26. Drama and Eggs
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
DRAMA AND EGGS
Payne
“Good morning, Ms. Sinclair. Did you sleep okay?” I pull out a chair for Alice. She’s wearing a long zip up robe, her singed hair is messier than it was when we left the hospital, and I didn’t think it was possible for her to be madder than yesterday.
“I slept. But I need my own underwear. The clothes the ladies at church gathered are either too small or too big. I want to go back to the house and see if my garden was salvaged. Then someone needs to call my insurance company—”
Ruby leans in to kiss Alice on the cheek before she encourages her to sit for breakfast. “We’ll do all of that today. I promise. Have some coffee and eggs, and we’ll figure out where to start.”
I scoot Alice in when Blake walks into the dining room. “I just got off the phone with the insurance company. They’ll be out later today.”
Ruby sits next to Alice and puts a napkin in her lap. “See? It’s all going to be taken care of. I’ll take you shopping for whatever you need. Enjoy your breakfast.”
I sit next to Ruby at the head of the table. I can’t remember the last time I ate in the dining room. I usually take a plate to my office, my room, or sit in the kitchen and eat with Sadie at the island.
It’s been years since I’ve had a meal at this table.
In fact, it was after the accident but before Dad went to prison.
I remember it like it was yesterday, and it didn’t go well.
I was summoned by my parents, and they demanded I defend my father in court.
The only reason I agreed to come back here was to break it to him in person that hell would freeze over before I’d do anything for him, let alone defend him for almost killing a bus full of tourists.
Fuck you very much, Dad. It’s bad enough we share a last name. I want no association with him, let alone in the courtroom. I don’t care if he was charged with killing a gnat.
It pleased me to tell him to go fuck himself.
Then I made the deal of a lifetime and made sure whoever did represent him lost that case in epic proportions.
I was done with my father’s shit. And I learned last night that I didn’t even know half the shit he’d done.
Had I known that I might’ve gone to prison myself for murder.
I pour myself a cup of coffee as Blake joins us. “I’m taking the day off. I don’t remember the last time I did that. Tell me where you want to go shopping, and I’ll make it happen.”
Ruby shoots me a look of appreciation. Her hair is still damp from our shower where I gave her another orgasm and fucked her against the wall. “See, Grandma? Insurance and clothes have been checked off your list.”
“Did I hear that right? Payne Deacon is taking a day off?” Sadie walks into the room with a heaping bowl of scrambled eggs in one hand and cut fruit in the other.
She sets them in the middle of the table and reaches for the coffee to pour Alice a cup.
“Good morning, guests. When Payne told me we’d have a full house, I was excited.
” She puts down the carafe and goes straight to Ruby.
“Look at you. More beautiful than ever.”
Ruby stands and hugs the woman who has been a part of this house since we moved in. She’s been more of a mother to me than the woman who’s probably still passed out from her nightly bender. “I’ve missed you, Sadie. You look amazing. How are your grandkids?”
Sadie beams. “The best. I spend two nights a week with them when I’m not here. It’s a whole new job working for Payne.”
Ruby looks from Sadie to me. “She works for you?”
I pick up the bowl of eggs and hand it to her. “There’s more I need to explain about the situation. I’ll do that today while we’re out shopping. But yes, Sadie works for me.”
“I wouldn’t be here anymore if it weren’t for Payne,” Sadie adds.
I motion to an open seat. “Sit and join us.”
Sadie waves me off. “Oh no. I could never. I’ll eat in the kitchen. If this is the new norm, you should have your meals as a family.”
“I eat most of my meals with you. And as far as I’m concerned, you are family. I insist.”
Sadie looks hesitant but she relents and takes a seat next to Blake.
Blake forks a piece of pineapple into his mouth and talks around it. “Are you sure you want to put us up for that long? Who knows how long it will take to rebuild.”
I reach over and claim Ruby’s hand to bring it to my lips. It’s not my place to announce to her family that I plan on Ruby never leaving. “I’m more than sure. This house has been a depressing nightmare for far too long. As far as I’m concerned, the longer you live here, the better.”
“Live here? Who’s living here?”
Fuck.
We all turn when a hoarse, scratchy voice enters the fray.
My mom stands in the entry to the dining room looking nothing short of a nightmare. She’s gaunt with dark circles around her eyes and is wearing the same pajamas she was when I said goodbye to her before I left for the weekend at the manor.
