Chapter 6 #3
Falkner thought that neither of her parents deserved to be with Doone.
They were both stupid as far as he was concerned.
Meggie was worse, but Robert had his own excuses to stay out of Doone’s life that made just about as much sense as Meggie saying she had cancer when she didn’t.
If it were up to him, he’d cut them both from his life.
But it wasn’t, and he was going to keep his opinion to himself.
Unless she asked him. Then all bets were off.
For the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening, they talked about Meggie and what she’d done to Doone and Robert.
He needed to get away from Robert before he said something that he’d regret and reached out to his brothers to see if any of them had time for him.
He needed to vent. It was Cullen who said that he had some time and would meet him at his house.
That would be wonderful he told him, and then went to find Doone to tell her that he was going out.
“You’ll be back, right?” He asked her what she meant.
“I mean, this is really bad. You’re not going to leave me, are you?
I know that I should tell you to, but I just figured out that I love you, and I don’t want to spend any time without you.
I’m sorry this is going on, but I feel like I’ve been roped into something well over my head in all of this. ”
“I’m just going to run with Cullen. I promise you that I’ll be back in time for bedtime.” She asked him about dinner. “Don’t hold it on me. I need to get out and run—”
“You don’t believe my father, either, do you?
Just so you know, I don’t either. They’re both pathetic.
I feel like a pawn in both their lives, and I don’t like it.
I wish that I’d never gotten in touch with my father.
Of course, I wouldn’t have known about Mother either, but one is about as bad as the other. And I think you feel it too.”
“I do.” She nodded and kissed him on the mouth. “Do you want me to stay? I can if you need me to. But I’m finding that I want to tell them both off about the way they manipulated you into this situation.”
“No, go. At least I know now that it’s not just me who feels this way.
” He said he wasn’t sure how she was taking it.
“Neither do I for the most part, but I do believe that they deserved each other. Neither one of them is good for me, and I don’t believe that I want them in my life after this.
I might well spend some time in jail too, but I’m going to try very hard to stay positive about that too.
Your dad is filling out paperwork now that turns them both in.
I think that dad was just as guilty about mom in this scam that she pulled on the government and myself. ”
“I think you might be right. And it might go better on you if you turn them in.” She said that’s what she’d been thinking too. “I knew that you were brilliant. I love you, Doone. If you want me to stay, I will. But I feel better knowing that they’re not pulling the wool over your eyes any longer.”
He left her there with her dad, with the promise that she’d keep him informed of anything that went on.
She told him that she’d be fine, and he knew she would be.
It was just a matter of time before she would have had enough of her dad, too, and he’d be out on his ear.
He just didn’t understand humans at all sometimes.
He knew that Doone had been one, but as he’d told her before, she was brilliant and a good person.
All this would be over soon, and he’d wait for her if she ended up with jail time.
Cullen was just where he said he’d been when they were in the woods. They didn’t speak all that much when running through the trees, but when they finally had had enough, they sat by the small spring that ran between their properties and rested. It was Cullen who brought up the whole mess first.
“I was talking to Loren about it. He said that he could fix it so that everything came back on the mother. Just tweak a few things here and there, and it would look like she’d been the one who had done all the paperwork for herself.
” He asked why he’d do that for them. “Because he’s part of the family and he loves Doone.
Did I tell you that she’s been talking to him about different matters?
They seemed to get along really well. I guess when they get together, he gives her a little bit of magic, too. Just to keep her safe.”
“Does he think she’s going to be hurt by all of this?
” He said that he’d never mentioned it, but he’d bet she was hurting now.
“I guess that’s true enough. I don’t know how she’s putting up with her father now that he’s confessed to his part in all of this.
He was notified by the welfare department about Meggie applying for federal aid, but he didn’t do anything about it.
He said that he tossed the paperwork away that might well have saved Doone from jail time.
Then he’s been whining about how he’s going to try to be by her side when all this goes to court.
Dad is thinking that both parents might well be in for a hit for jail time. ”
“If anyone could do that, it would be Dad.” They both agreed that their father was a good attorney.
“I’ve been looking up things that might happen to Meggie if she’s found guilty of fraud.
She could have to pay back all the money that was given to her in the form of help, and she’d never be able to apply for aid again.
Then there will be jail time on top of that. ”
“To which she deserves.” They both laughed. “I hope they both get what they deserve in all of this. Especially Meggie. She’s the biggest thief of them all in this scam.”
“Deserved” had become the word of the day for most of his family when it came to dealing with Meggie.
How she felt that she deserved all the things she got from assistance was mind-boggling to him.
He was hoping that she would get the book thrown at her for her part in this crime.
And he wanted Robert to be found guilty of helping her with her crimes, too. Stupid humans.
It was nearly midnight when they split up and headed back to their homes.
He felt better just being away from Robert and the things to do with Meggie.
Sneaking up to his bedroom, he was surprised to find Doone in his bed.
Instead of getting into bed with her naked, he pulled on his briefs and snuggled up with her.
He had no idea where Robert was in the house or even if he was staying with them.
But he’d not turn down the opportunity to sleep with his mate for all the money in the world.
Even if it was just to sleep with her. In the morning, Dad was going to file the paperwork that would get the other two in trouble, and hopefully, nothing to do with Doone.
But he could see both parents putting the blame on their daughter simply because they were those kinds of people.
Ones that felt they were above the law and the things that came with breaking them.