Well…
Shit.
That did it.
Two words, and Hellen shut up.
Now he needed the story about Haley’s ex because Andy didn’tstrike Jag as an authoritarian.
That was respect, love and possibly gratitude that closedHellen’s mouth.
“Maybe we should talk about it, Dad,” Archie suggested.
“Oh boy,” Liane mumbled.
“We don’t have to, Li,” Archie said to her quickly.“And ifit’s making you uncomfortable, we won’t.”
“I’m sorry he’s being a dick to you, but—” Liane began.
“Now you with your mouth, I won’t say it again.”Haley wascoming to the end of her rope.
“I’m sorry he’s not being cool with you,” Liane amended,aiming this Archie’s way.“But can we have one family night when it’s not allabout Elijah?”
“Too late for that,” Hellen pointed out the obvious.
It took a lot, but when Jagger’s chest started bouncing withsuppressed laughter, he was able to stop it.
Seriously, he liked Arch’s stepsisters, particularly Hellen.She was the shit.
Then again, he’d always liked a woman who spoke her mind.
Archie gave him another look, that one said,Behave.
“You know…”
Everyone turned to look at Andy who was standing at the headof the table, still holding a big plate of cupcakes.
“In a perfect world, my son would be sitting at this tablewith us,” he went on.
Jag didn’t feel much like laughing anymore.
“He’s not,” Andy continued.“And this is not the first nightwhere I’ve sat with my girls, my son not here, and felt light in my life,because I have all of you, at the same time felt the pain of not having my sonbe a part of it.And that pain never fails to cut sharp, clean through myheart.”
Total silence.
But something made Jag stop looking at Andy.He turned hisattention to Archie, and the second he saw her, he felt his neck musclesconstrict.
And he opened his mouth immediately.
“Arch, don’t.”
“Fuck…that,” she bit off.
Oh shit.
Jagger stood.
But she took the last step to the table, dumped the plateson it and was on the move, he knew, to her bag.
