I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that, but I’m not going to stand here and let this man claim Holly and the rest of our group don’t belong here. They’ve proven they do.
“Sorry,” I say to Holly, lowering my breath. “It’s kind of a shit way to tell you.”
Her eyes light up with that mischievous look I love so much. “I think it’s kind of perfect.”
I tilt my head toward the group of Labelles. “I’m kind of busy. Can we talk later?”
“Yep. Give ’em hell.”
Jane beams as she glances between the two of us, then stands next to me. “I’ll tell you what happened. I finally got the proof I needed to nail ’em.”
I shake my head. “What are you talking about?”
“I knew they were plotting something, and I figured if I hung around them long enough, I’d find out what it was.”
It takes a moment for her word to sink in. “Are you telling me you’ve been wanting to spend time with your grandparents so you could get evidence to use against them?”
Her eyes narrow as she looks up at me. “You’re not usually this dense, so I’m going to blame it on you getting punched in the face.”
“Oh, he’s that dense,” Holly says, but she sounds more amused than pissed. “Look how long it took him to…” She grimaces. “Never mind.”
Jane shrugs with an expression that suggests she’s taken Holly’s comment about my intelligence under consideration and agrees.
“You’ve been spying on us?” Evelyn asks my daughter, outraged.
“You’re a terrible person, Evelyn,” Jane says. “I mean, look at me! No one in the twenty-first century dresses like this. It’s not the 1950s. It should be criminal to not only make me wear this but take pictures of me in it.”
“I’ll say,” Holly mutters under her breath.
Evelyn’s jaw drops, and she turns her glare on me. “Her disrespect and vulgar language are a direct result of your poor parenting.”
Jane takes a step toward her, her little hands balled at her sides. “Don’t you dare suggest my dad is a bad parent! Is he perfect? No. He can’t braid hair for shit, and he forgets to make my lunch sometimes, but at least I know he loves me. My momneverfelt loved by you.”
I gape at her. I never told her that. Sure, I’ve insinuated it, but I never outright told her.
“That’s a lie!” Evelyn shouts. “It’s only more proof that your father has poisoned your impressionable mind.”
“I heard it from my mom,” Jane says, her voice breaking for the first time since she called me. “Maybe you shouldn’t have put me in her old room,Evelyn. I found her journals from when she was in middle school. She says you didn’t think she was pretty enough. That you loved Simone more.”
Evelyn juts out her chin. “Millicent was never interested in clothes and shoes.”
“Well, then I’m just like my mom, because neither am I!” Jane kicks off a shoe, and it goes flying over Evelyn’s head. The second one quickly follows and smacks Deacon on the head.
“What did you find out that freaked out two grown men enough to chase you behind a locked door?” Rory asks.
Jane swivels to face him. “My grandparents never wanted me. They only pretended to want custody so they could make Dad sell Ziggy’s to that dipshit.” She points a finger at Deacon.
“Really,” Evelyn says in disgust. “The potty mouth on that child!”
Ordinarily, I’d correct Jane’s language, but in this instance, she’s right. Dipshit fits Deacon perfectly.
It occurs to me that all of this must have hurt Jane, which makes me want to make them pay even more. These people can’t get away with manipulating my daughter’s feelings for their own financial gain. But instead of looking hurt, her eyes are burning with rage.
That’s my girl.
“Why?” I demand of Deacon, but it’s Jane who answers.
“Evelyn and Bertie are broke,” she says in disgust. “So they’re renting out their house to Holly’s grandma for her stupid dating show.” Jane makes a face and says to Holly, “Sorry.”
