Penelope turns with her already huge eyes big with embarrassment. I used her childhood nickname because she’ll never outgrow it. Although she's an adult, I still see the little girl with two ponytails full of copper and brown ringlets, enormous hazel eyes, chubby cheeks, and a smile that brightens everyone’s day.
When she would poop in her diaper, she would run in a circle announcing to everyone by saying. “Penny Poo Poo!”
Penny narrows her eyes but her smile is still in place.
“Jagger Liam Hanlon! Will you stop calling me that in public.”
I give her a big squeeze until she giggles. “I can’t help it. I still see the chubby toddler.”
She smooths her lilac tulle dress and brushes her sleek hair over her shoulder. She tries to stretch her 5’4 frame but only succeeds in sticking out the breasts I never noticed until Oran pointed out how big they were. I cussed him out for pointing out such a thing on my baby cousin but he just chuckled and made a motorboating motion with his head.
“I’m a whole woman, Jagger,” she insists.
“I don’t care about your woman-ness.” She pushes me out of the way and reaches her hand out to Karessa.
“Hello, I’m Penelope. I’m sorry.”
Karessa looks at her confused for a second then giggles. “Because I’m his wife?”
“Yes. He’s a handful.”
Karessa laughs again. But sobers when I look at her. “I’ll show you a handful.”
“Eww.” Penelope covers her ears. “Save that for when I’m not around.”
The door closes behind us and I glance over expecting to see Oran, but my mood shifts. I’m not as relaxed as I was but I don’t feel like my heart is in a vice either. She looks good but her dark hair and equally dark eyes that made her look naturally sultry do nothing for me now. I can admit that I once loved her but I never will again. She’ll never be my wife.
“Jagger…” she starts while ignoring the other people in the room. I know her well enough to know this isn’t about the gala. She has the nerve to give me sad eyes. “Arthur…” she wrings her hands. “I need to talk to him.”
Karessa and Penelope stare at her. Karessa is appalled by her nerve and Penelope is wondering why she’s asking me about my dad.
My pressure spikes just a little. No apology or remorse is present on her face, just concern for herself. It’s one thing to play with me in the wrong way, it’s another to bring my personal shit to something so fucking important to me. This was a boundary even when I loved her. Now, this is bullshit.
“That’s not my fucking problem nor is this the place.”
“You need to leave,” Karessa tells her but Layla doesn’t follow her advice.
Instead, she cuts her eyes at my wife like she stole me before she tries again. “I know it’s not ideal and I cared for you. I really did. But I was already in love with him. He’s disappeared on me…”
Why the fuck would I care?“That’s what married men do.” I move to remove myself from this situation but this cannot go unchecked. “You know better than to fuck with me at these events. If you learned nothing else, you should know how important these things are to me. It’s how we fucking met. You’re fired. Find another family to milk.”
Layla starts crying but I grab Karessa's arm to leave. I don’t need to stand there and watch her tears.
“Fuck you, Jagger. This isn’t about this event. This is revenge because I like your dad more. I chose him over you…”
“Shut up, Layla and just leave,” Karessa cuts in. “He fired you, leave him alone. Haven’t you done enough?”
This is a lot. I’ve had a few crazy months and this is the one place that gives me satisfaction to know I’m helping. Layla knows where I live, has my number, and should know some of my habits yet she chooses this moment to pop up and disrupt my life. Worse, she knew there was friction between my dad and me before I found out about them. My temper is on the verge of bubbling over. I clench my fists and my jaw ticks with fury.
Oran and Ainslee enter the room and he sees the tension on my face and his eyes cut to Layla. I move my head to the side to crack my neck. I’m seconds from losing my shit.
“No. This is a petty move he’s learned from Oran. You two are childish…”
I move forward but Karessa moves between us. “That’s enough!” Karessa asserts but Layla seems to be on a roll.
“Arthur is mature and not a fucking child like you, Jag-”
She doesn’t finish my name because Karessa swings before Oran can finish crossing the room and punches Layla in the mouth, knocking her on her ass. The fog lifts enough for me to appreciate her form and the fact that she didn’t hurt her wrist means she was paying attention.
