Chapter 32 Energy Vampire
ENERGY VAMPIRE
Saylor was pacing in the house. Here she was happy to have a day off after all the traveling they’d done, the jet lag, then working for three days. She even worked a full day yesterday rather than a half since she missed Sunday and someone called in sick.
But today was going to be for her!
She should have known it wouldn’t happen.
Anytime she got even close to having something of her own, Sandy had to taint it.
She called her grandmother first.
“Hi, Saylor. Enjoying your day off?”
“I was,” she said. “Until Rowan just called to say Sandy showed up with the kids at his office. She isn’t leaving and has no place to stay.”
“What!?” her grandmother yelled. “I’m so sorry. This is my fault.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know someone was going to see an article with my name in it and tag you. And it doesn’t matter either. It’s not a secret.”
“It kind of was,” her grandmother said. “You never told your parents. Did your mother call you after she saw it?”
“I called her. I talked to her and she was very understanding of why I said nothing.”
“Oh,” her grandmother said.
“Yes. I told her I was letting it play out and didn’t know how it’d work out but that I fell in love with Rowan. For once in my life, I wanted something for me. Mom even apologized for all the times Sandy took any joy in my life away.”
“You mean the energy vampire of the family?”
“That’s her. Rowan is bringing her here. He was going to put her in a hotel with the kids. He’s upset because the kids were thrown in a car, they were hungry, the baby is crying now. She left Dutton in the car to go talk to Rowan.”
She could hear the shaking in Rowan’s voice when he called her from his car driving here. Sandy was following behind.
Even she didn’t think her sister would be that stupid. Or selfish.
But nope, Sandy surprised her once again.
“He should have called the police on her,” her grandmother said.
“I’m sure he wanted to. I’m not letting her stay here. Sandy and I are going to have it out. Rowan will deal with the kids and feed or entertain them and Sandy is going to wish she didn’t pull this stunt yet again with me.”
“She’s never going to change.”
“I understand, but I’m not letting her drown me anymore. I mean it. This is it. She went too far.”
“I’m going to call your father and give him a piece of my mind. He’s home for a few days. They probably don’t even know she did this. They would have talked her out of it.”
“Do you really think they would have?”
“Yes,” her grandmother said. “They might give in to her a lot, but they’ve been good about letting you have your life too.”
She had to admit her mother and she had some pleasant talks over the past few years. Maybe it had more to do with the fact that her mother was exhausted and looking back on everything she’d done wrong.
“Me being gone has been more calming for everyone. Sandy didn’t always feel as if she had to compete for attention.”
“She’s going to hit you up for money,” her grandmother said. “Or Rowan.”
“I know that. She’s got another thing coming. I’m afraid she’s going to threaten to make trouble for his business. For lack of a better word—blackmail him.”
“Let me call your father now. I’ll text you soon.”
She hung up with her grandmother, went to the fridge and pulled out some food that the kids might like.
Jesus, it was close to three and Sandy probably didn’t feed them lunch. Rowan would have wanted to stop for food but then get home at the same time.
The least she could do is have something ready.
She had two peanut butter sandwiches and two turkey sandwiches made with a bag of chips out. She hoped that would be okay for now. She put a few apples and bananas on a tray with the lunch she prepared and set it aside with water bottles.
The garage door opened and she waited for everyone to come into the side through the mudroom.
“Everyone, go give Aunt Saylor a hug. They’ve missed you.”
“Aunt Saylor!” Ashton and Mila yelled, then charged her with their arms open.
Her sister was playing dirty like she always did. There was no way she was going to fight in front of the kids.
“It’s so good to see you. Look how big you are.”
She picked up Ashton for a kiss, then the same with Mila. Sandy shoved Dutton in her arms. The baby was crying and wiggling to get down. He didn’t know who she was and was probably starving.
He stunk on top of it. “Do you have a diaper? Geez, Sandy. He stinks.”
“You can do it,” Sandy said, pushing the bag toward her. “I’m going to check this place out. Lucky little bitch.”
Her sister brushed her shoulder and walked toward the deck.
“Stop,” Rowan said firmly. “Don’t you dare abandon your children on Saylor. Do you have no decency at all?”
Sandy turned, her jaw open, her eyes wide. No one ever called her sister out on anything.
“I’ve spent over six hours in the car with these kids and just need some air. They want to see their aunt.”
“This is my house,” Rowan said, moving closer to her sister, his voice lower. “And I can throw you out faster than you can open those glass doors. Don’t push my hand.”
