Garrett turned the tablet around, swiped, then stuck it back in my face. "As I said…"
"I can't believe you've been in my bank accounts," I said, incredulous, staring at the column of numbers. I guess a few thousand here and there really did add up.
"Of course I'm in your bank accounts," Garrett said, plucking the tablet out of my hands. "Someone has to make sure your company is solvent. Mike, bless him, he tries, but he's far from qualified to manage the financials of a major real estate group."
Hunter pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You need to cut off Mom," he said. "Stop giving her money. Stop talking to her. Stop enabling her."
"If I want to try to have a relationship with our mother, I should be able to do that. I'm not just going to cut her off like some people."
Hunter glowered at me. "Shut up."
I didn't. "You could give Meg another chance," I said hotly.
"You think I haven't tried?" Hunter raged. "We live in the same damn town. I've tried multiple times to apologize. I've begged. I've pleaded—" He clamped his mouth shut. "It doesn't matter."
Garrett narrowed his eyes at Hunter. "You need to deal with that situation, or I'll do it for you." He turned his steel gaze on me. "I finally have Mace at a point where he's not jeopardizing Svensson PharmaTech with his obsessive-compulsive tendencies. He's almost, dare I say it,normalwith Josie around. It's already difficult enough being the CFO and dealing with all of your terrible financial decisions. I don't need him going into a tailspin. Do not keep giving Mom money. I'm watching you," Garrett warned.
I stalked out of the office. The worst thing was I knew they were right. I'd known for a while I should have cut off our mother. I also knew they were right that Mace could never ever know.
My twin was sitting in the dining room. I leaned against the doorframe. Mace looked so relaxed and happy. Otis and Theo were regaling Mace and Josie with their business plan for T-shirt world domination.
"We have shirts with memes and micro-target people with designs," Otis was explaining.
"I want to have a business," Nate said.
"Me too!" Peyton cried, bumping against Otis.
"You can't be a part of our business."
"Start your own business," I told them from my spot in the doorway.
"Doing what?"
"You could have a lemonade stand," Josie suggested.
"Or even better," I said, "you should sell popsicles. It's hot enough."
"We can put candy inside of them!" Josie said gleefully. "Call it popsicle surprise."
"That sounds dirty," I said.
"Only to dirty minds," Mace retorted.
"You need a sign. Otis and Theo can make you shirts. You can have a little cart and walk around and sell them," I told my little brothers. "Man, I'm on a roll. Maybe I'll start selling popsicles."
"It's our business!" Nate said, trying to tackle me.
The rest of the evening, I helped Nate and Peyton test out various popsicle recipes we found online. We even roped in some of the older kids to help. It was nice to hang out with them. Doing fun projects was something my mother had never done with me and my brothers though I had longed for it as a child.
* * *
The next morning,I waited in front of Hazel's Art Café to take her to the Mast Brothers' chocolate factory site. I was stupidly excited to see her when she walked out of the café. Her hair was in a messy French roll. She was wearing breezy ankle pants and a soft cropped shirt. Flashes of her midriff showed as she locked up the café.
I stowed her easel and painting supplies in the trunk then sat in the car.
"What's that?" I asked as she sat in the passenger seat with a wicker basket.
