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“And you have nothing to say about it?”

Ida turned the burner on and looked at Fallon. “What do you want me to say?” she asked.

“Something.”

“It makes sense,” Ida offered.

“Oh my God. She talked to you about this, didn’t she?”

“No.”

“Mom.”

“Riley hasn’t told me about your family planning,” Ida said.

“And this makes sense to you?”

“It does. Apparently, it doesn’t add up for you.”

“How could it? It’s just logical that he would help us have kids,” Fallon said.

“Why is that?”

“Because he always promised he would when the time came. Riley knows that.”

Ida shook her head.

“What?” Fallon asked.

“You just assumed Riley would be on board with Dean fathering the children she carries?”

“Why wouldn’t she?”

“Fallon,” Ida said. “Have you looked at the mess in our family? You know better than anyone how much hurt has been caused by Dean’s fathering Emily and Summer. It caused pain for you, Barb, and Beth. Most importantly, it hurt Evan. He got shoved aside more than once when Dean was home.”

“Riley and I are not Liv and Barb.”

“True. But you’re fooling yourself if you think involving Dean won’t ignite more pain for everyone. It will be Owen who feels it the most this time.”

Fallon rubbed her face and huffed.

“I assume that’s what Riley said,” Ida guessed.

“Something like that.”

“And you tried to argue with her?”

“No. She made her position clear. It didn’t give me any room to argue,” Fallon replied.

Ida nodded.

“How is that fair? It’s our child,” Fallon said.

“I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to think before you answer.”

“Okay.”

“I mean it. Think before you answer,” Ida said. “Why does this matter to you?”