sweetness right out of her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tristan
As dictated, after spending the afternoon at the farm, putting up about a gazillion different Christmas decorations, and laughing every time Monroe winced when Stella put another ornament on the tree, I prep my daughter to go into Savannah for dinner. I think about putting her in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, but knowing how much she loves to play dress up, I dig out her navy-and-white-striped dress and sparkly red dress shoes for her to wear.
The red shoes clash with the pink cast, but Stella is thrilled that she gets to wear them, so whatever.
I set Stella up at the coffee table with a coloring book and crayons to keep her occupied until Gloria arrives to pick her up. I sent Owen to the bar to hang out with his brothers. I’m not an idiot; I know his presence will only agitate Gloria more. Just like I seriously want a glass of wine, or twelve, and know if Gloria spots me with a wineglass in hand, that will be held against me. I’m sure good mothers don’t drink according to the great and perfect Gloria.
As soon as she’s left with Stella, I will pour myself the biggest glass of wine I can. I almost pour it now, just out of spite, but I have been working myself up all afternoon to finally have it out with Gloria, and I don’t want alcohol dulling my senses. Of course, a little bit of liquid courage might not hurt. Chewing on my thumb nail, I sit on the couch behind Stella, who has started singing to her crayons, and eye the clock on the wall as each second ticks by.
Of course she’s late. Someone should point out to her that it’s impolite to be late, but rules apply to everyone except the great and wonderful Gloria Clemmens, it seems.
I don’t understand why she wants custody of Stella. I know she lost Trevor, and the loss of a child is a devastation I can’t even fathom, but she doesn’t particularly like children. I know how this evening will go. She’ll take Stella to a five-star restaurant in Savannah and then complain when she asks for chicken nuggets and French fries for dinner. Stella will be too loud, too wiggly, too everything as far as Gloria is concerned. Children are to be seen and not heard.
Twenty minutes after she’s supposed to have picked Stella up, Gloria finally shows up. It’s already closing in on six-thirty, which means they aren’t going to start eating until seven-thirty at the earliest, and her normal eight o’clock bedtime isn’t going to be met. So she’s going to get a whiny, cranky Stella. I’m sure it will be my fault.
“You’re late,” I mutter when I open the door.
“Our reservations aren’t until eight. We have plenty of time.” Gloria brushes past me and into the house. “Where is she? Oh, there she is. Stella, let me see how you’re dressed.”
“Grandmother!” Stella darts across the living room and opens her arms to throw them around Gloria. Anger bubbles inside of me when Gloria takes a step back. Stella draws up short, the smile on her face dimming.
“Well.” Gloria studies her critically. “The cast certainly ruins it, doesn’t it? Unfortunate that you let her stay with that man and she ended up hurt.”
“It was an accident,” I remind her again. “She loves Owen. And he loves her.”
“Yes, well, it doesn’t change the facts, does it?” Disdain is laced through her voice. “Regardless. You look suitable, Stella, but your shoes are very…”
“Dey spawkle!” Stella supplies. “Awen’t dey pwetty?”
Gloria makes a humming noise under her breath and doesn’t say anything else about the shoes. “Well then, we’ll be back before eleven.”
“Eleven?” She has to be crazy. “Her bedtime is eight o’clock, Gloria.” I hiss out the words between clenched teeth.
“I’m afraid eleven is the earliest we can do. As I mentioned, we have a reservation at eight, and we’re meeting some old family friends.”
“It won’t even be just the two of you? She’s missed you. She’s excited to see you.” For whatever crazy, fucking reason, I think to myself. “Can’t you meet with your friends another time?”
“No,” Gloria says simply. “Let’s go, Stella.”
I bite back my sigh. “Do you have a car seat?”
“Isn’t she too big for one of those?”
“No,” I say, unable to hide my exasperation. “She isn’t too big for one of those. I’ll move the one from my car over. It will just take a few moments.”
“Good, we’re already running behind.”
“Because you showed up late.” I grab my keys off the side table by the front door and head outside. She’s in a town car, and her driver is standing stoically by the back door. I pull up short at the sight of him. Gloria comes up to stand behind me.
“Hurry up, Tristan. We need to go.”
I spin around to look at her. “Gloria, in the future I will need you to call before you arrive.”
“I did.”
“More than two hours, Gloria. You were already in Georgia when you called. You should have given me the heads-up that you were coming to town so I could make sure Stella was available.”