32
ENERGY VAMPIRE
Saylor was pacing in the house. Here she was happy to have a day off after all the traveling they’d done, the jet lag, then working for three days. She even worked a full day yesterday rather than a half since she missed Sunday and someone called in sick.
But today was going to be for her!
She should have known it wouldn’t happen.
Anytime she got even close to having something of her own, Sandy had to taint it.
She called her grandmother first.
“Hi, Saylor. Enjoying your day off?”
“I was,” she said. “Until Rowan just called to say Sandy showed up with the kids at his office. She isn’t leaving and has no place to stay.”
“What!?” her grandmother yelled. “I’m so sorry. This is my fault.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know someone was going to see an article with my name in it and tag you. And it doesn’t matter either. It’s not a secret.”
“It kind of was,” her grandmother said. “You never told your parents. Did your mother call you after she saw it?”
“I called her. I talked to her and she was very understanding of why I said nothing.”
“Oh,” her grandmother said.
“Yes. I told her I was letting it play out and didn’t know how it’d work out but that I fell in love with Rowan. For once in my life, I wanted something for me. Mom even apologized for all the times Sandy took any joy in my life away.”
“You mean the energy vampire of the family?”
“That’s her. Rowan is bringing her here. He was going to put her in a hotel with the kids. He’s upset because the kids were thrown in a car, they were hungry, the baby is crying now. She left Dutton in the car to go talk to Rowan.”
She could hear the shaking in Rowan’s voice when he called her from his car driving here. Sandy was following behind.
Even she didn’t think her sister would be that stupid. Or selfish.
But nope, Sandy surprised her once again.
“He should have called the police on her,” her grandmother said.
“I’m sure he wanted to. I’m not letting her stay here. Sandy and I are going to have it out. Rowan will deal with the kids and feed or entertain them and Sandy is going to wish she didn’t pull this stunt yet again with me.”
“She’s never going to change.”
“I understand, but I’m not letting her drown me anymore. I mean it. This is it. She went too far.”
“I’m going to call your father and give him a piece of my mind. He’s home for a few days. They probably don’t even know she did this. They would have talked her out of it.”
“Do you really think they would have?”
“Yes,” her grandmother said. “They might give in to her a lot, but they’ve been good about letting you have your life too.”
She had to admit her mother and she had some pleasant talks over the past few years. Maybe it had more to do with the fact that her mother was exhausted and looking back on everything she’d done wrong.
“Me being gone has been more calming for everyone. Sandy didn’t always feel as if she had to compete for attention.”
“She’s going to hit you up for money,” her grandmother said. “Or Rowan.”
