Bethany Shows Up Unexpectedly to Sharra’s House for the Meeting About Brook

[Doorbell rings]

Who is it?” Sharra calls out.

Larry opens the door — and freezes.

“Bethany? What are you doing here?”

Bethany steps forward. “I didn’t decide to come until a few minutes ago.”

Sharra walks up. “Why are you here?”

“Because y’all are having a meeting about Brooke,” Bethany replies calmly. “She’s my stepdaughter. If there’s an issue, I need to be part of the conversation.”

Sharra crosses her arms. “No, you don’t. This involves me and Larry. It happened at my house.”

“And she stays at ours too,” Bethany says. “If something is going on with these kids, it affects both households.”

Larry sighs. “For the record, I didn’t invite her. I didn’t know she was coming.”

“I know,” Bethany says. “This was my decision.”

There’s a pause.

“It’s cold,” Bethany adds. “Can I at least come inside?”

Sharra hesitates… then steps aside. “Fine. But don’t interfere. This is about the kids.”

Bethany walks in. “Understood.”

Everyone sits back down at the table. The tension is thick.

Larry clears his throat. “Let’s refocus.”

He looks directly at Isaiah.

“What I told you before about my daughter — you disrespected that. That’s my issue. And now I don’t know if I can believe anything you say.”

Isaiah looks down.

“I’m tempted to say you can’t see her anymore,” Larry continues. “That’s how serious this is.”

The room goes quiet.

“But,” Larry adds, glancing at the parents, “I’m not making that decision alone. Not tonight.”

All eyes shift between the adults.

The meeting had just begun — and now, with Bethany there, it was more complicated than anyone expected.