Holly Banks Full of Angst (Village of Primm, #1)(21)

“I’m really sorry, Holly.” Bethanny wore the same expression Struggle wore when she got caught piddling on the carpet. “Truly. I’m sorry.”

“So am I.” Holly folded and then unfolded her arms. She didn’t know where to look. Didn’t know who to look at. She was afraid she might cry. Instead, she started blinking. Blinking, blinking, blinking.

“What’s the matter, Mommy?” Ella tugged at Holly. “Your eyes are soggy.”

“I’m fine, sweetie. Fine.” I won’t cry in front of Ella. I won’t.

“I should check on the burgers.” Jack glanced apologetically toward Holly, unable to make full eye contact.

Coward.

He made a fast dash toward the deck. “Excuse me.”

“Ella, honey, give Mommy a hug.” Holly pulled her into her arms. “I’m so proud of you. Great job.” She gave her a squeeze, kissed the top of her head. “Now go play. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Ella skipped off with Pinkie Pie, leaving Bethanny Baylor the Tooth Puller alone in the kitchen with Yu Shu Lien.

“Well, that’s strange. Will you look at that?” Holly pointed to her keys. “What are my keys doing on the kitchen table? They belong in the foyer.”

Ella’s first tooth. Ella’s first mutha freaking tooth!

Holly snatched her keys, then walked them to the side table near the front door. But of course, Jen Yu followed. Bethanny. Bethanny Baylor. Who belonged in an office. Not in Holly’s home.

“You have such a welcoming foyer,” Bethanny said, fishing for something to say in Holly’s almost empty hallway. Tight quarters for a kung fu sword fight, but still.

“And I love your coatrack. And this banister.” Bethanny touched the banister that led to the bedrooms upstairs. “Is it original?”

“You mean, like a baby tooth?”

“I’m so sorry.” Bethanny shrank, appearing sincere. “I never meant to—”

“Yes, well.” Something got caught in Holly’s throat. She tried clearing it. Studied her ceiling, blinking back tears. “I’m overreacting—it’s just a tooth.” Holly’s nose stung.

“It’s more than a tooth,” Bethanny whispered, taking a step toward Holly to touch her arm. “It’s the first tooth. And I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

Holly closed her eyes. Fanned her face with her hands. Swallowed a few times.

“Jack is a valuable member of the team,” Bethanny blurted.

“Yes. Well. I, um . . .” They both needed to stop talking.

Finally, Holly came up with, “I’m so thrilled he’s working in the Village of Primm office now. His office back home was so close to everyone we knew and loved; it was hard keeping work and family life separate. He used to coach four-and-under soccer. Ella and I would join him for lunch. But here, here in Primm, he’s able to focus solely on work. And well, that works out great, because Ella and I don’t know a soul. So it’s forcing us to leave the comforts of home. You know—branch out. Meet new people.” Where was she going with this? “Our social calendar is completely empty. But Jack’s work. Jack’s work is. He’s so busy these days.”

“I think a screw might be missing from your coatrack.” Caught in the middle of pointing, Bethanny flinched, as if acknowledging she knew it was a stupid thing to say.

“Yes. A screw is missing. But then, I love my coatrack,” Holly told her. “I love everything that belongs to me. Like my coatrack, my dog, my keys—my husband. And I love teeth. I love teeth a lot. Although I have to say, I’m not sure Ella will understand if Jack works tonight. It’s Labor Day, and we always cook out—as a family. On Labor Day. And well, she starts kindergarten bright and early tomorrow morning, so she shouldn’t be watching television right now, but . . . well, if you’re here, she’s not getting much attention from her dad, now, is she?” Holly paused, letting the words sink in. Maybe she’d gone too far. Instinctually, she knew she’d gone too far.

Bethanny’s shoulders slumped. “Oh. Oh, yes. Of course. I understand. I’m sorry,” she said again, rattled by the circumstances. “I should go.”

“Are you sure? It’s no problem,” said Holly, walking Bethanny the remaining few steps toward the door. “We have plenty to eat.” Holly opened the door, sweeping her hand toward her front porch. “Perhaps you’d like a hot dog?”

“Good night, Holly. It was lovely meeting you.”

“Yes.” You wore skinny racer jeans to my house. Brought BJ coffee to my husband. “Good night, Bethanny.”

Holly closed the door, not sorry her front porch was naked. Collette may have wanted visitors to feel welcome when it was her front porch, but Holly? Holly wouldn’t want to encourage a woman like Bethanny. Holly contemplated a Pinterest board filled with front porches that warded off women like Bethanny. She’d call the board Bitch Pulled My Daughter’s First Tooth Out.

“What happened?” Jack appeared in the hallway, wringing his hands together. That “Jack” thing Jack always did. “Where’s Bethanny?” End-of-world things like—

“I sent her home.”

“Because of a tooth?”

“No, Jack. Because it’s Labor Day.” Why do I have to explain this to him? “This is my house.”