chapter 33

Rachel

“We need to talk,” Bernard said when I opened the door the following day. He lingered in the doorway, a determined gleam in his eyes until I stepped back. Wordlessly, Bernard followed me into the apartment and let the door fall shut behind him.

“Ron, it’s time for breakfast,” I called out over my shoulders. “Hurry up, or we’re going to be late.”

“Are you going to say something?”

“What do you want me to say, Bernie?” I folded my arms over my chest and stared at him. “Because I honestly have no idea what you want me to say.”

“You know that Carla and I are not together, much less re-engaged.”

“Do I? I don’t even know what I know anymore.”

Bernard covered the distance between us, his eyes never leaving my face. “You know that I care about this family, and I want to be a part of it.”

“Can I have ice cream for breakfast, mommy?”

I swung my gaze away from Bernard and took a step back. “No, sweetheart. We’ve been over this before. Ice cream is bad for you. You can have cereal, though.”