Kerry huffs in amusement. “Pretty sure it burst once we walked in and De Matteis was flapping his hands and changing the entire house for hisgrand ball.”
Jack grimaces. “I’m afraid this might be far worse.”
This makes both Kerry and I pause. We both turn to look at each other, and Kerry’s hand finds mine.
“What is it?” Kerry finally dares to ask.
Jack takes a deep breath. “There’s a woman at the gate. She’s crying and has an ill set mind. She claims to be here for yourwedding,and that she’s Amy’s mother.”
Surprise flashes through me. Mymotheris here and she thinks our wedding hasn’t happened yet?
Iknewthey let me go without enough drama. There was always bound to be more.
27
Kerry
Ifollow closely behind Amy and keep a close eye on her face. Jack leads the way, looking over his shoulder at us as he walks. “Should I radio them to let her in through the gate?”
“No,” I say immediately, making Amy turn to raise her eyebrows at me. “We need to verify it’s actually your mother first, and that she doesn’t have anygiftsfrom your grandfather with her. And I want to verify that she’s going to behave appropriately.”
Amy nods at that. “All right. Makes sense.”
It takes us a few minutes to walk to the front gate. One of the guards opens it enough to let us through. A woman I’ve only seen in pictures is on the other side, stomping her feet like a petulant child. Her car sits in the driveway, the driver’s side door thrown open like she jumped out of it to start throwing a fit immediately. Other than the horrific behavior, I can see the physical similarities between her and Amy. There’s definitely family resemblance.
Thisisher mother, not just someone posing as her. I’m not sure how to feel about that, and based on Amy’s face, it seems like she doesn’t, either.
“Amy! Oh, thank goodness! These dirt bags have been trying to keep you from me! Even though I told them who I was. They don’t seem to understand that ofcourseyou would want your mother at your wedding.” In her mother’s defense, there are tears pooling in her eyes. She’s not faking some level of her sadness, or she’s an excellent actress. Neither would be that surprising to me at this point. Not after what Amy’s told me or what I’ve seen for myself with this family.
Amy rubs her arm nervously as she approaches her mother. “Hi, Mom. How did you get here?”
Her mother huffs in annoyance. “A plane, obviously, Amy.” Anger heats my chest, and I have to control myself from snarling at the woman and standing between her and my wife. “You’d know I was coming if you looked at my texts or answered any of my calls. We’ve been trying to reach you for weeks!”
Amy winces. We knew this would be an uncomfortable conversation at best, but that doesn’t make enduring it any easier. I rest my hand on the small of her back, wanting her to know that I wasn’t going to leave her side. We’re in this together.
Her mother seems to focus on the movement of my hand. Her eyes narrow as she looks at me. “Of course you have to be here, too. Do you have no shame? Kidnapping a young girl? Forcing her to come to another country? Making hermarryyou, isolating her from her family? You’re a disgusting beast.”
I grin at the woman. “Oh, yes. I am quite the beast, you’re right. And I’m more than willing to fight for my wife.” I clench my jaw from saying anything further, not wanting to make this any harder on Amy than it already is. But I’ll be damned if I let her manipulate my sweet leannán. I’ll gladly take all of the woman’s ire if it means protecting Amy. Her barbed words mean nothing to me.
Amy’s mother raises her eyebrows and she huffs. “You’re worse than they said. And she’s not your wife yet, you bastard. And, if I have it my way, she never will be.”
“Mom…” Amy starts and then sighs, fidgeting with the sleeves of her sweater. I haven’t seen her do that in months, and I nearly forgot it was a nervous habit of hers. My irritation with her mother swells at the realization. “Why do you think the wedding is about to happen?”
Her mother rolls her eyes and scoffs. “Your grandfather is a problematic man, yes. I won’t deny it. But heisresourceful, and he knows there’s a big event here this weekend. There’s big talk about it all over the world.”
Amy chews on her bottom lip. “What makes you so sure it’s a wedding, though?”
“Amy. Come on. Don’t be silly. We know.” Her mother puts her hands on her hips.
The guards who man the front gate shift awkwardly as they watch the exchange. I clench my jaw. It's clear her family still believes they have a hold on her. This woman doesn’t know that her daughter blocked her phone number, but instead, she thinks she’s just been ignoring her. Or maybe she thinks that I took away her phone, who knows.
Amy sucks in a breath, obviously getting frustrated. “Okay. So, you need to listen, Mom. Because youdon’tknow what’s going on. You make your assumptions and believe what you want to believe, even if it’s not factual.”
“Amy, you’re being silly again?—”
“No, Mom. You’re being self-absorbed and carelessagain.”
“This man has clearly brainwashed you?—”