Her sister must have realized who she was butting heads with and stomped over toward Dutton who was screaming and wiggling. The poor kid didn’t want to lie down to be changed.
“He always cries,” Ashton said. “We’re hungry.”
“I made you food,” Saylor said. “Peanut butter sandwiches and turkey sandwiches. Chips and fruit. Rowan is going to take you guys on the beach to eat. What do you think of that?”
“Yes,” Mila said. “I like chips. Do you have candy?”
“Aunt Saylor always has candy. It’s all she ever eats. It’s a wonder she’s not fat.”
She growled at her sister, found the diaper in the bag and handed it over while Dutton twisted and turned to get his butt wiped. The poop was smeared all over and he’d probably been sitting in it for thirty minutes.
Once the baby was changed, he stopped crying. Rowan had cut up a banana and found some Goldfish crackers to add to the tray of food.
“Are you sure you’re okay doing this alone?” he asked.
“I don’t want the kids to hear this,” she said. “I should ask if you’re okay taking them outside?”
“I’m good. Logan is behind me. He’ll help.”
She laughed. “Why am I not surprised? He’s like your brother too.”
“He is. We’ve got it,” he said.
Rowan took Dutton again. Then the kids and her boyfriend walked toward the stairs. “Don’t go anywhere or touch a thing. I’m going to carry this food down for him.”
“I’m going with you,” Sandy said. “I want to sit on the beach also.”
“If you walk out of this house to that beach, I’m locking you out there. You can sleep in the sand for all I care. Don’t even test me.”
“You wouldn’t do that to your niece and nephews,” Sandy said, smirking.
“No, I wouldn’t. But I wouldn’t hesitate to do it to their mother.”
She followed Rowan down with the food, Sandy staying put. Wise decision.
Then she marched upstairs. Her sister was sitting on the couch, her legs crossed, her shoes off, making herself comfortable.
“Stepping up in the world, aren’t you?”
“We are feeding the kids and then you’re leaving. All of you. I’m not doing this. I’m not taking you in. I’m not letting you stay. You’re not using your kids to make me feel guilty over it either.”
“Don’t be such a bitch,” Sandy said. “You’re in this big place and we won’t be long. Family helps each other out. It’s not like I’m asking you for money.”
“Like you’ve done multiple times over the years?”
She’d fallen for it too many times and then stopped. Who knew what her sister did with it? If the kids needed something, she took care of it directly.
Then she found out from her mother that Sandy was using the child support she got on herself.
“You’ve got enough money. You don’t know how hard it is to be a single mother.”
“Then maybe you should stop getting pregnant.”
“I don’t plan on getting pregnant again,” Sandy said, waving her hand.
Saylor stood up and walked to the glass doors, saw Rowan away from the house, but inside the gates. The kids were sitting and eating, Logan and him trying to feed Dutton. The baby probably still drank out of a bottle or needed a Sippy cup and she felt like shit she hadn’t thought of it until now.
“I don’t care what you plan or don’t plan. It doesn’t include me. We’ll put you up in a hotel for one night. Sleep and then drive home tomorrow. If you choose not to it’s on you.”
“You’re going to just abandon the kids?”
“No. I’m doing it to you. You’re the selfish moron that packed up three kids for a road trip with no plan. And thinking I’d be your plan is ridiculous.”
“How would it look if someone found out that my sister and her wealthy boyfriend just let me be broken down in Long Beach and on the street?”
She knew she paled, even though she expected her sister to play this game.
“You’re not broken down. You can drive your car back. If you can’t, I’ll pay for plane tickets, I don’t care. But you’re not staying here. If you think spreading false information about me is going to work, you’re wrong. You do not know what Rowan and his family are like.”
“I know. I saw it. I guarantee they’d be willing to pay a bit to keep it quiet.”
She laughed. “You’re wrong. They’d rather spend all that money to bury you or watch you bury yourself than give it to you to avoid you talking.
But in this case, I can deal with you myself.
I’ll empty every penny from my account to see that you’re the one that comes out smelling worse than Dutton’s diaper. Not me.”
“What do I have to lose?” Sandy said, shrugging.
“Your kids? Do you think any of their fathers would like what you did today? How about leaving Dutton unattended in the car?”
Her sister said nothing to that. Almost as if she was thinking this through more.
She didn’t know if Sandy’s baby daddies cared one way or another, but if the possibility was there she was running with it.
“They won’t believe you.”