Chapter Sixteen. #2
“Nope,” Oskar said, and Lars smirked. Oh, they’d done something. I knew that expression; I wore it often enough myself.
“So, you didn’t challenge the hockey team to a match. The three of you against the team?”
“They did what?” I asked, checking them over for bruises.
“Yeah, and kicked their ass, five-one. The coach isn’t too happy that his top players got taught a lesson by three kids.”
“That’s the coach’s issue,” I stated. Inside, I was laughing.
“Oh, I agree. But he wants them to join next year. Wants to chat about their skills and what they plan to do with them,” Jody replied.
“We’re going to follow our dads,” Oskar announced.
“Why’s that a problem?” I asked.
“We can’t be a biker and an ice hockey player,” Lars stated.
“Why not?”
The boys exchanged confused glances.
“Look up Tye, Carmine, and Harley Michaelson. Then come and talk to me,” I said as Jesper caught my attention again. “What now, kid?”
“I have to play with the flammekaster each week,” Jesper stated.
“If your aunt agrees.”
“No. You listen to me,” Jesper began, and I sent him a glare. Whatever he’d been about to say subsided, and Laila giggled.
“Wow, never seen that before,” she teased, and Jesper turned a glare on her.
“Why do they get a new Pops and we don’t?” Jesper demanded, turning to Jody. Jody looked like a startled rabbit as she bit her lip.
“You’ve only got to ask,” I answered for her.
“What?” Jesper rudely asked.
“Manners, you little shit! And you only have to ask to call me Pops. I can’t replace your dads, and I’d never try to. But I can be Pops,” I said.
“Isn’t that another name for dad?” Jesper pushed.
“Jesus, kid, don’t call me Pops then, nobody’s making you,” I responded, and Jesper shook his head.
“Fine, you’re Pops, if you’re going to be a baby about it!” he declared and slid off his chair and disappeared.
I gazed around the table, confused. “What just happened?”
“I think you met a younger version of yourself,” Jody announced sweetly and squealed as I grabbed a tea towel and slapped her butt with it.
“Gross,” Oskar muttered as Lars gagged.
“Your mom has a great ass,” I said, and they all gaped at me in horror, all but Laila, who collapsed laughing. Jody grinned and continued cooking breakfast.
Jody
I opened the door and stared at the three people standing there. “What the fuck do you want?” I snapped.
“Babe?” Magic called, no doubt hearing the hate in my voice. I’d not been quiet. Luckily, the children were out back with Alice, Diesel, Bunny, and Pyro and their kids. We’d been having an afternoon together and were going to grill later.
“I’m okay,” I replied as Magic appeared. He stared at my parents and sister in disgust.
“How the fuck do you have the gall to show your face around here?” Magic snarled, stepping to my side.
Mom and Dad looked horrified, but Mimi checked Magic out.
A glint surfaced in her eyes, and I recognised it.
Mimi looked rough. There was no denying the years had been cruel to her.
At first glance, people would say Mimi was the older sister.
Her hair was lank, greasy and greyer than mine.
(I dyed, sue me) Her eyes had deep bags under them and deeply ingrained lines.
Her beauty was gone, and she appeared almost haggish.
Even her toned body was rake-thin and unattractive.
“We need to talk,” Dad said, and I shook my head.
“Nah. Not after your asshole son kidnapped my boy, we don’t,” I snapped.
“Jody, give us the consideration—”
“I have guests and don’t owe you anything. Least of all a courtesy,” I retorted. “Myles knocked my boy out and took him from me. He attempted to force meth on Lars. Your tweaker son tried to drug mine, and I owe you? Fuck off!” I snarled.
“We’re going to court!” Mimi stated.
“For what?”
“Crook House. Shirley wasn’t in her right mind when she left everything to you! And we can prove it. You’re living with a criminal, and your kid is an addict,” Mom sneered. “We know that Myles didn’t kidnap your son or do what you accused him of.”
