Lie, Lie Again(46)
A stack of mail sat on the counter next to one of Brandon’s Hollywood magazines. Standing, she flipped it open and landed on a page near the end. It was filled with classifieds. She skimmed down, reading ads seeking wedding DJs, dog groomers, and guitar players. Her eye was drawn to one in all caps: CHARACTERS NEEDED FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES! JOIN THE FUN AND HONE YOUR SKILLS! Huh. Maybe she could dress up as a Disney princess and work the party circuit. But those costumes looked tight and uncomfortable. Not unlike those terrible pageant dresses she’d worn to make her mama happy. How dare Brandon suggest they get Kylie on the circuit? He’d said it only to rile her up.
She sighed. Something had to give. Besides, no one would hire a pregnant party princess. The door rattled, and Kylie burst in with a large piece of green construction paper in hand, followed by Brandon. “Mama! Look,” she said, waving the paper near her face. “I make a pot of gold!”
Embry took the paper. “Wow, sweetie. This looks great. How did you get the gold pieces to stick?”
“We used glue, Mama!” she said, throwing her hands in the air as though using glue was reason to celebrate.
“I have just the spot for this,” Embry said, tacking it to the refrigerator with a ladybug magnet. “There. It looks perfect.”
Kylie beamed. Brandon, who had lingered near the door, approached the kitchen slowly, a hesitant smile on his lips. “Hey, darlin’. I thought it might help if I brought Ky home and saved you the drive. I know we’re a little early, but . . .”
She drew her eyes to him and kept her voice light for Kylie’s sake. “That’s okay. Thanks.” The urge to say more sat on her tongue, growing more and more bitter by the second. It seemed he was trying, but she wanted him to say the words with a proper apology. Didn’t he know that? She stood waiting, wishing he could read her mind, but his expression was blank. Shaking her head, she said, “I should go check on Carson. He’ll be up any second.”
“Right. Okay. I’ll help Kylie with a snack.”
She walked stiffly toward their room. The baby wasn’t awake yet. It had been an excuse. Waking him wouldn’t do any good. She stopped and turned. “Hey, Ky, why don’t you go potty and wash your hands before we get your snack, okay?”
“Okay, Mama!” Kylie sang. “I go potty like a big girl!”
“That’s right!”
Once Kylie was out of earshot, Embry spun toward Brandon, her hands on her hips.
“Are you okay?” His voice was a shadow of its usual hearty baritone. The man hated confrontation. So did she, for that matter, but sometimes it was necessary.
“I’m fine.” She nodded firmly and crossed her arms in front of her. “And I’ll be even better when you apologize for being a jerk this morning. It’s time we kick the elephant out of the room.”
His mouth fell open, but he quickly clamped it shut, and a half smile emerged. “There is an elephant in here, isn’t there?”
“I’m about ready to poke it with one of my wooden spoons.” The sound of the flushing toilet punctuated her words. “If you have anything to say, you’d better hurry. Little Miss will be out in a minute.”
“Way to use our daughter to put me on the spot.” She started to speak, but he stopped her. “No, you’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve been really stressed and feeling like—”
“Mama! I wash my hands for two whole minutes.”
Embry met Brandon’s eyes before smiling at Kylie. More like ten seconds, she thought as their opportunity slid away. “Good job. Now, do you want some apple slices or peanut butter and crackers?”
She clasped her hands and grinned. “I have a cookie, Mama?”
“No. Apples or crackers?”
Carson’s cry rang out, and Kylie stomped a foot. There was no way she and Brandon could talk now. The conversation would have to wait until the kids were in bed later that night, and by then, he’d be out working. So it would happen at some unknown time in the future. Or, more likely, never. It would sit in a heap, and they’d keep dumping more unfinished conversations on top until they caught fire.
“I’ll get him,” Brandon offered, already in motion. As he passed Embry, he whispered in her ear. “I really am sorry. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she murmured before heading to the kitchen. Her eyes wandered to the door, and she felt a strange pull, a need to escape. How would it feel to just walk out? Not for good, but to just go on a walk alone with her thoughts? Brandon did it all the time. Well, he left for work, but still. He could come and go as he pleased, and she felt like she always had to ask permission because of the kids. Why did she always ask? He was their parent too. As he emerged with a crying Carson in his arms, she knew it was now or never. “Since you’re home now, I’m going to run out for a bit. I have a few things to do.” There! She’d done it. Statements, not questions. She pecked a kiss on Kylie’s head. “See you later, alligator.”
“After a while, crocodile!” she echoed back.
“Wait a sec, Em. Where are you going?”
“To the store,” she said quickly, even though she had no idea where she was going. And it would be strange to say she was taking a drive down the street.
“Right. Okay. Will you be back before one? I have to leave for work by then.”