Two place settings meant that Sam was bringing a date with him. My already queasy stomach roiled at the thought. I can’t do this, my mind screamed at me. Is he late because he’s banging some blonde bimbo right now? I tried to shove the thought out of my head, but I couldn’t suppress it. My breath had become shallow, and I wondered if this was what a panic attack felt like.

Then I felt him enter the room. A chill went up my spine as the tiny hairs on my arms stood at attention. I tried not to outwardly show the reaction I had to Sam, but my body was completely aware of each step he took as he circled the table. He chose the chair closest to his father, leaving the middle chair on that side open.

He was alone. Relief swept through me as I released the breath that I hadn’t realized I was holding. I knew that I wouldn’t yet be able to hide my reaction to seeing him with another woman. It would just be too much to handle with the announcement that Seth and I had to make today.

Sam looked directly at me. His face was an unreadable mask of indifference. I wondered if it bothered him at all to see me with his brother. It didn’t appear to. “I apologize for my tardiness,” he said the words to the room at large, never breaking eye contact with me.

Seth chose that moment to ding a fork on his glass. “I have an announcement to make.”

I panicked. I hadn’t expected this to happen before the meal had even been served. Sam’s eyes were still locked with mine. I should have warned him! My mind screamed at me. How could I let him find out with the rest of his family? Even if he doesn’t care about me, I should have told him first. It was too late. Seth was already starting to talk.

“Abby and I are having a baby.” Seth’s voice was loud and clear. His words were followed by silence. Sam’s green eyes had flickered with surprise, before he quickly hid it, never looking away from me.

Janice was the first to speak. “Do you even know whose baby it is?” she hissed through clenched teeth.

I had thought I was prepared for the backlash from our news, but I was still hurt by her words. For the first time, I broke my eyes away from Sam and found Janice glaring at me.

The room was silent for a moment, until Sam slammed his fist on the table, the noise shocking us all. “You will not speak to Abigail that way, Mother. None of you will.” His eyes travelled around the table to his mother, father, and sister. “Understood?” The rhetorical question hung in the air as Sam got up and stalked out of the room.