Sister Wife

Beth

Justin isn't with me when I wake up that morning. I just lay there for a few minutes before I make myself get up.  He must have been serious about being mad at me in the morning. Either that or he's gone back to Hope again.

I kick all the covers off and get up. Maybe it's my fault that Justin's mad at me but I'm really sick of being left behind. I blame him for calling me his favorite and letting me think I was special if he was only going to turn around and start choosing Hope over me all the time. This is why we were taught not to fall in love. Honestly it's the worst thing I've ever felt.

Nothing in my closet looks right. It's all too much, too fussy to lay around the house in. Where did Selena shove all my old jeans and t-shirts? I start digging through the piles of clothes on the top shelf.

"Charlotte?" Justin's voice startles me and I jump back, hitting my arm on the door.

"In here," I mutter. He comes into my closet.

"I made breakfast," he says.

"I thought you'd left," I sigh, rubbing my elbow.

"No, I just," Justin shrugs. "I feel bad, I want to talk."

"Alright," I agree and give up on trying to find clothes to wear. I follow Justin to the kitchen. He's made waffles, the big fluffy kind.

"We have to do something about Hope," he says. "I've tried to put this off because I just don't know what to do. I kept hoping she would get better."

"I know," I nod.

"I can't send her back, not to her parents. Hills Canyon isn't safe for her or for Isaiah," Justin sighs. "And I have to know they're okay wherever they end up. I can't just drive her out to the desert and leave."

"No," I can't picture Justin doing that in the first place.

"I just don't know what the right thing is," Justin says. "I feel wrong leaving her, you know? We made covenants and I don't want to turn my back on that. But even more than that I would be afraid it would make everything worse, that she would have an even worse time if I ended this."

"Yeah, I never know what she's going to do next," I admit.

"So, do you have any ideas?" Justin asks. I shake my head. I guess I never thought it would come to this.

"I'll keep thinking about it though," I promise. Justin nods. We finish eating breakfast and he helps me clean up.

"I have to be in rehearsal all day," he says. "But I'm going to stop by Hope's on my way and just make sure she didn't burn the house down or anything."

"Alright," I wish he were joking but I know he's not.