Can't Let You Go

Chapter 26

For Christmas, Bethany had the family booked at a resort in Aruba. She doesn't argue with Jacob when he tells Honey that she's coming along with them. What she does is make small comments about how put out she is at having to change things. Most of which are inconsequential, however, she wants Jacob to feel like she's going out of her way to accept Honey just as she does her own son. Every inconvenience she throws at Honey is met with a smile rather than a complaint. Even what she thought was her trump card.

"Honey," she says one morning after breakfast just as everyone is leaving for work, "your father, Jake, and I have a two bedroom suite at the resort. They didn't have any available rooms, so if you're going, you'll have to share a bedroom with your little brother."

Bethany may call her son Jacob Junior at Savis, but Jacob Senior insists he be called Jake.

"Sounds like fun," Honey enthuses. "I hardly get to spend any time with him. He and the nanny often leave before breakfast and she puts him to bed so early."

Jacob smiles and takes Bethany's hand. Honey notices the grimace that flashes across Bethany's face before she beams back at Jacob.

When the family arrives at their resort they are met with the babysitter Bethany has hired to tend to Jake. Before they even reach their suite, Jake is taken away to the children's section. Honey sighs heavily as she unpacks.

"What is it?" Jacob asks gruffly.

"It's just a shame that Jake isn't here to enjoy vacation with us."

"What do you mean? Of course he's here."

"Technically, but he's going to be spending all his time in directed activities and not with us."

"What's wrong with that? This is a vacation for Bethany, too. Parenting is hard work and she deserves a break." Jacob is blatantly ignoring the fact that his son has two nannies. One or the other of which is with him during all waking hours.

"What if I take care of him instead?"

"Won't that be boring?"

"What else am I going to do? You and Bethany surely have plans for your time and I don't know anyone else here. I may as well take the opportunity to get to know my little brother."

"If you're sure about this, I'll cancel the babysitter."

"What's that?" Bethany appears in the door behind Jacob. "Cancel the babysitter? Why on Earth would you do that? Don't I deserve a break, too?" she whines.

"Darling, of course you do. Honey has asked to take charge of Jake during the trip."

Honey watches Bethany's face blanch and her eyelids start quivering.

"Jacob, can I speak to you in the other room please?"

They walk across the suite to their bedroom and close the door.

"Jacob, I don't think this is a good idea. You remember what she tried to do to Jake before he was even born."

"Bethany, we agreed to leave that in the past. She was a child who was angry and she shoved the person she was taking her anger out on. That's what children do. She wasn't trying to harm Jake in utero."

"You didn't see the hatred in her eyes. And now she's back and wants Savis all for her own. Who knows what she's capable of." Bethany keeps her volume low, but her voice is shrill.

"Calm down, you're letting your fears get the best of you. Honey would never harm her brother. I promise you."

"I'll only agree if you don't cancel the babysitter. Have her tail them instead and report any misdeeds."