~~ SAM'S POV ~~

I didn't want to get up. The sofa was so comfy, and there was a constant swirl in my womb as peanut somersaulted and kicked me hard in the sides. Yet here I find myself in the role of mother to my sister again.

I consider the main things that irritate me about Chloe whilst readying myself to rise. There are a whole raft of things that irritate me about my younger sister.

A few points to touch on, would be: her infuriating way of ignoring pretty much any rule that exists, her disregard for clothes that might keep a person warm (short skirts and crop tops are always preferred), and her being so bloody loud and brash.

Taking care of her since our parents died has been one hell of a job, and not one I signed up for.

I shimmied to the end of the sofa cushion and pushed myself up. Being graceful while six months pregnant really was a challenge, but I was giving it a good go.

"Go steady, babe." Dexter was at my side, fussing.

I had loved this about him at the start of the pregnancy, with everything feeling so new, but it was really starting to grate on me now.

First, he suggested that he come out with me with my friends so he could drive me back; then, he suggested perhaps shopping should be done online so I didn't need to get overtired. Then the job I loved so much at the publishing house had to go, even though my manager had said he would have loved to have kept me on for the whole pregnancy.

Now, as Dexter offered his hand to me to help, I was filled with anger and snapped.

"I do still have feet, Dexter. Pregnancy hasn't rendered me incapable of standing." His expression darkened, and his hand slipped onto my lower back.

I inwardly shuddered at his touch, probably all the hormones. I'll be crying my eyes out in two minutes; my emotional world is so changeable.

"I am just trying to be there for my fiancé and our child." A smile was at his lips but, didn't reach his eyes.

I sighed heavily. I didn't need this now, especially not when Chloe was here too. "It's ok, Dex; I need to be able to get up myself at the book launch, so I best keep doing it here." I could see Dexter's muscles tense.

"Are you still planning on going?" The accusation in his tone didn't sit too well with me.

"Yes. I told you, I can't really miss it; I kind of am the guest of honour."

"But I told you, I am going to be out of the country with work, and I don't want you going alone."

Chloe entering a room was not normally a good thing; however, at this moment, I was going to use it to my advantage.

"Chloe can come with me." I sent Chloe a beaming smile, which she returned with a quizzical frown.

Chloe stood in the doorway with wet black hair, fresh-faced, and wearing one of my floral maxi dresses. God, I wish I could still fit into my favourite clothes again. The dress was a bit of a snug fit, as Chloe's figure was rounder than mine. She had always been more developed. Most people thought she was the older sister, which I felt the need to correct every single time.

"Uh, come with you, where?" She stood with her arms crossed under her chest, which was giving a rather obvious glimpse of cleavage—something not lost on Dexter, I noted—as he stood staring.

"I have an event I need to attend tomorrow evening. I wondered if you might come with me."

The shock on Chloe's face was clear.

"I don't think that is a fantastic idea, Sam." Chloe muttered over her shoulder as she moved into the kitchen and started opening cupboards.

"Chlo, what are you looking for?" I bit out, irritated at the lack of support from her.

"I just want some mugs; I was going to make some tea."

"Dexter, show Chloe where the mugs are, please. I need to go to the toilet." Yet another fantastic side effect of pregnancy.

"With pleasure," Dexter answered.

I was seething as I walked into our bedroom. Usually the view of the lake from our bedroom window would calm me, but not today.

Tears began to roll down my cheeks. I had worked so damn hard on the book that was being launched. My heart literally ached that I couldn't be a part of the event. Everything suddenly felt so oppressive; I felt trapped.

Looking down at my rounded belly, I didn't know whether to feel love or hate. This couldn't be the right way to feel. I shook with my sobs; something just felt so wrong.

"Sam." Chloe was there beside me, where I sat on the bed, concern on her face. "Are you ok, sis?" Her arms were around me, hugging me to her. God, we hadn't done this since the funeral. I hugged her back hard, but I felt her wince, and there was a sharp intake of air.

"Chloe, are you okay?"

"I'm ok." A paleness crept into her face and I couldn't help but surmise that she was lying. "Are you alright?" She was always so cagey; I hated it about her.

There was so much I wanted to tell her, but she had left. She had left; after everything I had gone through to build a life for us after Mum and Dad had died, she had turned her back on me. I couldn't forgive that.

I brought my hands to my face and brushed away the tears.

"I'm fine." I swallowed back the sobs and took a deep breath. Chloe stood up and moved back, as if sensing my detachment.

"Sam, look, I'll come with you to the event. There is a rather large issue, though." I watched as Chloe swept her hands down her body. "I only have a couple of items of clothing with me, and I get the impression the event might be quite swanky."

"Come on, let's see what you have." The relief I felt was intoxicating; I might actually be able to go somewhere other than these four walls and I could pretend there was a flitter of excitement that I would see Julian.

We walked back to the living area. Chloe moved to the front door, where she had discarded her bag earlier.

"Sam, sweetheart?" Dexter was walking towards me from the office. His tone was clipped and forceful. His face was thunder. I saw Chloe stop going through her bag, and she was instantly in front of me placing herself firmly in his path.

"Dexter, I wondered if you might be able to help me with something?" Dexter's face instantly changed. A languid grin pulled at his lips. I hadn't seen that smile before.

What the hell was going on? I couldn't shake it; something felt strange.

"Sam, can we chat later? I thought maybe Dexter could help me connect my phone to your wireless; the reception is really patchy here for me." I couldn't explain why, but I was relieved.

Chloe collected her phone from her bag, and I watched as she and Dexter sat on the sofa, barely a centimetre between them. What the hell was she doing? Then I saw it. Dexter was gripping my mobile phone hard in one of his hands. The screen was smashed, but this didn't stop it from ringing again. The screen flashed, and I heard the vibrations. He raised it, and as he did, I saw the name Ethan as clear as day.

Dexter's frame stiffened, and I saw Chloe do the same. Now Dexter was on his feet in front of me, gripping the tops of my arms painfully.

"Why is your boss still calling you Samantha? I clearly told you to break contact with work for the baby."

"For the baby, my arse." The comment was uttered under Chloe's breath, but Dexter heard it and swung around to face her. I'd never seen him like this—so agitated, thunderously angry.

"I don't think you have any rights to even speak around here, Chloe. You've been gone, shagging; God knows how many random men, living it up while Sam has been picking up the pieces of your lives."

I couldn't argue with Dexter on that one. Chloe had left me at a really difficult time with the court case against our father; it had been pretty horrific. Dexter wouldn't stop, though.

"Sam told me how your parents had to keep bailing you out when you were younger and how she kept being left out because of the next pile of shit you got yourself into. And now, of all the times you could pick yourself up, you walk back in here now, as if nothing has happened, and expect us to just accept you back. Well, that's not how it works."

I could see all the fight draining out of Chloe. She took a few steps back. I wanted her to hear this; she had to hear this, but not like this, not from Dexter.

She turned and walked at speed towards the front door. She yanked it open hard and sprinted out into the snowy, cold night.

I ran to the doorway, watching her sprint down the driveway.

"Let her go, Sam; she's no good."

***