Page 86 of Just Like Home
Gabby nodded as she picked up another taco. “I can’t believe he told you I cheated. I never gave him any reason to doubt me. It really hurt when you didn’t return my calls.”
Bryanna wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly. “I’m sorry for acting like a shitty friend. It runs in the family apparently. He’s my big brother, and I’m blaming him for teaching me how to act like a butthead.”
“I forgive you.” Gabby clung to her friend’s arm and patted it. “I’ve missed you.”
Bryanna handed her another taco. “Feed the baby. I apologize, Gabby. My head went straight to what my dad did to our family. I don’t have a single memory of the man. Yet, he left such a crappy lasting impression. Marcus remembers him and blames him for how hard our mom worked to feed us. I baked to make extra money and he worked after school to make sure I didn’t go without.”
Gabby swallowed her food. “He never let me go without. My bookbag ripped and I carried my stuff in a recyclable grocery bag. When he saw it, he didn’t say a word. The next time we went out on a date, he bought me a leather backpack, guaranteed not to rip, and he even waterproofed it.” She sniffed at the sweet memory.
Bryanna dabbed her eyes as she placed another taco on Gabby’s plate. “He’s an ass but he’s a caring one.”
“No.” Gabby shook her head. “He’s acted like a complete jackass. Marcus hurt me and walked away like I meant nothing.” She handed her friend another taco and took another for herself. She hiccupped as she wiped her mouth.
“I don’t understand. I know he loves you. Don’t you love him anymore? Why go through with this divorce?” Bryanna gazed at her friend, as if she knew the answer.
“I’ll always love him,” she whispered. “I must focus on what’s best for the baby and me. Too much has happened now. I can’t forget how he treated me. It hurt Bryanna. I don’t have family and when I tried to tell him about the baby, he told me to talk to his lawyer. I’ve spent the last six months in a crappy apartment, penny-pinching to have enough money to take off for maternity leaveand preparing myself to go it alone. I’m scared. Most of all, I’m lonely. At this point, I want this divorce done and over with. It will almost be a relief.”
“You’re not alone. You’ll have me, Saint and my Serenity family. We’ll find you a place here and help you,” Bryanna informed her.
Gabby shook her head as she licked her fingers. “I don’t know if I can see Marcus and get through this. I hoped we might use you as a drop-off point to share custody.”
“Oh, Gabrielle. Of course, you can. I hoped you and Marcus might reconcile before the baby arrived.” Bryanna handed her another taco and bit into her own.
“Marcus made it clear. He doesn’t want me.” Gabby sobbed. “My heart hurts and I can’t get over the pain. There’s nothing he can do to make me feel different. He even doubted he fathered our baby,” Gabrielle confessed as Bryanna squeezed her hand.
“Love is worth fighting for. If you still care about him, you’ll find a way to forgive and start anew.” Bryanna peered into the pan and laughed. “Uh, Gabby, we ate all the tacos.”
The two women laughed as they hugged. Gabby softly cried on her friend’s shoulder. Feeling the weight of the loss of Marcus and not experiencing the joys of pregnancy with him caused her chest to ache.
They heard the two men coming in from down the hall. Gabby swiped at her face and straightened as Bryanna passed her a napkin.
Taco stopped at seeing the tin sitting in the middle of the table. “No way,” he said in awe. “You ate all the tacos. The guys won’t believe me.” He took out his phone and snapped a picture of the two women sitting in front of the empty container. “They weren’t lying when they said pregnant women ea?—”
Patch elbowed him sharply in the ribs. “Knight pulled in. We’re heading out. Gabby, keep up the good work. If you need anything, my number’s on the fridge. By the way, I punch assholes for free.”
“I better get going, too. Nugget’s making a report on me and the bakery. The kids discussed women role models in class and how they make a difference.”
Taco helped Bryanna up and held open the door. Patch followed behind when Taco whispered a bit too loudly, “They beat my record.” Patch hit him upside the head as he closed the door.
Gabby rubbed her stomach, feeling full. Knight walked in. He seemed a bit pale and avoided her gaze. The distance between them grew wider with his absence, and she struggled to say something. When nothing came to mind, she stood, picked up the empty taco container, and entered the kitchen.
Knight pulledup to the cabin and got out of the truck. At hearing two of Saint’s teammates’ voices outside, he walked behind the cabin. They stood on the deck overlooking the beautiful mountain view and faced him as he came around the corner.
“How did the office visit go?” Taco asked as Patch nodded at him. He’d say the man was a grade A asshole if Knight hadn’t set the tone by pushing him when Gabby cried out on the helo. He blamed himself for the bad impression.
Knight bucked up, taking the judgmental stare from Patch. “Saint and Shadow caught a tail. I lost them before returning and Matthew ran the plates while they followed my tail to see where they stopped.”
“It’s a good lead. Bryanna stopped by and we came out here to give them a few minutes. Your sister expressed how badly she felt about Gabby and our women suggested she spend some time alone with her.”
“It’s my fault. Bryanna isn’t to blame for the issues,” Knight made it clear to the men.
“What a surprise,” Patch snarked.
He took a deep breath. “Listen. I apologize for my behavior on the helo. I know you tried to help my wife and I didn’t make a good impression.”
Patch smirked. “No, you didn’t. I’m more concerned about your impression on the woman sitting in there. She’s pregnant with your kid and it seems like she’s carrying the load alone. What do you plan to do about it?”
Knight bristled. “Gabby and I aren’t in a good place. It doesn’t mean I won’t help her.”
