“Is this beef?” he mutters.

“Yes,” William says.

“You know I don’t prefer beef, William.”

Number Twelve scurries back into the kitchen, but I find myself frozen to the ground, my anger bubbling. This man is an ungrateful pig, and he certainly doesn’t deserve the effort that’s been made here today. I look over to William, and I can see the anger in his expression. I can see that, but I can also see hurt. His father is hurting him.

“You haven’t even tried it,” he says with fake calm.

His father huffs. “I don’t need to try it, I don’t like it. I should have never come here. I should have just gone to the restaurant and had a decent meal, not this...slop.”

My anger rises even more.

“Dad,” Ben says, “he’s made a big effort.”

“This isn’t effort,” his father says, waving his hand over the table. “This is a forced dinner. I never wanted to come here, Benjamin. If you had listened to my requests, instead of trying to include...him...then we wouldn’t have this problem.”

Him?

He can’t even speak properly to his own child.

I clench my fists, feeling my heart beginning to pound as I struggle to hold back my anger.

“He is your son, and this is a chance for us all to mend a broken relationship,” Ben growls.

“He isn’t my son. Just because I’m his father doesn’t mean he matters.”

“Peter!” William’s mom cries, pressing her hands over her eyes.

“Enough,” William roars, slamming his hand on the table. “If you’re so horrified, then get the hell out of my house.”

Peter stands, throwing his napkin down. “Gladly. I never wanted to come here. In fact, if it weren’t for your mother’s pity, I wouldn’t have you working for me. You’re a disappointment William. I don’t know how you call yourself a man.”

That’s it for me.

“He’s more of a man than you,” I say. My voice icy.

Peter turns, his expression horrified. He jerks his head back, like he can’t believe I have spoken.

“I beg your pardon?” he snaps.

“You heard me,” I growl. “He’s more of a man than you. He’s successful, he’s loving, and he’s a good person. You, on the other hand, are nothing but a coward. What kind of man comes in to his own child’s house and speaks to him like that? What kind of man makes his own wife cry because he cares about no one but himself? That man,” I yell, pointing to William, “is amazing, and beautiful, and all the things you aren’t.”

“How dare you?” his father roars.

“You should leave,” I snarl. “People like you are weak. People like you pick on others because it makes you feel better. He doesn’t need someone like you in his life. You’re the kind of man that will die old and alone, because you will shove everyone away. Eventually, they’ll stop fighting to make it better.”

“Are you allowing your staff to speak to me like this?” Peter bellows, turning to William.

William is watching me, and there’s something in his eyes. Something intense. He turns to his father. “Yes, I am. You know where the door is.”

Peter turns to William’s mom. “Jane?”

She sobs into her hands, and then looks to her son. “He’s your son, too, Peter, and he never did anything wrong.”

He turns to Ben next. “Benjamin?”

“You should leave, Dad. William made an effort here, and you completely ruined it. If you want to go to that nice restaurant, then away you go. Only you’ll be going alone.”

“You can all go to hell,” Peter yells, and then takes his jacket before storming out of the room.

I look over to William’s mom who is crying; she’s a complete mess. I walk over to her, and I kneel down. “Would you like me to take you to the bathroom so you can clean up?”

She lifts her head, and her eyes are puffy and red. “Yes, please.”

I help her up and lead her from the room. I take her down the hall to the bathroom, and I gather her some fresh towels. She runs the cool water over them and turns to me, giving me probably the weakest smile I’ve ever seen.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“I’ve never heard anyone speak to him like that before.”

My cheeks heat. “I’m sorry, it was disrespectful, I understand but...”

“No,” she croaks. “He deserves it.”

I stare at her. “You just stay and enjoy your sons. You deserve that.”

“I miss them. It’s not often I get to see them together.”

“Well, you’re here now.”

“Thank you,” she breathe1; em. s, and slightly straightens her shoulders.

“Are you ready to go back out?”

She nods, and I open the bathroom door, leading her out. The minute we get out, we run into William.

“Momma, are you okay?”

She nods, and smiles weakly up at him. “Yes, I’m okay.”

“Go and sit down. We’ll finish dinner and spend some time together.”

She nods, and thanks me once more before walking away. I turn to William, certain he’s going to punish me for speaking like that to his father.

“I’m sorry, William, I know it wasn’t my place to speak to him like that, and—”

Suddenly his hands are in my hair, and he’s leaning down, capturing my mouth with his. Oh, my. He pushes me into the wall, and he kisses me so hard my lips begin to ache. He slips his tongue into my mouth, and I open to him, enjoying this new, exciting feeling. His hands slide down my body, cupping my backside. He lifts me, literally, bringing my body up against this. I can feel his arousal pushing against my belly.