Meggie
“Reb—”
“I’m okay, Momma,” Rebel interrupted. “I’m just hungry.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Turn your ears green? Wherever would you get that idea?”
Rebel flushed.
“Let me guess,” Meggie growled, an image of a black-haired, gray-eyed idiot rising in her head. “Diesel.”
“Maybe,” Rebel mumbled.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Meggie tried to hug her daughter, but she pulled away and averted her eyes.
If Rebel clammed up, disaster awaited. As long as they kept an open line of communication, she could be steered in a better direction.
She cleared her throat. “He meant well because he’s a good big brother, but you should’ve asked Kaia first.”
“Diesel is the best big brother.”
Meggie wouldn’t go that far. “That might hurt CJ if he heard that.”
“I’m not taking away from CJ’s awesomeness, Momma. I love him so much. I’m just lucky to have two amazing older brothers.”
“You do,” Meggie said, managing not to trip over those two simple words.
“I just wish you and Daddy would let up on Diesel. He used to be a real big brother to me. He’d take me places. Watch movies with me in here and no one said anything. I asked him to come and watch TV with me when he got home from work and he told me no.”
“Kaia—”
“I asked him first, but he’s busy with something.”
Busy with something? That jerk was still on the clock.
Rebel swiped at her tears. “Axel commands all of Diesel’s attention. This room is my sanctuary.”
A sanctuary that would soon be destroyed because of the remodeling.
Meggie hadn’t been able to bring herself to have the children pack while she was away.
More for Rebel than any of the other kids.
Rebel needed this safe place. She didn’t need to remember she’d been shoved into a temporary room with very little space.
“I should be allowed to watch TV with Diesel in here.”
“Let me talk to your father. I’ll let you know when we get back.”
“Okay, Momma,” Rebel whispered, met her gaze briefly, then glanced away.
Alarm raced through Meggie. “What is it?”
“I just wish you and Daddy…” Rebel flushed. “Never mind.”
Relief flooded Meggie, until she realized what Rebel might not be saying. “Do you want me to stay home, Rebel? Do you need me here?”
Her throat working, she started to cry. “I…Daddy…”
Meggie pulled Rebel into her arms again. “I won’t go. Christopher—”
“No, Momma,” Rebel interrupted hoarsely. “No, I’m fine. I promise. Go. Please? You and Daddy need this time together.”
They did. She was also looking forward to it just being the two of them. However, Rebel was spiraling and Axel’s birthday was Saturday.
“I’m hungry,” Rebel said.
Meggie allowed the change of conversation. She didn’t want to upset Rebel any more than she was by pushing. “Do you want me to bring a tray up or will you come downstairs?”
“I want a tray,” Rebel murmured, not surprising Meggie.
Rebel hadn’t come downstairs since yesterday morning and that was to receive Diesel’s presents. Yet she wore Kaia’s earrings again, no matter the reason. Meggie didn’t want to push her daughter, but she was floundering.
Christopher would have a fit if she postponed their trip.
However, Meggie shouldn’t leave Rebel while she was in such a state.
Monday, Jo was coming home, which would take Meggie’s attention away from Rebel.
She wouldn’t tell Rebel of her changed plans until after she talked to Christopher, a conversation she wasn’t looking forward to.
But the decision if Meggie stayed home wasn’t Rebel’s or Christopher’s.
It was Meggie’s as a mother who loved her children.
Meggie kissed Rebel’s forehead. “Okay, love. As soon as dinner’s ready, I’ll bring it up. Would you like company?”
“No.” She forced a smile, but dark circles ringed her red-rimmed eyes. Either she wasn’t sleeping, she couldn’t stop crying, or both. “I’m still planning Axel’s party. I’ll show you later.”
“I have faith in you, sweetheart. I know you’ll plan the best party for Axel. Better than me.”
Rebel smiled. “Thank you for that compliment.” All too soon that smile fell away and she began fidgeting.
“I want you to go and spend time with Daddy, but can you think about coming home Saturday evening? That would make Axel’s night.
I-if you can’t I understand. It just won’t be the same without you. ”
“I’m not going,” Meggie announced, unable to keep the information to herself when Rebel was so troubled.
“Yes, you are. You have to. Please, Momma. Don’t disappoint yourself or Daddy. Please. You two deserve a break. I’m just asking you to consider…no, never mind. I shouldn’t have asked at all.”
“It’s okay, love. It’s okay, I promise—”
“It isn’t! I’m okay. I swear. You have to go. For me. You know you want to.”
“I do.”
“Then go. I’m fine,” she stressed again. “I have Axel’s party taken care of. Kaia will pick up everything on my list. He’s reliable, right?”
Meggie nodded, then squeezed Rebel’s hand, reserving her opinion until she discovered Kaia’s whereabouts. “Give me a few minutes. I’m not sure what Bishop cooked today.”
“Whatever it is will be tasty. Bishop is an excellent chef.”
“He is,” Meggie agreed.
Rebel curled up on the sofa, turning her back to Meggie. “I’ll see you soon.”
Sighing, Meggie left her daughter alone and headed down the hall, pausing near Diesel’s door and wondering if she should trust him to help cheer Rebel up. She had Riley searching for Diesel’s birth mother, but so far, there’d been no luck.
She hovered a moment longer, then decided to wait until she talked to Christopher before she tapped Diesel for anything involving Rebel.
Heading downstairs, it surprised Meggie to see Kaia hovering in the foyer.
“You’re home,” Kaia blurted before she asked him where he’d been. “I need to talk to you.”
“That makes two of us,” she said coolly. “Let’s go to my office. I need to talk to you, too.”
“I’ll be quick and I can’t talk in your office right now. I’m sorry. I’ve been helping Outlaw and he needs me to do something else at the club.”
“What—?” she asked, then caught herself. If Christopher wanted her to know, Kaia wouldn’t speak in riddles. She sighed. “What do you need to discuss?”
“Rebel isn’t sleeping. She’s afraid to close her eyes because she sees those men. Last night, she texted me until I fell asleep. Night before last, it was Diesel. Do you have a sedative you can give her?”
Rebel had been texting Diesel and hadn’t mentioned it to Meggie. But…Diesel wouldn’t be stupid enough to cross a line and leave incriminating evidence. Ignoring her unease, Meggie got to the matter at hand. “The pain pills should help her to rest.”
“They aren’t,” Kaia insisted. “I think she’s been sleeping at most an hour or two a night.”
“Okay, thank you for telling me. I’ll text her doctor and—”
Kaia’s phone beeped. “I’m sorry, Meggie. I have to go.”
Before she questioned him any further, he hurried away.