“Bull-fucking-shit. Lars isn’t a liar, and you can run any test on him, and he’ll pass.
He’d never touch that filthy stuff. Don’t push your own lack of parenting skills off on me.
After all, look at what you’ve raised. A thief whom nobody will hire, and even her own husband got custody because she’s a mess.
“Your son is a deluded drug addict. And you let him live like that. Thinking he could sing and act. What is the matter with you? Why would you do that? Jesus. Don’t stand there pretending to be great parents when you’re scum.
The only kid who amounted to anything is the one you couldn’t be bothered with. ”
“And what did you ever amount to?” Mimi snapped. She smiled at Magic, and he recoiled.
“A happy marriage that ended because I was a widow and not a cheating, lying, thieving scumbag. A job I held down for years, my college degree, and raising two beautiful, amazing children. That’s what I achieved, and now I’m looking to open my own parental centre.
You won’t be welcome naturally; we don’t deal with deadbeats!
” With that, I slammed the door in their faces.
Magic leaned into me. A frown crossed his face. “Lawyers?”
“It’s an empty threat. Dad tried breaking it when Shirley inherited.
They think I don’t know. He failed miserably.
The trust is tied up tightly, and there’s nothing he can do.
And we all undergo a mental health assessment when making a will and deciding where the estate goes.
Even if we make a change, we still have a check-up.
It protects us from the will from being challenged.
Mimi can go ahead, but she’ll just waste money she doesn’t have. That’s not my problem,” I explained.
“And Laila inherits this?”
“Yes, all of it. Now, what my asshole parents didn’t realise is, the seven thousand we’re given monthly, anything left is ours to do what we want with. I could easily have shared some of that if they were decent people. Lars and Laila have a nice nest egg bequeathed to them by Aunt Shirley.”
“Speaking of Shirley, have you been to the bank yet and opened the safe-deposit box?”
“No. I need to do that Monday,” I replied.
“I’ll come with you,” Magic offered.
“That sounds great. You by my side.”
“Where I was always meant to be. I’ll never try to take Vulcan’s place, and I understand he’ll always have a spot in your heart. Jody, I’m just happy you made room for me.”
I smiled and kissed Magic. We’d gone the wrong way about things, but we got there in the end.
◆◆◆
“What are you expecting to be in here?” Magic asked as I studied the safe-deposit box. It was larger than I’d expected.
“Aunt Shirley’s jewellery, it’s missing,” I said and unlocked it. I lifted the lid and gaped. It was crammed full of small velvet bags. Opening one, a pair of diamond and ruby earrings slid out. The next bag contained a gold cross on an eighteen-inch chain, and the third held a sapphire bracelet.
“Well, we found it,” I murmured as I pulled the bags out and checked everything. All that I remembered was here, and a lot I didn’t. At the bottom was a folder, and when I examined its contents and studied what was inside, I gasped.
“What?” Magic inquired.
“These are share certificates. Look, IMB, Netbook, and several other huge companies. These are worth a small fortune. I was unaware Shirley had these.” An envelope dropped out, and I picked it up. It was addressed to me. I opened it and began reading aloud.
“Darling Jody,
If you’re reading this, I’m dead. Don’t mourn me.
I had a good life. But you, sweet girl, went a different path from what was ordained for you.
I wouldn’t have done this if Vulcan were alive, and I loved that man for what he did for you.
Vulcan was special and exactly what you needed.
But with his death, avenues opened up. Vulcan was never your soulmate, but Magic was.
I hope that having to fetch the key from him provided an opportunity for you two to communicate and work things out.
If it worked, I’m overjoyed; if it didn’t, I’m going to come back and kick your asses.
Love you, my sweet niece, give everyone a kiss from me.
Shirley.’
I stared at the letter as tears welled. “Oh, Aunt Shirley, I miss and love you so much. And thank you for your final gift,” I whispered as Magic pulled me in close and held me. There was nothing more to say. We’d fallen in love once more, despite the odds.