Page 67 of All Stars Fall
Rude woman from the coffee shop stood there in her leather dress and black painted fingernails that matched her hair, bright red lipstick, perfect tan, and little booties hugging her what I imagined would be perfect feet. “Ah, the nanny’s here.”
“That’s me,” I said through clenched teeth. “I’m sorry, but what are you doing here? Oh no! The kids!” I shoved past her, worry about the strange woman gone as I saw each of the kids sitting at the table eating pizza.
“Penny!” they said in unison.
“Hey, guys!” They were fine. In fact, they looked more than fine. “Where’s your dad?”
“Oh, he went to the studio.” The woman crossed her arms. “You get the day off, yay.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not leaving you with the kids alone. I don’t know you.” I crossed my arms to mirror her. “Unless I hear it from Trevor—”
“Mommy!” Bella giggled. “Can you get me some more Sprite?”
“Sure, honey.” She winked and went over to the fridge to grab some Sprite, Sprite that I’d purchased for the kids for when they were allowed to have soda.
It was next to the gallon of milk I’d gotten because Trevor had forgotten.
A golf ball lodged in my throat as I watched this strange woman, Trevor’s ex-wife, move through the house like she’d been the one to make it a home. When I knew that in the last two weeks I’d done more than she ever had.
“What are you doing here?” I asked boldly.
“Being a parent,” she fired back. “And a wife.”
My jaw went slack. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.” She gave Bella her pop. “Eric, help your sister open it. No spills.”
“Okay.” He was the only one who seemed mildly upset over the pizza. And suddenly the Subway I’d bought them felt pathetic and stupid.
So did my cheap leggings and my long-sleeve Henley.
And the stupid beanie I’d put on.
The lip gloss I’d purchased at Sephora.
Everything felt… less than.
And I hated it.
Trevor had never made me feel that way.
This woman did with not so much as a word.
“You can’t just say things like that,” I whispered in a low voice. “The kids, they miss you—”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Penny.” She held up her hand like I was a petulant child. “Those kids are mine, not yours. This life is mine, not yours. Got it? I’m their mother, not you. And Trevor and I are still working through some things.”
That was when I saw the ring.
On her left hand.
It was so many karats that I was sure it cramped the muscles on that side of her body because of the weight.
It was beautiful.
It was just like her.
I shook my head, tears filling my eyes.