I can’t remember the last time she came downstairs, let alone this early in the morning. Sadie says she sleeps until noon most days.
I stand and start to move to her. “Mom—”
But Ruby stands also and interrupts me. “Hello, Mrs. Deacon.”
Blake doesn’t get up but talks as he spoons eggs onto his plate. “It’s so cool for you to let us stay.”
Alice doesn’t say anything. I think she’s stunned that my mom hasn’t vanished like the Winslet grapevine whispers about.
Mom’s bloodshot eyes jump around the room. She doesn’t answer Ruby. She doesn’t even look at Blake. And she glosses over the old lady with burned hair.
She looks straight at Sadie. “Why are you eating in the dining room?”
Sadie stiffens before she moves to push her chair back.
I put my hand out to Sadie. “Don’t move. You’re eating breakfast with us.”
Mom leans on the door frame for support, which means there’s not a sober bone in her body. Fucking great. I was going to talk to the Sinclairs about my mom at this literal meal, but Tallie picked today to drag her ass out of bed before nine.
Mom glares at Sadie. “The help never eats in the dining room.”
Ruby gasps.
Blake misses his mouth and egg drops to his lap.
And Alice.
I fucking love Alice.
Alice points at Mom and then Sadie and then back to Mom. “Did she just call her the help? Did I get whisked back into the Regency era and no one told me?”
Mom continues to put her foot in her mouth. “What are they doing here? And is that Ruby Sinclair? The trash girl who broke your heart and you acted like it was the end of the world?”
I’m halfway across the dining room prepared to pick up my mother, carry her upstairs, and lock her away in her bedroom suite.
“Payne, wait.”
Only because it’s her voice do I stop and turn.
I look her in the eyes. “I’m not going to sit here and let her talk about Sadie or you.
The house has been in my name since my father was sued for everything he had.
I’m the one who funds it. Sadie works for me, and I’m lucky she stayed as long as she has.
I love you, Ruby. My mother will not talk about you like that in my house. ”
Blake looks across the table to Alice. “I told you he loved her. Now you can drop the act that you hate him.”
Alice rolls her eyes. “I knew he loved her. It’s my job to hold a grudge.”
“Payne.” Ruby calls for me again. Her tone is even and controlled and detached, like what my mother just said doesn’t faze her in the slightest. “You should invite your mother to have breakfast with us. It’s the right thing to do.”
I pull in a breath and shake my head. Even so, I do as she says and turn to Mom. “You should eat. But they are my guests. Be nice.”
Sadie, Ruby, and I take our seats. My mother has to hold onto the wall to make her way to the far end of the table. She knocks a picture sideways on the way, but she finally makes it.
I take a drink of my lukewarm coffee and Sadie passes the fruit to my mother.
I clear my throat. “Mom, there was a fire. Ms. Sinclair lost her home. She, Blake, and Ruby are going to live here until they can rebuild. If that’s a year, fine.
If it’s two, even better. This is the first time you’ve been downstairs in a month.
And while we’re eating together in this house, Sadie will join us. ”
Sadie takes a sip of coffee. “Payne, it’s really okay.”
“It’s not.” I turn back to my mother. “And lastly, and most importantly, Ruby and I are back together. If you ever disrespect her again in any way, I will force you to leave. And to be clear, I will always choose Ruby. I’ll choose her over everything in life. Do you understand?”
I don’t know if my mom is going to pass out or start crying.
She closes her eyes, rolls her lips in, and tries to claim the tiniest bit of composure.
Her hands tremble when she smooths the already perfect tablecloth in front of her.
She finally looks up at me. “Well then. I think I need a Bloody Mary.”
Sadie’s gaze jumps to me.
I shake my head and turn to my mother. “If you’re going to kill yourself with alcohol, you can do it in private. You will not drink at this table.”
Mom slumps in her chair.
I turn to Ruby. “See? Nothing has changed.”
Ruby smiles. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Her eyes shine with our new motto.
Fuck it.
She leans toward me, and there’s no way I’ll ever leave her hanging. I meet her halfway and our lips meet. After a long, lingering kiss, she whispers, “One big happy family, right?”
I put my hand to her chin to hold her to me. “Only with you here, baby.”