Page 22 of Raise 'Em Up

I can see that she’s remodeled in here again. Last time I was here it was her yoga studio. Now it seems she’s into crafting. There is fabric and tumblers everywhere, but it looks like Marisa has cleaned in here at least.

The small kitchen table is full of toasted paninis and sides. I leave Teo and my mom to take a seat and move over to the stocked refrigerator grabbing us drinks. Soda for me and Teo, and water for my mom.

“Thank you, baby,” she says, but she doesn’t put her vodka down. “So, I am happy to see you boys, but I know that’s not why you wanted to meet. I’m assuming this has to do with your father and that horrid man,” she grumbles before draining her glass and holding it out for a refill.

I didn’t even notice Harry was here. He takes the bottle and gives her more. I grumble under my breath, but this is how things are here. It’s a wonder I have an issue with alcohol.

Teo grabs my hand under the table and gives it a squeeze. Taking a deep breath, I turn back to my mom. “I’m not marrying her, Mom. I’m in love with someone else, and that’s why I’m here. We need your help.”

I tell her all about Missi and her father’s schemes, and about Rylee. I watch as her face becomes red and she’s shaking with anger. Thankfully, she stopped drinking after her refill, and now she’s on her second bottle of water.

I haven’t touched any food and Teo pushes the sandwich closer to me. I take a bite and wait for my mom to say something. She’s staring out the window at the main house. Her hand is clenched into a fist and she’s breathing harder.

“I will take care of everything, baby.” Moving her chair away from the table, she stands, running her hand along her sundress as she strides out of the house, her heels clicking as she walks.

I immediately stand, following.

The moment I reach the main house, I can already hear the screaming.

Teo and I walk closer to my father’s office, but keep out of sight. My mother is on a tirade.

“How dare you walk into my office like you have some say in what I do in my free time!” my father roars, shaking the walls. My heart races and my stomach twists. Oh, he’s mad. Really mad.

“Just try me! I have proof of you and other women, Lennox. Don’t think I won’t go to the reporters about the great Lennox ‘The Lion’ Crane having an affair with a girl that could be his daughter. You disgust me. I may be trapped in this marriage for the unforeseeable future, but I will not let you destroy our son’s life anymore. You will go to the school board and get Dean Kondum fired, or so help me God!” my mom screams back at him. Teo grabs my arm, pulling me away from the office and into the guest bathroom just in time.

My father storms out, and the next thing I hear is the front door slamming. I wait a minute, trying to catch my breath before leaving and looking for my mother. She’s sitting on the couch in his office, crying, deep heaving sobs.

Teo leaves us and I wrap my arms tightly around her, comforting her. “Thank you,” I whisper, and she looks up at me.

“I failed you as a mother, Lennox. I know I did. But no more. I’ve missed most of your life wasted or on some kind of medication. After we get your girl back into school, I am going to sign myself into rehab and get clean.”

My eyes widen and I fight not to cry. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for her.

“Maybe after I get back, we can start over. Something small like weekly dinners, or maybe a movie night?” She looks at me with so much hope that I can’t refuse.

“I’d like that, Mom.”

“When are Len and Teo supposed to be back?” I ask Colt, dropping down onto the sofa beside him. He’s doing something on his laptop and I’m bored. Alex and Trevor are at Target getting some things for Rylee, and I offered to babysit Peaches.

I’m exhausted. I didn’t sleep well last night, knowing that I had to leave my Cherry. I pick up Peaches, who is rubbing against my ankle, and the little fluff ball curls up onto my lap, purring, making me smile.

Closing his computer, he takes his glasses off and rubs his eyes. “They should be back in an hour or so. Len texted that his mom took care of phase one. I guess she had some deep blackmail on his dad.”

I snort. “That’s not surprising. Lennox senior has tons of skeletons in his closet.”

Len’s dad reminds me a lot of the man who hurt me. He has an evil darkness in his eyes. His fake smile never fooled me.

“Yes, well, now they are starting to show, but in this case, it helped us.”

“How soon do you think it’ll be until Rylee gets to come back?”

“I guess his dad stormed out after the confrontation, so hopefully, within the next few weeks. We don’t want her missing too many classes or practices. Now that Missi is going to be off the team, I will need to re-choreograph a good portion of our dances and cheers.”

Sighing, I lean my head against the back of the couch and close my eyes. “Do you ever get tired of being an overachiever?” I mumble and Colt scoffs beside me.

“You know I need to be in control, Donny. It has nothing to do with achievements. Competitions are coming up and we need to be prepared. We need to dominate. This is our year.”

He continues to talk about his new routine ideas, but I find myself drifting off.

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