~Jennie’s~

“You didn’t bring Blue just to show him off, did you?”

That’s the first thing Adele says when she opens the door and her rotten mouth. She's leaning against the gold-rimmed frame like this is some afternoon brunch and not a setup. Her smile is thin, but her eyes…those cold, empty pools..are too eager.

I force a breath. “You said this was about family.”

“It is.” She steps aside as she gestures into her villa like she owns the definition of family itself. “And Blue is part of it, isn’t he?”

I walk in slowly, holding my son tighter. Blue nuzzles against my chest, humming some offbeat tune only...