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“Okay, before this gets even more out of hand, you guys need to leave,” Emmy said.
Ronan sputtered something unintelligible before the kitchen door closed.
“Where were we?” Emmy said as she tapped her index finger against her chin.
“You were introducing the winners of last year,” Kayla said.
“Hmm, yes. The winners of last year… the Moore girls,” Emmy said.
Emmy’s four sisters cheered and clanged their ladle against their pans.
“How’s that fair, Emm?” Errin shouted. “You’re a chef!”
“I never take part in the cooking, Errin. I’m part of the jury. Let me introduce you to the rest of our fine jury: our mothers!” Emmy opened the kitchen doors and called out for Catherine Walsh, Joan Ryan, Melissa Mills and Shauni Mills-Moore.
“Are you okay?” Kera whispered to Bree. “You seem a little pale. Take some of these breadsticks.” Bree nicked a few off of Fianna’s chopping board. She nibbled on a breadstick and swayed on her feet. The aroma coming from the closed pot in front of her made her nauseous. But what could she do? Draw attention by excusing herself?
“I’d love to see what you girls make of the Irish Shepard’s Pie,” Emmy’s mom, Shauni, said as she walked over to the workstation of her daughters.
The thought of ground lamb, onions and Worcestershire sauce made Bree turn green. She took a deep breath and gripped the counter.
Bree broke out in a cold sweat. She felt the breadstick clawing its way back up her throat. “I’m sorry, I don’t feel so good,” Bree whispered before she bumped into the stainless steel counter with her hip. The constant talking and fuss in the kitchen was also getting to her. She speed walked from the kitchen.
Was this normal? She hated to think she was going to be some sickly wallflower until the baby came. And what happens then? How was she ever going to do this by herself? The thought was like a hand slipping around her throat and cutting off her air supply.
She walked past the rowdy bunch of guys cheering for a touchdown. By keeping her eyes trained on the floor in front of her, she tried to slip past a few Mills brothers before entering the restroom.
A firm hand halted Bree as it gripped her bicep. “What’s wrong, Love?”
Again, Declan addressed her with his new nickname for her.
Months ago, he couldn’t get her out of his house fast enough when she spoke of the word ‘love’ and now he was just throwing it out there.
Like it had no meaning. Perhaps for him, it didn’t. She narrowed her eyes at him and shook his hand off.
“Leave me alone.” She stomped past him and when she finally made it inside the restroom, she ran the last bit to reach the nearest stall.
The door to the restroom opened, and Bree quickly flushed. She hadn’t even had time to lock her door. A groan escaped her lips as she tried to get up from the floor inside the stall.
Soft hands slid under Bree’s armpits and picked her up. Shiny, chocolate strands of hair partially falling over Bree’s shoulders gave Kate away.
“Come, let’s sit down for a moment.” Kate brought Bree over to the small bench in the restroom.
“It’s going to be okay.” She stroked Bree’s back and offered her a glass of water. “Just to rinse out the taste. Don’t take too much or it’ll come right back up.”
Bree rinsed out her mouth and sat back down next to Kate.
“I hope you’ll feel better soon,” Kate said while patting Bree’s leg.
“Thanks.”
The door to the restroom opened, and Dec’s worried face stuck into the crack.
“Everything okay here?”
Irritation flared through her system, like a wave crashing over her body. She had no control over her emotions. Somewhere deep inside, she knew she was being irrational. But it was like another Bree was taking over her body, and she couldn’t stop it if she’d tried.
“Just leave me alone! I don’t need you in here. In fact: I don’t need you at all!”
