CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TEN
Taking care of newborn twins, while worrying that your family was going to kidnap you, was not something that Saylor could get off her mind.
Thank goodness, there was more than enough help for her and Remington.
In the mornings, Lauren and Julia would come over and in the afternoons, it would be Dana and Gail.
Sometimes, George would pop in with one of the other ghosts, always willing to watch over the twins so she could shower or just have a short nap. For whatever reason, having the ghosts there gave her a sense of peace she never thought was possible.
Remington was unbelievably helpful. He would get up at night for their feedings, change their diapers, bathe them, and so much more. He was incredibly patient and calm with them.
“You know,” she said with a smirk staring at him, “if I didn’t know better I’d swear that you’ve done this before.” He laughed at her, laying Grayson next to his brother, Asher in the basinet.
She laid back on the sofa, finally able to just relax as she sipped an iced tea and ate the lemon scones made for her that morning by Casey. They were light and buttery, the lemon glaze on top sprinkled with lemon zest. Absolutely delicious.
“Well, I have had experience with multiples. As you’ve seen,” he said sitting next to her and biting into his own scone, “we have a lot of them and everyone helps out if they can. Even at twelve and thirteen I would play with the babies, help to feed them. It was fun.”
“I think that’s very sweet,” she smiled. “In fact, I think you’re very sweet.”
“Am I?” he grinned. “Does that mean you’re going to let me touch you again?”
“If I wasn’t under doctor’s orders to not have sex we’d be in the bedroom right now,” she smiled. “I never thought I’d want a man’s hands touching me all day every day.”
“You just needed the right man,” he smirked.
“Remington? What are we going to do about my family?” she asked quietly.
“The team is gathering information on them to see if we can find a clear indication of what they’re actually doing. I think this idea of a ‘chosen one’ may be a cover but it could also be something sincere that your parents and the others believe in.”
“You know, when we lived in California I was still pretty young but I remember we had lots of neighbors and good friends. My parents would have barbeques and parties with them all the time. Sometimes my dad would go duck or deer hunting with the men. Or they’d go fishing.
“Then it was as if one day they didn’t want to speak with them any longer. They had new friends that my parents told me they’d met at their small business. They were people who wanted a better life for themselves and their children. I was just a kid, so I didn’t think much of it.”
“Honey, I hate to ask this but did your folks get into swinging?”
“Swinging?” she frowned. Remington did not want to go into the details of this but he just might have to. “Oh. Oh, wait. I know what you’re talking about. Having multiple partners, sharing partners.”
“Yes, that’s what I mean.”
“A month ago I would have said no way. Today? I honestly can’t say. I didn’t see it. I didn’t witness that or see them going into people’s homes and coming out looking happy or satisfied.”
“It might have been terrible sex,” smirked Remington.
“I guess that’s true,” she laughed. Then she sobered and stared at him.
“I just don’t know. I feel so stupid for not seeing some of this sooner but then I give myself grace because I was just a kid myself.
I didn’t start to really understand how much had been hidden from me until I went to college. ”
“Why didn’t they come and take you then?” he asked.
“I lied to them. I’d never lied to them before but I told them I was going to college in Kansas City.
I had a fake acceptance letter and everything.
I took the bus to Kansas City, got off and bought another ticket for Cincinnati.
When they email or call for me to come home for holidays or breaks, I would lie and say I was taking summer classes or working so I could finish school early.
“I had never lied to my parents until then. After that, it was as if everything were a lie. I hate that I did it but I know what would have happened had I gone back. They wouldn’t have allowed me to leave.”
“Lying is definitely something I don’t condone but under the circumstances it sounds like you needed to.” He held her close, both of them grateful for the quiet of the house.
“What could they be planning, Remington? All those weapons, all that food, what are they doing?”
“I wish I could answer that for you, baby, but I just don’t know. They could be selling the weapons, like the guys thought. Or they could be keeping them for themselves, for some grand plan they have.
“When was the last time a new family came into the compound? Were they coming in regularly or did you still just have the same core group?”
“That’s a good question,” she frowned, sitting up straight to think. “I don’t remember anyone new after the first year or so. It was thirteen families originally, then a few more. I guess, sixteen. Maybe seventeen.”
“That seems like a small number of people,” said Remington.
“Well, everyone except my parents had multiple children. I was the only one who was an only child. The Miller family had seven kids. All boys. They were the most well-behaved children you’ve ever seen. But I knew why.”
“They were beaten?” he frowned.
“Brutally.”
“Bastard.”
“No, honey. Bitch. It was Mrs. Miller that beat the boys and she delighted in doing it on front of others. She would take them out and make them hold onto the clothes line, drop their pants and whip them with a belt. It was horrible and I was sick to my stomach every time I saw it.”
“No one stepped in? None of the other parents? Not their father?”
“No one,” she whispered. “I see the way the children are treated here and it breaks my heart for those kids. Two of the boys were older and left as soon as they were able.”
“Wait a minute. The boys were able to leave the compound without issue?” he asked.
“Well, yes. I mean, I guess so. I never heard anyone saying that they couldn’t leave. They just announced they would be leaving and that was it.”
“What were their first names?” he asked.
“Monty and Zane. Monty and Zane Miller,” she said staring at Remington.
“That could be very helpful for us. If we can find them and figure out what they’re doing we might know more about what’s happening at the compound.”
“See, you’re brilliant,” she smiled.
Remington let out a low growl that made her blood heat to the point of boiling.
His hand covered one full, milky breast and gently massaged, something he’d done since she’d had the twins.
It helped the pain of her swollen breasts tremendously.
She moaned leaning toward him just as the twins let out a squeal.
“Perfect timing,” he frowned. “I’ll get even with them when they’re older.” She laughed, lifting Grayson from the basinet while he took Asher.
“Maybe we can give them more siblings to annoy them. That would be better payback.” She winked at him as she moved to the kitchen to prepare the bottles.
“Woman, don’t test me today. I’m hard as a rock and ready to explode.” She turned, handing him a bottle for the baby. Then she took both the babies in her arms, taking a seat and using the u-shaped pillow to support them both while feeding them.
“What are you doing?”
“Freeing your hands,” she blushed. “Show me. Show me how you handle things yourself. I want to see. Charlie said it was very exciting to watch. Show me.” When the twins were fed, Remington wheeled them into their bedroom and took his wife’s hand, leading her to their own bed.
“Get ready for a show honey because I’m about to show you what happens when I’m in side you.”