Nick let out a wry laugh. “You may as well speak to the wall for how effective that will be.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “My wife, my sister, and two of my sisters-in-law lived here and at one point or another all of them were resistant to what they calledexcessive security measures. I think the house does something to their sense of self-preservation.”
Hunter let out the longest sigh as Nick walked out.
“Come on you guys.” His gaze darted between Maggie and Tiff. “Surely, we can upgrade to something more than you have here. It’s marginally better than having a tin can that rattles when the door is opened.”
The alarm system was still the same one from when Tiffany moved in and at that point it was almost decade old. There were cameras at one point but they were taken down once a stalker was caught.
Shiloh smiled at Hunter. “You guys always go to the extreme.”
“Extreme.” Hunter’s eyes widened. “A mad man just dropped off a dead animal on their doorstep. I think the situation calls for getting as extreme as we can.”
“We don’t need cameras.” Tiffany cocked her hip and placed her hand on it as she stared down Hunter. “We know who sent the package.”
“But the cameras will help you prove it.” His face softened as he looked at her. “Maybe you should move back home until all of this is over.”
She shook her head. “That satan’s skid mark is after Maggie. We’ll let word spread where she’s staying and he’ll know she’s not here. And I’ll be fine.”
Hunter and I exchanged a look, then he looked back at her. He took a step closer to Tiffany. The concern showed in the stiff set of his jaw and the deep set of the lines at the corner of his eyes. “Then at least let us upgrade the alarm system. Maybe I should move in here until all this blows over.”
“Absolutely not.” Tiffany’s brows reached her dark hairline. “You know only women live here. Besides, I am perfectly safe. I will chat to some of the patrons at Bowzer’s tomorrow and let them know how cozy Maggie looks shacking up with my brother.”
She gestured her chin at my arm around Maggie’s shoulder.
Maggie looked where my arm rested then back at my sister. “Not one word.”
“Oh, there will be lots of words.” Tiffany said.
Shiloh smiled and sat on Maggie’s other side. “And lots of questions.”
Maggie rolled her eyes but didn’t move away from my arm. “I think both Tiffany and I can agree to an upgraded alarm system.” Then she turned to my sister. “If cameras will make you feel safer while I am not staying here I think you should do it, and we can talk about it when I move back.”
“No cameras.” Tiffany was adamant.
The reminder that our living arrangement was temporary twisted in my gut. I knew that it was. I knew that eventually Maria would be coming back and that Maggie would want to pay her way somehow.
That was not a problem I could solve immediately. What I needed to do was convince her that my home was her home. I needed to show her that her and her kids belonged with me.
“How about this?” I stepped closer to Maggie. “Hunter stays here tonight, in case Fred comes back. And tomorrow we get a new system installed.”
Maggie smiled up at me. “A fancy one with a retina scan and a DNA sample.”
“We’ll get the latest and greatest system.” I rolled my eyes at her and then tightened my arm around her, pulling her flush against me. We were done talking about Fred and I was done with her being out in the open. I needed her safe. Now. “In the meantime, let's get home.”
Maggie looked over at Tiffany. “Do you want me to stay?”
My sister looked at her and the two of them seemed to have some internal conversation before my sister squared her shoulders. “No, I’m sure everything will be fine.”
CHAPTER 10
MAGGIE
Theo gathered the Chinese containers,while I stayed frozen on the spot. He lifted Jaycee into his arms, as he spoke to Hayden. “Kiddo, you want to get into the shower. Your sister can go with Zoe and use her bathroom and your mom can have a night off.”
“That won’t be necessary.” My limbs felt like lead and I didn’t want to move from the couch but I needed to take care of my kids. “I can put Jay in the bath and get her ready for bed.”
Zoe smiled at me. “No, really. Let me. Maybe Jaycee wants a sleepover with me tonight.”
“Yes.” My daughter hopped on the spot. “Mama, can I. Zoe can read me three stories and we can watch videos on her phone and go to bed late.”
