“Hey, Alyson.” My sister drops her hand, addressing the woman’s presence with a tight smile. “Don’t worry about it.”
Who the hell is Alyson?
I nudge Beth aside and step into the kitchen, coming face to face with a dark-haired woman. She doesn’t look older than twenty-eight, which is concerning considering my dad’s pushing forty-five this year. She has a slender figure, accentuated by a classy red peplum dress. The muscles on her high cheekbones strain as she welcomes me with a kind smile.
“Sienna.” She ropes me into an unexpected hug and I wince in discomfort. “Nice to meet you. Your dad told me so much about you. I have a feeling we’re going to be the best of friends.”
I pull away from her just as quickly, eyeing the huge diamond ring resting on her finger. It winks under the harsh kitchen lights. My gaze bores into hers. “Somehow, I doubt that.”
Alyson’s smile wanes but she doesn’t let my comment faze her. Instead, she merely forces her smile wider.
“All right, let’s get on with dinner, shall we?” She links her arm with mine and Beth’s and ushers us to the dinner table, where a feast awaits.
I peel my arm from Alyson’s and take my seat opposite my dad, while Beth makes herself comfortable in the seat next to me. My dad rises from his seat and kisses Alyson on the cheek before pulling out her chair beside him.
When we’re all seated, my dad clears his throat, excitement thrumming through him as his gaze flickers toward Alyson. “So, Alyson, darling, would you like to tell them the big news?”
A bright smile graces Alyson’s face as she turns to us, leaning into my father’s embrace lovingly. “Your father and I are engaged to be married.”
“Wow! Congratulations, guys.” Beth reaches a hand across the table to clasp it around Alyson’s, beaming with joy for her. I wish I could harbor the same feeling, but it feels like my body has completely hollowed out upon the confirmation of their engagement.
My dad notices the shift in my mood. He sighs, reaching out to offer a comforting hand. I don’t take it. His arm retreats as he tilts his head modestly at me.
“Sienna, I want you to know that it’s different this time around. Alyson is an amazing woman. She’s smart and beautiful and she makes me smile all the time, and I know she’ll make a wonderful stepmother to you,” he says, eyes darting to both me and Beth. “To the both of you.”
“What fun,” I deadpan. “Add her to the three other stepmothers I’ve had over the years and I’ve got myself one for every season.”
Dad’s lips quiver at my sarcastic comment. “Sienna, it would be nice to have your blessing.”
Blessing? Seriously? After everything he’s done?
“It’s difficult for me to do that when you keep letting me down, Dad,” I snap back at him, letting the words ripple across the room with a strained, ugly feeling.
Dad’s eyes flood with guilt.
“Your father’s a very nice man,” Alyson says, trying to quell some of the tension. “He’s not the same man he used to be.”
“Oh? And you think you know him better than I do?” I lean back against the chair, folding my arms across my chest.
“How long have you known him? A couple of months?
Surely that’s not enough time to know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Sienna.” Beth gapes at me. “She’s family now.”
“And what do you know about family, Beth?” The question slices through the room like a sharp blade, startling Beth. “Alyson deserves to know that our dad has been jumping from marriage to marriage without a care in the world. She deserves to know how much pain he put Mom through until she had no other choice but to move away just to get away from it all.”
“Sienna, stop this. Why do you always try to ruin what’s supposed to be a good moment?” A muscle feathers in my dad’s jaw as he tries to keep his anger in check.
Unfortunately, I don’t possess the same kind of restraint.
“Because unlike you, I can’t keep pretending that this works. You think this is a normal, functioning family? My sister is a boyfriend-stealing backstabber who shows little remorse for her actions and my dad is a useless deadbeat who constantly judges me for what I do while he does nothing to earn my respect.” I whip my face to him in resentment.
“Clearly nobody’s gonna tell you the truth here, so I guess I should be the one to do it. You act like you can mend our broken little family with a bandage of superficial marriages, but let me break it to you: it’s not gonna work. And now, when I see you with her—” My gaze cuts to Alyson briefly.
“I think you’re a big coward. You hide behind these women to replace whatever you lost a long time ago. And that was us. Me, Beth, and Mom. We stood by you. And you took us for granted. You continue to take us for granted. You’re a sad, sad coward and I really fucking pity you.”
My dad slams his fist against the table, the last of his patience shattering.
“Get out.” He sneers, pointing to the door. “Get out!”
“Gladly.” I launch out of my seat and trudge out of the dining room to snatch the rest of my things.