(Serena)The restaurant Sabine chose is discreet and impossibly chic.It’s the kind of place where no one raises an eyebrow when two of the most influential women in the world walk in with their security detail just behind them.I’m already seated when they arrive- Vivian in an ivory pantsuit and killer heels, Sabine in her signature navy wrap dress and a diamond tennis bracelet that likely costs more than my bakery equipment.I stand to greet them, bracing myself against the table, careful not to let my weight fall on the wrong foot. Sabine notices instantly. Of course she does.“You’re limping, and you have a sling?” she says gently as we sit. “What happened?”“I slipped,” I reply smoothly. “Top stair, outside Hale Mansion. It wasn’t as dramatic as it sounds.”Vivian’s eyes narrow. “You were fine when we left the other night.”“I was.” I force a smile. “It’s nothing. I’m okay.”They don’t push, but I can feel the awareness hanging in the air. These women have made a life out of read
(Serena)My bedroom is just as I left it.Faded posters on the inside of the closet door, a bookshelf sagging with my old baking competition trophies, and the vintage lamp I begged my parents to keep instead of replacing with something more grown-up.It still flickers when I turn it on.I haven’t slept here since before college. Way before James. But Mom keeps all our rooms the same. Just in case we ever need anything, she says.The sheets are soft, freshly laundered, and I curl under them like a girl trying to forget the world beyond the window.I can still hear Wes and Dad talking downstairs. Mom’s in the kitchen, probably planning dinner.They mean well. They love me unconditionally. But they can also see no wrong in me. And like James Hale, I’m not perfect. I’m a house of cards one deep breath away from collapse.I press the side of my head to the pillow and close my eyes.Then open them again. No peace.I’m still angry. Still bitter. Still banged up from the fall, losing the baby
(James)Savannah moves toward me with a damp cloth in her hand, but I hold up mine before she can touch me.“Don’t,” I say. “I’ll sort it out.”She stops, cloth hovering in the air, eyes wide and wounded. “James…”“I mean it. This isn’t appropriate right now. You shouldn’t be here.”She doesn’t back away. She never does.“I saw them leaving, your face…” Her voice softens. “I just wanted to check on you. As a friend. That’s not a crime.”“No,” I say, turning away. “But it’s not nothing either.”She lingers. I can feel waiting around behind me, and for once, I wish she’d just take the hint. Maybe Serena is right about Savannah. But I’ve lived us from Savannah’s point of view too, and I get why Savannah has trouble letting us go.“I’m not going to apologize for still loving you,” she says gently. “I’ve never hidden that.”I turn round and wince a little. I feel bruised in places I didn’t forgotten could hurt. It’s been years since I had a fist fight. I feel kind of energized. I know Wes
(James)They arrive just after I storm off to my office.I hear the car and I go to let them in as there are no staff here.I pull the door open, but I see them on the screen before that.Not just Bree and Jacob Langley, but Wes too. Not sure why he had to come as well. I’d think his medical schedule would be too busy to be here.All three of them step out of Wes’ black SUV with a quiet fury that carries further than any slammed door could. Bree’s chin is high, her expression like thunder. Jacob’s face is stone.And Wes—Wes looks like he’s ready to throw someone through a wall.I brace myself because this is going to be hectic. Right now, I’m proving everything they ever said to Serena about me is right.I try to start off civilly. I don’t want a family war. I just want Serena and I to be okay. I don’t get why we aren’t. Not really. We’re so good together in so many way. But now it feels like a chasm has opened up between us.But still, I’m not going to be made feel like an asshole i
(Serena)I freeze. So now we revert back to the real James under personal pressure?Is this who he truly is, who he always will be?“I’m going James, if I ever come back is up to you. But a tip for you, if you react like this every time, I won’t ever be back.”He lowers his voice just enough to make it feel colder. “You leave like this, expect divorce papers in a month.”I get closer to him. “Is that supposed to scare me?”His mouth is a hard line. He doesn’t answer. “You can’t survive without me. I’ll ruin you.”“News flash for you, you already did. But I’ll come back stronger. I don’t need you, and worse, I don’t even want you right now.”“Once the Hale name is gone, you think you’ll thrive? Not a chance.”“You think I care about your threats?” My voice is trembling now, but not from fear. “I’ve been hearing your mother’s since the day I walked in here. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”“Stop blaming my family for every bad thing that ever happened to you. You never tried t
(Serena)It’s like something splits off inside me, logic separates from instinct and the only thing I hear is that name.Little baby James.My mouth is dry. The air around me is suffocating.“What did you call him?” I ask, barely recognizing my voice.Savannah smiles, so sweet it might rot teeth. “Baby James. It just… felt right. I’m so excited and James loved the idea.”“You’re naming him after my husband?” My voice cracks, sharp and rising. “I wanted to call the baby I lost James. How did you find out?”I’m careful not to mention the latest pregnancy.I swing around to him, “You? Did you tell her?”James steps forward fast. “No…Serena…please, don’t do this here.”I turn to him. “Don’t do what, James? React to this?” I jab a hand toward Savannah. “To her hijacking everything I held precious about our life, about us? This… this is too much. How could you ever agree knowing how it would make me feel?”“I can’t stop her. It’s her baby.”“And you’re just fine with this?” I ask, voice cli