“I’ll help you with that, Miss Elle,” Jagger, such a little gentleman, says.

“Thank you.” I hand over the pie, leaning in to whisper in his ear. “But be careful, because this isn’t just a pie, it’s the best pie, and since you helped, I’ll make sure to sneak you a piece.”

“You’re the best!” I’m pretty sure the only reason he is saying that is because the last time I saw him, I snuck him a few handfuls of gummy bears after Greer ate all of his. He leans in and gives me a shoulder hug, keeping both hands secure on the pie dish as he walks carefully into the beautiful house filled with loud voices and laughter.

“Hey!” Brynn calls out as soon as we walk into the house and runs to greet us. “You must be Mrs. Rafter! I’m so glad you could make it, thank you for coming.”

“It smells like the pleasure is all mine,” Mrs. Rafter says, and she is not wrong.

I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to eat much after Quinton’s mom practically force-fed me, but just smelling everything is making my stomach rumble.

“My dad and mother-in-law went wild.” She puts her arm through the crook of Mrs. Rafter’s. “Lets go get you something to drink and a few snacks to hold you over. They keep saying dinner’s almost ready, but who knows anymore.”

Brynn walks her into the kitchen, but just before they disappear, Brynn turns and points a very aggressive finger toward the stairs. And because I’m going to need her to make me the caramel apple cocktail she keeps telling me about, I follow directions.

When I reach the top of the stairs, there’s a single door open with light and hushed voices spilling into the hallway. All heads turn to me when I walk in, but I focus on one face.

“Fuck.” I rush over to Vonnie, who, for the first time since meeting her, doesn’t have a drop of makeup on her face. “What happened?”

“I told him I couldn’t do it anymore.” She doesn’t even try to wipe away the tears as they fall down her face. “I can’t pretend to be happy with things the way they are anymore. I don’t want to remodel the house again or do any of the other busywork I’ve been doing. I told him I’m tired of feeling like everything I care about is second to what he deems is most important.”

I pile onto the twin-size bed with Greer and Poppy. “Good for you. What’d he say to that?”