Chapter Thirty-Nine
Caine
I’d heard firsthand the way Micky’s mother spoke to her. I’d heard the woman say cruel things to me personally. But to see it with my own eyes, that was a whole other level of disgusting.
I tried to prepare myself for the possibility of running into her. I even attempted to be respectful of the jealous bitch. But as soon as she opened her mouth, as soon as she started spewing her hateful nonsense at Mikayla, I was done.
Her hate wasn’t merely directed at her daughter.
It was aimed at her son. I understand why Jack defended his mother at first. I would have.
I love my mother. I can only assume that Heidi, at one time, was a good mother to him.
Maybe she was even a good mother to Mikayla, but the woman standing outside that house was hateful and angry.
I wasn’t going to let her hurt either of them any longer, any more than she already had with her cruel words.
Mikayla needs her brother. And Jack needs his sister. I’ve a mind to tell him to stay in Texas. I know he joked about it the other day, but I think he should. It would be good for both of them.
I pull out my phone and call the company I used to charter the plane.
“Yes, Mr. Montgomery, we have a plane set to land in Seattle tomorrow evening at five oh five PM. It’s not the same one you flew in on. We can fly you back to Texas either later that night or first thing the following morning.”
“I’d prefer the following morning. What time?” I ask.
“Would nine AM work?”
“That’s fine, thank you,” I say before ending the call.
I’m relieved we don’t have to drive, though I can still see by the look on Mick’s face… she’d wanted to grab more of her father’s things.
I slide open the deck door and find Mikayla staring in silence, a sad expression on her face as she looks at the city skyline. She sits on a sofa, a blanket draped over her shoulders, with Jack beside her, his feet on the railing.
“I don’t think I’ll ever want to talk to her again,” Jack says after a few moments, before turning and seeing me. “Hey.”
They both look so dejected. I’m hoping that spending the day in town will make them happy. I’ve never been to Seattle and wouldn’t mind seeing the city.
“I got us a flight out the day after tomorrow.”.
“You want to sleep here another night?” Mikayla asks, surprise in her voice. She moves over, closer to her brother and adjusts the blanket so I can sit down.
“I’ve never been here. I was hoping you’d show me around,” I suggest.
“But it’s the beginning of December,” she says, like that means something to me.
I just look at her; my head tilted in confusion.
“Dude, it’s wet, and cold. We’re out here because your deck has a fireplace,” Jack says, pointing to the gas fireplace in the wall.
“I thought this was a normal room until we came out here,” Mikayla says. Then, she places her hand on my thigh. “But we can go to the Farmer’s Market tomorrow and grab dinner at a fun local restaurant,” she adds. “We will just have to buy you a raincoat.”
“I have a coat, why not just buy an umbrella?”
Both Jack and Mikayla laugh at me. “Trust me. You want a raincoat,” Jack says, still chuckling.
Even with the shitshow we had earlier, we all venture downstairs to find a restaurant for dinner.
Seattle is an interesting city. It’s definitely a city, but there are virtually no chain restaurants anywhere. At all. If it’s a chain, it’s a Seattle chain. I’ve never seen anything like it.
We walk around, yes, it’s cold, but it’s not raining, though it’s five thirty and basically pitch black out.
We find ourselves at a pub. It’s rustic inside, but quiet and quaint. We order burgers. Jack and I get a beer, and Mikayla orders a glass of red wine. The food is delicious. And I find myself relaxing and enjoying the company after everything we dealt with today.
“I needed this after today,” Jack says, leaning back in the booth we are sitting at.
“Do you think she came over just because we were there?” Mikayla asks. “Like she knew we were there?”
“Like she saw us on the cam and came over just to yell at us?” Jack asks.
“No, she telepathically sensed we had entered the house. Yes! Because of the cam!” Mikayla says sarcastically before flicking her brother on the forehead.
“What the fuck, Mick!” he yells, moving away from her. He places his hand on his forehead and holds it there. “That stung.”
“Oh please, it wasn’t that bad.” She chides, rolling her eyes.
“Both of you, stop.”
Mikayla turns and looks at me, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth, her brows raised. “Um… do I need to remind you of something?” she asks, the smirk growing into a full-fledged grin.
“Call me that word and you can sleep with Jack tonight.”
“Jack, you mind if I crash with you tonight?” Mikayla asks, turning to look at him.
“Not at all,” he says with a smile.
I frown.
“If you don’t want me to call you Daddy, don’t act like one!” she says forcefully.
And that’s the story of how I ended up begging Mikayla to sleep in my bed on our first night in Seattle.