My mom pursed her lips disapprovingly at me again. "Only because I told her."
Then why the fuck was she here? Did she want to mess this up for me?
I followed my mom to the foyer and she opened the door.
"Hey!" Chelsea's face and eyes lit up when she saw me. She zoomed to me.
I squatted down, opening my arms, scooping her up and standing. "Hey, you little munchkin. Actually, you look like you've grown."
"I have. I'm the tallest girl in my class."
"Good for you, kiddo."
Sandra approached me, putting an arm around me to give me a hug. "It's good to see you, Sam."
"You too, Sandra."
When she leaned back, she gave me a concerned expression. "I hope it's okay that we came. I'd already made all the arrangements when I learned you were bringing a guest."
I shrugged. "It's fine." Even though deep down, I felt pretty sure that it wasn't.
Chelsea wriggled out of my arms, so I set her down.
"Grandma, can I help make the pies?"
My mom smiled. "Absolutely. I've been waiting for you to show up so we can get started." My mom took Chelsea's hand, leading her back to the kitchen. I needed to go talk to Kate, but I couldn't leave Sandra in the foyer.
As if she knew my concern, Sandra said, "I told your mom I’d help her stuff the turkey." She took my hand and gave it a squeeze. "You look good, Sam. You look happy."
I nodded. "I am happy." The question was... how long would it last?
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
Kate
My heart stalled and my breath whooshed out of my body as I watched a little girl run into Sam's arms, and then Sandra hugged him.
There they were a family.
Anger rose in me, but I worked to tamp it down. After all, Sam had wanted to tell me something about Sandra and Chelsea. I had to accept that inasmuch as I wanted to pretend otherwise, Sam would always be attached to Sandra through their daughter.
I had believed that they weren't together anymore, but her showing up on Thanksgiving seemed to suggest otherwise. In fact, when the little girl ran off to make pies with Juliana, it sounded like Thanksgiving was a regular occurrence. Did exes really spend the holidays together?
No. There was something wrong here. The way she looked at him suggested things between them weren’t done. The way she entered the house was like someone who’d been there before. Sam and Sandra’s interaction went beyond sharing custody of a child. What an idiot I was.
During the last few days with Sam, I was torn between wanting to reach out to him and afraid that it was all an illusion. After our day yesterday, I decided I would tell him about the baby today.
What better day than Thanksgiving to share such news? If he was thankful I was here, surely, he'd be thankful a baby was coming, right?
But everything I thought about him wasn’t real. I didn't know what Sam was playing at, but I knew I didn't want to be a part of it anymore.
I rushed back to our room and began packing up my clothes. I stopped only to use my phone to order a car to the airport. I’d worry about getting a plane ticket home when I got there.
Several minutes later, the door opened and Sam walked in. I didn't look at him as I waited to hear the words I’d heard five years ago. Sandra was back.
I continued to stuff clothes into my bag.
"I guess you know Sandra is here.” He stood in the room watching me.