Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

Author:Miranda Beverly-Whittemore [Beverly-Whittemore, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-8041-3857-4
Publisher: Crown/Archetype
Published: 2015-04-28T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY

The Apology

The next morning, frigid air lifted off the water and squirreled through Bittersweet, creeping under our doors and around our windowpanes, as if the century-old structure was simply a lovely puzzle for the wind. I made scrambled eggs in the drafty kitchen with my coverlet wrapped around me while Ev tried, in vain, to start a fire in the woodstove. We ended up wreathed in smoke as Abby, whom John had left with us, barked incessantly. Our only recourse was to open the windows, which just made things colder. After that, we took to our beds.

“I have something to tell you,” I announced.

At the sound of my voice, Abby scratched against our door. When we didn’t respond, she began to whine. Ev rolled her eyes and threw her pillow at the door.

“She’s just taking care of you,” I said. “She can probably smell the baby.” Abby had been following Ev everywhere, much to Ev’s annoyance and my amusement.

“She’s driving me crazy!” Ev yelled. The dog gave one last, pleading whine, then scuttled off, presumably to check her food bowl. Her nails tapped rhythmically across the wooden floor.

Ev flopped back down into bed. “So what’s the big news? You’re pregnant too?”

I hesitated. There was no other way—she’d see me dressing, and press me for details. Even if I refused to tell her, he’d pick me up, so not saying anything would only make his appearance more awkward. And even if she didn’t see his car, all she had to do was ask around and someone would have seen us leaving Winloch together. Better to just be up front. “I’m going out with Galway tonight.”

Ev started giggling.

“I don’t know why that’s funny.”

“Wait, you’re serious?”

“It’s not a date or anything,” I said defensively, climbing from the bed. “Just a chance to talk about the Winslow genealogy.”

“God, Mabel, you’re obsessed with my family. It’s creepy.”

“Believe it or not,” I heard myself snap, “the research is for me. I know it’s hard to fathom I’d do something for myself.”

Her response was an eye roll.

“Anyway,” I continued, “the only reason I told you is I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me and Galway.”

“No,” she said sarcastically, “why would anyone get the wrong idea about you and Galway?”

I dressed in silence, pulling on a couple sweaters. I’d go out in search of Lu and Owen.

I could feel Ev’s eyes peering over her magazine. “You should be careful.”

“I know my way around.”

“With Galway.”

“I’m not good enough to have dinner with your brother?” I scowled.

“I’m just saying he’s complicated, okay? Don’t get your hopes up.”

I turned to her, furious. “You can’t lie on your back,” I spat. “You’ll hurt the baby.” I stormed out of the bedroom, cursing myself for caring, for showing her I cared, for choosing to tell her about my date in the first place, but, most of all, for knowing she was right.

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