Chapter Seven—Meggie
Meggie stared at the ceiling of her hospital room, replaying the moment she saw Rebel in the pool. Lifeless and floating, Rebel’s blonde hair spread out in what almost became a watery grave.
Silent, bitter tears racked Meggie, and she covered her face with her uninjured hand.
The door opened and Meggie lifted her head, expecting—needing—to see Christopher.
Kendall sailing in disappointed her. As always, her friend and sister-in-law wore her clothes like a model on a runway. Dressed in a simple silk blouse, jeans, and boots, she wore Versace eyeglasses and her red hair in a ponytail.
“Hi, honey.”
Meggie sniffled. Not even her physical pain compared to her devastation and worry about her daughter.
Last night, she’d overheard her nurse and medical assistant discussing the doctor’s strategy.
Apparently, Meggie had been sedated because the ER physician hadn’t wanted to deal with repercussions if the doctor upset Meggie.
He’d thought the easiest route was sedating her and telling Christopher it was for her own good.
Meggie had a hard time not reacting. The two women thought she was asleep.
They didn’t know she’d heard them musing how happy they were that the sedatives hadn’t raised her blood pressure and had, in fact, helped her.
Luckily for Dr. Pritchard, whom the nurse and medical assistant found quite handsome.
He also would be quite dead if Christopher ever discovered what he did. Perhaps, it was a good thing Meggie hadn’t seen much of her husband since she’d become fully cognizant again.
Now, as Kendall sat her expensive handbag aside, Meggie’s pain returned.
“Hey.”
Kendall took the hand with the IV and clasped it. “Bailey and Zoann are working furiously to get Rule into a hospital. He may have to go out of state.”
“I don’t care.” She had a sprained hand, a sprained ankle, and cuts and bruises. She’d asked Dr. Will to downplay her injuries when Christopher received the report. Meggie wanted to tell him herself so he wouldn’t go off the deep end. “Rule can go to hell.”
“You don’t mean that, darling,” Kendall said gently. “You care. Rule’s your son.”
Meggie blinked away her tears. “Who tried to kill Rebel and me.”
Releasing her hand, Kendall folded her arms, then walked to the foot of the bed. “Do you know what I once hated the most about you?”
“Everything.”
Kendall laughed. “I want to deny that charge, ma’am, but I can’t, so I plead no contest.”
Swiping at her cheeks, Meggie smiled sadly. “Forever the attorney, Mrs. Donovan.”
“I hated your husband’s complete and total devotion to you and your adoration of him,” Kendall continued, ignoring Meggie’s words.
“It doesn’t matter,” Meggie said tiredly.
“He loves you because of your faith in him. In people. He loves you because of your ability to forgive and to humanize a man the world would demonize.”
Meggie clenched her jaw.
“For so long, you were my lifeline, Meggie.” Kendall returned to the side of the bed, her look so vulnerable Meggie’s head spun.
“So many of my actions were reprehensible. Yet you always protected me. Excused me. Forgave me. I was angry with the world, but you also knew I was ill.” She stroked Meggie’s hair.
“Something broke three months ago, especially in your children. Rule. You and Jo were so sick. Your sons might idolize Christopher, but you’re the center of the family.
They adore you. I know you’re angry, sweetheart.
Hurt. Outraged. But your son needs you. Now more than ever. ”
Meggie knew that. She and Christopher intended to seek help for Rule over the summer. Unfortunately, they’d both underestimated the extent of his illness.
Recalling the emptiness in Rule’s eyes as they fought chilled Meggie. “I want to know my daughter will be okay.”
CJ had left the room half an hour ago to go downstairs for coffee and fresh air. Meggie planned to call Christopher, but her mind was running in all directions.
Kendall pulled away and studied her. “I have a question for you, honey.”
“What?”
“Are you angry with Christopher or out of love with him?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“A legitimate one.”
“The state of my marriage has nothing to do with the actions of my son.”
“I object. The state of my marriage has a lot to do with the actions of my children. We get so wrapped up in our husbands, we sometimes forget our first responsibility are as mothers.” Kendall sat in the chair CJ had slept in.
“Let’s set the children aside for a bit.
You have a huge load on your shoulders. Not the least of which is your husband.
As much responsibility as I have, it can’t ever compare to yours, Meggie.
You have to be old lady, wife, conscience, and lover.
It’s your duty to run the house, befriend the women, oversee club functions, and do your part in the home healthcare business.
Something at some point will get lost in that insanity. ”
“I didn’t mean to ignore what Rule needed,” Meggie said quietly.
