The Family by Mandasue Heller

Author:Mandasue Heller [Heller, Mandasue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Thrillers, Suspense
Amazon: B0CV7XCRBN
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2024-07-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

The children were in bed, and Estelle was pacing the living room swigging a glass of wine when Stefan arrived home later that night. Still furious about being made to drive all the way over to her in-laws’ house for a stupid measuring session that could have been done anywhere, she launched into him when he stepped into the room after hanging his jacket in the hall.

‘Why have you and your mother decided that Frankie and Poppy are going to be the ring bearer and flower girl without discussing it with me first?’

‘Do we have to do this now?’ Stefan sighed, flopping onto the sofa. ‘I’ve had a long day.’

‘Join the club,’ Estelle snapped, standing over him with her hands on her hips. ‘But mine didn’t only involve getting the kids to school, doing the laundry, the shopping and the cleaning; I got summoned to your mother’s house, as well. So I had to drive over there and sit outside the gate for ten minutes, as punishment for being five minutes late, only to find out that you and her have been conspiring about my children behind my back; getting them fitted for clothes we said we were going to buy.’

Stefan listened to her tirade. Then, raising an eyebrow he said, ‘Have you finished?’

‘I’ve only just started,’ she replied angrily. ‘I’ve had enough of your family, and I’m sick of your mother treating me like shit.’

‘First off, I only heard about the ring bearer and flower girl stuff last week,’ Stefan began. ‘But my mother said she’d already discussed it with you, so that’s why I didn’t mention it: because I assumed it was all in hand.’

‘Well she lied,’ Estelle spat. ‘Because she never said a word to me about it until I got there this afternoon. And boy, didn’t she enjoy sticking it to me in front of your brother’s latest tart!’

‘They’re getting married and having a baby,’ Stefan reminded her.

‘So?’

‘So I don’t think it’s fair to call her that when he’s obviously serious about her.’

‘Oh, I see,’ Estelle said quietly, her eyes flashing fire. ‘I knew it.’

‘Knew what?’ Stefan asked wearily, although he already knew exactly where this was headed.

‘You’re defending her because you fancy her,’ Estelle snarled. ‘And don’t deny it, because I heard the way you were talking to her at that farce of an engagement party.’

‘I was asking her if she was all right – like any normal person would if they knew someone had just come out of hospital after being attacked,’ Stefan said coolly. ‘She’s my brother’s fiancée, so what am I supposed to do? Ignore her and pretend this wedding isn’t happening and we’re not involved? I know you’d probably like that, but that’s not how this family works.’

‘It’s your family, not mine,’ Estelle shot back. ‘And what do you mean by “normal person”? Are you implying that I’m not normal because I’ve got no time for that whore?’

‘Why do you always have to blow everything out of proportion?’ Stefan groaned, raking his fingers through his hair when he felt his scalp tighten.

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