Chapter 27b. Rebel
“Do you think Rule will be happy to see us, Momma?”
The million-dollar question. He might not see them at all, a fact Meggie had repeatedly mentioned to Rebel over the course of their day. “I don’t know, love,” she said, keeping it simple.
Rebel laid on the living room sofa grouped with two plush chairs, end tables and a coffee table in front of an elaborate fireplace where a toasty fire warmed them.
Everything in their two-bedroom suite, complete with a private terrace and white-glove service, was elaborate and the type of luxury Christopher booked for the two of them whenever they went overseas without the kids.
He did it for her, though Meggie knew he would be happier with simplicity.
Or even sleeping under the stars near his bike.
Which they also did sometimes. She enjoyed those times more than he ever enjoyed extravagant, high-priced hotels.
“I miss Rule so much,” Rebel said.
“I do, too. I wish it was a guarantee we’d see him tomorrow.”
“I hope we do. I’m hopeful that our bond as twins will make a difference.”
With the staff’s help, Meggie had created a full itinerary for her and Rebel, so they’d stay occupied and not dwell on whether they’d get to see Rule or how much they missed home.
At least, Meggie did. She wasn’t so sure about her daughter, especially after discovering Jana had moved in during yesterday’s call.
“If your brother won’t see me, I will ask if he’d like to see you without me,” Meggie said.
“Okay, Momma.”
Restless, Meggie roamed to the terrace door and looked out at the manicured garden beyond the concrete and marble that had a private pool, chaise lounges, and two umbrella tables with four chairs each. It should’ve been serene, but it wasn’t. Not when her heart was so heavy with so much.
She longed to see Jo and read to Gunner.
She missed Axel’s liveliness and wondered what Ransom and Ryder were up to.
She wanted to smack Diesel but talk to him as well and try to make him see reason.
As for CJ, she still wasn’t sure what he wanted or needed from her and wouldn’t find those answers so far from home.
And Christopher? She was ready to have a heart-to-heart with him.
Remind him, show him, how much she adored him.
As much as he adored her. Over the years, he’d never failed to show her what she meant to him.
These recent developments were just rough patches in the road.
She didn’t want the bumpy road to collapse into nothingness.
Their life together, their family, and their love deserved more than sinking into an unsalvageable crater.
Drastic times called for drastic measures.
Without a doubt, she’d gotten his attention.
He’d listen. Hopefully, her drastic measure had effected a change for the better.
Tears suddenly threatened and she fanned her face, determined to hold herself together. Once she got control of herself, she turned and faced her daughter. Or looked in her direction, since she was still on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
“Do you want to go to the restaurant or would you like in-room dining, Reb?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Rebel went through the motions of shopping.
Sightseeing wasn’t feasible, given their casts.
She was much more mobile than Reb, since her injuries hadn’t been as severe.
Rebel refused to use her crutches and wouldn’t even consider a wheelchair suggested by their butler.
Not even a motorized one that Meggie was willing to buy and then donate.
Reb would have none of it, her spirit crushed over Rule and Diesel.
Meggie came up with plan after plan to help Rebel accept that Diesel was her brother and a grown man.
Of course, Rebel was just like Diesel and their daddy.
They generally ignored what they didn’t agree with.
Hopefully, an opportunity presented itself to Meggie where she’d finally get through to her baby.
Maybe tomorrow evening?
After their visit with Rule, Meggie had a mother-daughter spa evening planned. No matter how it turned out, tomorrow promised to be intense.
“I think I’ll order in for us,” Meggie said. “Surf or turf?”
“Whatever you’re having.”
“Okay, love. Our flight home is early Wednesday morning.”
Lifting her head, Rebel frowned. “How early?”
“Early.” She’d scheduled doctors’ appointments for both of them. Hopefully, she’d get rid of her orthopedic boot, even if Rebel still needed more time in her casts. “We have to be at the airport for 7AM.”
“Ahhhh,” Rebel groaned, dropping her head. “Why so early?”
“To make sure we’re on time since Sloane can’t send his plane back for us. We’re going commercial.”
Meggie plopped in a chair near the fireplace.
“Can you buy us a plane?”
Although Rebel was serious, Meggie screamed with laughter. “What would we do with a private plane, Rebel?” she asked when her humor died away and she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Go places.” She glowered at the ceiling. “Drag Diesel on it and drop him out mid-air, along with Jana.”