“Kids are set aside for the time being, honey,” Kendall reminded her. “I was looked down upon for hiring help. The housekeeper. The nanny. The assistant.”
“You were looked down upon for who you hired,” Meggie retorted. “Ella has lightened up over the years, but most of your housekeepers belong in a Victorian Gothic novel replete with lords and ladies of the ton.”
Kendall chuckled. “Touché. Although that isn’t my point, I concede to your observation.”
“What do you want me to say, Kendall? Where do I find trustworthy women to help Bunny and me with all our responsibilities? I would be lost without Bunny’s assistance, but I know it is a lot for the two of us.”
“Hire some of the brothers.”
“Christopher would never go for that. He went into fits over Easton Love.”
“You need help, darling. You need dedicated staff to focus on different areas. Children. Cooking. Cleaning. They each report any issues to you.”
“The kids love Bunny—”
“Outside of Gunner, the kids aren’t around her much anymore.”
“I suppose I can ask some of the old ladies if they—”
“Fuck no!” Kendall scowled. “As much of a bad bitch you’ve become in recent weeks, that statement just proves you have a lot to fucking learn.”
Meggie laughed. “The old ladies I’m friendly with—”
“Still fuck no. Unless they’re old in the literal fucking sense.
I don’t fucking care who they are, most of those bitches would love to fuck your husband.
We had enough fucking problems with Torie.
Don’t give those cunts the chance to prove their womanliness or the fucking satisfaction of thinking you’re so damaged by all the bullshit that you suddenly need fucking help. ”
“So where do I look?”
“The guys. The brothers. I checked to find out which one of them likes to cook. It’s Bishop. Hire him. The kids love him and he’s one of CJ’s good friends.”
“Rebel likes him.”
“Then threaten to cut his cock off if his looks at her wrong.”
Meggie nodded.
“As for cleaning, hire Kaia.”
“Kaia Riggs? The bad poet?”
“You told me all about your concern over Diesel and Rebel. You also described everything you heard in detail on Valentine’s night between Rebel and Kaia.
Hire him. Pay him some exorbitant fee. CJ, Diesel, Christopher, and your other boys are interfering in her life by putting him in her path.
Why can’t we interfere? Get him up to scratch for her.
If he really wants to be a biker, we have the means to see that he becomes one. ”
“I’m worried that Rebel—”
“Discussed her birth control? Is as sheltered and innocent as a baby lamb?”
“Yep. All of the above.”
“After you and I talked, I had an in-depth conversation with Mattie and warned her to never give a fuckhead such an upper hand.”
“I thought Rebel knew better,” Meggie said glumly. “But she’s the most sheltered of all my kids and I never took the time for that discussion since I have been wrapped up in my marriage.”
“I didn’t tell you that to lay a guilt trip on you. I want you to look at the entire situation. Think about all the times you felt overwhelmed.”
“There haven’t been many,” Meggie said. “I learned from a young age to adapt and roll with the flow.”
“But there have been a few. Now, your kids are entering different phases in their lives. You. Need. Help. Unless you want your husband to be even more distracted?”
“Of course not! But I’m still worried about my baby. She thinks she is ready to date and…and…” Meggie wrinkled her nose, then huffed. “I don’t want to help her by giving her easy access to Kaia.”
“I don’t think he or Bishop will disrespect you since they don’t know if you will call for their fucking heads on a platter. The new and improved you has a lot of benefits, honey.”
Meggie forced a smile. “Christopher doesn’t like this side of me.”
“Well, he can fuck himself. Do I need to talk to him?”
“Absolutely not. I can handle my own husband.” Meggie met Kendall’s gaze. “I love him very much. Things were just getting back to normal between us. Jo’s and my health are improving and—”
“Maybe, your problems don’t stem from health issues and mental impairment. Maybe, they run deeper.”
“I adore Christopher,” Meggie said fiercely. “The moment I see him, my entire world rights itself. Even now, when I have been so upset. Sometimes, I awaken before he does and I watch him sleep. I count the minutes until he opens his eyes so I can hear his voice.”
“As unapologetic as ever with the smarminess,” Kendall murmured, laughing.
Meggie glared at her.
“Flipping me off is better. Just stiffen your middle finger, let it rise up and turn it to me.”
Her annoyance fleeing at Kendall’s silliness, Meggie laughed.
Serious once more, Kendall slid the chair forward and leaned her elbows next to Meggie. “Back to Rule.”
Biting her lip, Meggie nodded.