The tension around the small cafe table was suffocating. Finally, she inhaled sharply and straightened her posture, her voice wavering but firm.
"You’re asking what I’m doing here?I’m here, because I need a place to stay that’s far from our family."
Marcus’s expression softened, his frown deepening with concern. "Megan, you don’t need to hide. Everyone in the family already knows. Mom and Dad, Grandpa, Aunt Grace—they’ve been worried sick about you. Hiding isn’t the answer."
Megan’s lips tightened, her frustration evident. "And what good would it do to stay around them, Marcus? You know how they are.They all look at me like I’m some kind of loser. A screw-up who got pregnant and ruined her future. I need to prove them wrong."
Marcus let out a low sigh, dragging a hand through his hair. "Meg, you’re family. They might judge, yeah, but they still care about you."
"Care about me?" Megan’s voice cracked, her eyes brimming with tears. "They pity me, Marcus. And I can’t stand it. I need to do this on my own away from their looks and their whispers."
Stacey, who had been silent up until now tilted her head, her sharp gaze fixed on Megan. "So let me get this straight," Stacey said. "You’re in the city to hide your pregnancy? That’s why you suddenly reached out to Brent?"
Marcus’s head whipped toward Stacey, his frown deepening. "Wait, what the hell does Brent have to do with this?"
Megan’s face paled, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out.
"Well?"
"Go on, Megan. Tell your dear cousin exactly why you’ve been sneaking around in the city instead of coming clean to your family."
"I don’t have to explain myself to you," Megan said defensively, her voice rising slightly as she avoided Marcus’s gaze.
"Megan,what’s going on? Why would Brent..."
The door to the cafe swung open and the three of them turned to see Betty standing frozen in the doorway. Her wide eyes took in the scene—the tension, Megan’s tear-streaked face, Stacey’s arms crossed like a guard dog and Marcus’s furrowed brow.
"Betty..."
Betty’s gaze flicked between them, her face hardening. "What’s going on here?" she asked, her voice clipped.
Stacey opened her mouth to respond. "Nothing."
Betty’s eyes narrowed, her suspicion sharpening. "Nothing?Because it looks like something to me."
The silence that followed was deafening, each of them avoiding Betty’s piercing gaze. Finally, Stacey sighed pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Look, Betty, it’s complicated," Stacey said, her tone laced with impatience.
"Try me," Betty snapped. Her gaze settled on Marcus daring him to speak.
Marcus looked away. Megan, however, avoided Betty’s gaze entirely her hands fidgeting nervously.
"I’m waiting," Betty said.
No one spoke. The tension in the air was palpable and Betty’s frustration grew with each passing second.
Finally, she let out a sharp laugh though there was no humor in it. "You know what? Fine. Don’t tell me. I’m sure I’ll find out eventually."
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the cafe leaving the three of them in stunned silence.
Marcus was the first to speak. "Megan, what the hell are you doing?"
But Stacey wasn’t watching Megan anymore. She was staring at the door Betty had just walked through.