Father Wilkins cleared his throat. “I see.”
“Let’s hope you do,” she said evenly. “Christopher and I haven’t discussed the funds we will allocate for your personal losses, in addition to the insurance claim. Your cash from us depends on my happiness.”
“We will see you at eleven,” he said, and disconnected.
Meggie didn’t bother mentioning the call to Christopher. She wanted to focus on positives not manipulative little men with a god complexes. She could’ve talked to her husband for hours. However, they both had a full day ahead, so she ended their conversation before calling Bunny and talking to Gunner, then calling Ryder, Ransom, CJ, and Diesel individually. They were all fine. They missed her, Rebel, and Axel, and couldn’t wait until they were home.
Once she called the hospital and checked on Jo, she dialed Kendall for their morning check-in but it went to voicemail. She’d try her later, although she left a message just as she did for Roxy and Zoann.
Before braiding her hair and heading to the shower, she also called Jana, though their conversation didn’t last long because Jana didn’t have much to say.
Looking at the makeup on the pillowcase, Meggie groaned. She’d change the sheets…no, Xanders wouldn’t be pleased. She’d ask him to have one of the cleaners do it for her.
She was so used to starting her day at 6AM—sometimes earlier—she was in the shower and scrubbing herself by 8:30. She wouldn’t make up her face today. Once again not wanting to deal with the blow dryer, she twisted her hair into a messy bun and headed downstairs.
Seeing no sign of Xanders or any of the staff, Meggie scampered to the kitchen, finding Axel sitting at the breakfast bar, quite pleased with himself. For unknown reasons, which alarmed Meggie to no end.
His boot hit the cabinet door. He was swinging his leg back and forth, unconcerned at possible scuff marks.
Meggie cleared her throat.
Axel froze for a minute, then swiveled slowly around and smiled broadly. “Hey, Mom. I got to text Reb. She said to let her know when you came down.”
He looked like Axel and sounded like Axel, but something was off.
“What did you do, son?”
“Uh, me?” he squeaked, snapping his brows together before smiling again. “You’re the beautifulest girl I ever saw, Mom.”
“Thank you, now confess.”
“Uh—”
Kaia’s arrival interrupted Axel. His missing eyebrows registered first, along with his reversed mohawk because a swath straight down the middle had no hair.
Axel slid to his feet. “I forgot. Reb said to come and get her,” he said, rushing past Meggie.
She grabbed a handful of shirt and jeans, halting him.
“Why?”
“It’s not my fault the motherfucker didn’t wake up, Mom,” Axel declared.
Meggie released him, then turned him to face her. “Why did you target Kaia?” As far as she knew, Axel disliked his poetry. He’d already made his displeasure known with his slingshot and a Styrofoam ball. “He hasn’t done you anything.”
“Yeah, but the motherfucker did it to Rebel,” Axel told her.
Kaia cleared his throat. “He overheard our conversation.”
“I came down when he left the room to ask him if he wanted me to save one of my juice boxes for him since I only had two,” Axel said sullenly, cutting his eyes at Kaia. “But that motherfucker has lost his fucking mind.Ithinkyou need to kill Fia at the least. Let that motherfucker suffer the rest of his fucking life.” Drawing in a breath, he lifted his gaze to Meggie. “I know we can’t tell Reb, but suppose she finds out. That’ll make her sad and you, too. Then, you’ll be mad at Dad again cuz him and CJ got this motherfucker for Reb.” He bowed his head. “Then, you’ll leave again. I know you won’t keep taking me. Besides, I’d have to decide between you and my men. And Dad, I guess, although I’d make that motherfucker suffer for the rest of his fucking life. CJ, too. I’d run against him and become Prez and banish him to where polar bears live. I’d never let him eat again. I’d use a paintbrush to put acid on his lips. I’d—”
“Okay!” Meggie said. “I get the point, son.”
“Sweet Pea.”
“Sweet Pea,” Meggie conceded, then hugged him. “I wish I could take your pain and fear away, sweetheart. I’m so sorry the problems your daddy and I had affected you.”
“We’re a family, though. Dad always says something makes him and you sad, then it makes us sad, too.”
