But now all that greets me, waits for me, is revenge. Grief was a slow suicide, an eroding of the mind and heart, but anger is something that I can shape, work with, fashion into the weapon that it needs to be—a very sharp spear necessary to skewer both Gage and Chloe. Years ago, Chloe did exactly that to Logan and me.
This is me returning the favor.
The big New Year’s Eve bash is right back where it belongs at the Harrisons’ estate. And in just a few minutes, I’ll be making my way there. Logan offered to pick me up, but since it’s out of his way, I let him know I’d meet him there. That way, when I ditch out early, I won’t ruin his good time. My stomach sours at the thought. I know full well Logan sees both a good time and life in general through a very narrow lens—me. I feel terrible about it, too. But my head and my heart are in no position to sort out my feelings for anyone right now. There are so many open wounds, it’s all I can do to stop up the bleeding.
I dress the boys and we head downstairs. Misty and Ember taught the boys how to slide all the way down on their stomachs and they both bubble with husky laughter all the way to the foyer. They no sooner get to the bottom than they trot off for the family room.
The downstairs still has every last Christmas decoration up. It’s a funny thing how they initiate such a pre-holiday high, and once it’s over, they go stale and begin to look wrong altogether. God forbid they stay up until February. It can make you feel like a loon. Sort of like Gage and me. We felt good and right—and then out of nowhere we bottle rocketed our way right to lunacy.
Drake and Ethan shout with glee as they obliterate someone on the television screen and I gasp as the bloodied men from the video game look as if they have the ability to run right into the room.
“Why do they look so real?” Honest to God, I don’t think I’ve ever commented once on the resolution, size, or color contrast of the electronic beast taking up space in the room.
Drake flicks his elbow my way. “Dad just bought a new set, dude. Freaking4D!”
“4D,” I say absentmindedly as I make my way to the dining room and pause at the sight before me.
Huddled at the corner of the table sit Mia, Mom, Tad, and Olivia Harrison, Ellis’ lawyer of a mother. The same lawyer Gage threatened to discuss visitations with.
“What’s going on?”
Tad slaps his palms down over the table. “This meeting is adjourned. Lizbeth, we have a party to tend to.”
Mia looks up. “I’m divorcing Gabe.”
Mom shrugs my way. “We’re paying the retainer.”
Tad nearly knocks over the table as he rises. “And that kid had better pony up the rest of it.” He growls my way, “And don’t get any bright ideas. I’m not paying for your divorce either.”
“I don’t need one,” I’m quick to point out and then reconsider. Even though our covenant has been abolished, what about the legal ramifications? Gage is renewing his vows to Chloe tomorrow, but now that I think about it, maybe it’s because he wants to make it legal? Nuptials in the heavenlies don’t count for much in the great state of Washington.
Just perfect.
Tad hitches his thumbs into his belt loops. “Lizbeth, we’ve got fifty pounds of lobster that need to be cooked alive and the guests will be here at any minute.”
I glance to the kitchen, and sure enough the sink is filled with long, archaic overgrown cockroach-looking creatures doing their best to crawl their way out.
“Oh my Lord,” I hiss. “Do not let the boys near those.” No sooner do I say the words than the entire gaggle of children who live under this roof scramble on over, each hoisting their own step stool in tow.
Mom rises. “I’ve got this, Skyla. You and the girls have fun.”
Tad growls, “Not too much fun. Just because Big Daddy here has deep pockets doesn’t mean you need to go popping out another litter.”
“I can assure you I’m coming home litter free.” And will remain so for the foreseeable future. I hope.
“See this?” Tad barks while pointing at me and garnering the attention of my sisters, along with Em, who just waddled in, and Bree. “You can all learn a lesson from Skyla here. She realizes she made a mistake! She got married young, pumped out two pups, and ruined her life!”
“Tad Landon!” Mom gruffs so loud the windows rattle. “These precious boys are no mistake. And if you ever reference them that way again—well, I don’t care how much money you have, or how many diamonds you have on your teeth, you’ll find your things on the porch.”
The entire house takes a collective gasp, including me. After all of these years, after all of Tad’s tyranny, she’s finally standing up to him.
Bree smacks Tad on the arm. “You have diamonds on your teeth? Let’s see ’em, Pops!”
Drake and Ethan jump over the sofas and even Olivia pauses from collecting her things to ogle at the oddity.
Tad opens wide and Ethan shines the light on his phone over Tad’s left canine, and sure enough there’s a glint of light shining right back. A bulbous crystal sits over his enamel like an expensive barnacle for no one to see. God knows Tad never smiles.
The room breaks out in congratulatory applause.