“We’re going to have enough issues with Tabitha because that idiot moved her in before he divorced, love. I know this hurts and it’s a hard pill to swallow, but you have to accept her.”
Rebel blinked away tears. “I love Diesel.”
“And he loves another woman, sweetheart.” Thankfully. Hopefully. Moving on… “As hard as that is to accept, it’s the truth. If you truly love him in whatever capacity, you’ll want him happy.”
“I do,” she said around a little sob.
“Don’t be mean to Jana,” Meggie advised. “She seems like a really nice girl.” She cocked her head to the side. “And you have Kaia that you’d like to get to know.”
“I’m so confused,” she said hoarsely.
“You’re young, love. You will find the right man. The perfect man for you.”
“I like Kaia,” she confessed. “I just…Diesel has always been my dream.”
Keeping her opinion to herself about Diesel being anyone’s dream, Meggie nodded.
“I guess you don’t understand,” Rebel said, sighing and tipping her head back. “You saw Daddy and never thought about anyone else. Never wanted anyone else. I don’t know how to make you understand how happy I am that Kaia and I are going steady but how crushed I am over Diesel.”
Meggie curled up on the chair. “Suppose I told you there was another man?”
“Uncle Johnnie doesn’t count,” Rebel scoffed. “We all know you’d never stoop to maggot level.”
“Johnnie wasn’t always a giant jerk.”
“Nope. Just a massive motherfucker.”
“Your uncle once held a very special place in my heart. It complicated matters so much.”
“It still isn’t the same. Daddy was always there, wanting you. Protecting you. You never looked at anyone else but Daddy. He’s all you ever wanted, so you can’t identify how I, or any girl torn like I am, feels. Johnnie Donovan never had a chance.”
It saddened Meggie that Rebel still didn’t see her as a woman with her own thoughts and opinions, one who could understand how it felt to care about two men.
Meggie had spent her life as Christopher’s wife and their children’s mom, a completely different sentiment than if they saw her as a wife and a mom, a person with her own agency.
Conflicting feelings—understanding and annoyance—swirled in her.
She couldn’t fault Rebel—or CJ—for how they saw her.
Recent developments hardened her and honed this new version of herself.
In time, her children would open their eyes and see her as a fighter. A survivor.
“Can I ask you something, Momma?”
Meggie lifted her head and nodded. “Anything, sweetheart.”
“Why do you stay? You’re beautiful.” Rebel held her hands a few inches apart. “Tiny. Wealthy without Daddy. You could be a baller’s wife. A politician’s wife. You could turn your back on all the women and the danger, yet you stay. Is it really love or is it familiarity?”
“I love your father. Never doubt that. I have always loved him and I will always love him.” Meggie cocked her head to the side.
“Do you know the night I met him, I didn’t think I’d ever seen a more beautiful man?
And the first time I heard a real laugh from him, it touched my soul.
I was put on this earth to love Christopher. ”
“But you left him.”
Folding her arms, Meggie nodded. “I wasn’t put here to be abused by him, Rebel. I could love him from afar but love him I would.”
“Do you regret having us? So…so many of us?”
“Never, darling.” Meggie sat up, slid to the floor, and kneed her way to Rebel’s side. “I’ve made so many mistakes as a mom, and I’m so sorry, but never think I regret you, your sister or any of your brothers. I love you all dearly,” she said fiercely. “I would die for you and I’d kill for you.”
“Okay,” Rebel whispered. She thought for a moment, then said, “If Rule won’t see us, will we come back if he ever does?”
Meggie slipped her fingers through Rebel’s hair and smiled gently. “If he won’t see us tomorrow, the moment he asks for us, we’re on the next plane. As hurt as we are, this isn’t about us, sweetheart. It’s about Rule.”
Rebel swallowed and her nose reddened. “Okay,” she whispered.
Getting to her feet, Meggie nodded to the phone that connected to their dedicated staff. “I’m going to order our food.”
“Okay. I want the steak with French fries.”
“Coming up, love.”
“Momma?”
Meggie halted.
“I’m so glad you’re my mom.”
“And I’m so glad you’re my baby girl,” Meggie said softly.
Rebel nodded, satisfied.
Rebel sat on the edge of the bed in a luxurious yellow and white room that had a name like old estates she’d read about in novels.
She couldn’t remember what the room was called, but that was the only thing that impressed her.
She preferred her bedroom to this one. It was just as magnificent, much bigger, and it was hers.