Page 52 of Timeless: Encore

Mom sneers. “Don’t be such a fucking baby, Fiona. I’m venting. I have every right …”

“No, you don’t. Not in my house.” I’m so done with her.

“It’s not your house, it’s Zane’s house.” She laughs. “When he fucks around on you—he did it before so he’ll do it again—you’ll be shit outta luck. Where you gonna live? At your fancy new restaurant he paid for? Talk about self-indulgent and entitled. Who the fuck do you think you are?”

”It’s time for you to leave.” I stand and gesture to the stairs leading to the kitchen, where it’s a short walk to the front door. Ruing the day I ever told her about why Zane and I broke up. Iknewit would bite me in the ass.

She doesn’t move. “You’re not going to kick your own mother out. Even you wouldn’t stoop that low.”

Zane gets up and puts his arm around me. “Faye, you always take it too far. And you’re never self-aware enough to see the path of destruction you carve.”

“Shut the fuck up, you red-blooded bastard.” She lunges toward us.

Zane steps in between us, spitting mad. “Wow. Fucking wow. Racist much? Tell me how you really feel,Faye.”

I’m horrified, but not surprised at my mother’s hatred directed at Zane’s indigenous heritage. But it’s also horrific because it’s partially mine too on my dad’s side. I push Zane aside. “Mom, I’m dead serious. You just can’t stop yourself. And now I’m D.O.N.Edone. That’s it. The end of our relationship. You will not speak to me or my husband that way inourhouse. Your racist, cunty ways are no longer welcome in my life. I can’t risk you being around Mia. Or any of our future babies unless you make some serious changes. I mean it.”

“I’m not leaving until I see my granddaughter. If you won’t let me, I’ll sue,” she screams. “I’ll fuckingsue.”

I’m all tapped out. “Do your worst. I’ve been through it all. Your threats mean nothing. Please leave, or I will call the police.”

“You’d do that?” She finally stands and her entire demeanor shifts again. “To your ownmother?”

“You’re not my mother unless you make changes.” I shrug. “Until that time, yes. I would. Gladly.”

She gasps. Starts to cry. No, she sobs. “I’m sorry, Fiona. Please …”

Zane senses I’m on a razor’s edge at this point, and I am. But I also know my mother. I can’t allow her manipulative ways to put him in harm’s way. “Babe, please call Zeke.”

‘Oh, right. Yeah.” Understanding washes over him. He punches in a text.

Two minutes later, Zeke appears. Assesses. Sends his own texts, then addresses Faye. “Ma’am. I’ve called backup.”

“You,what?” She’s shaken, that much is clear.

“I’m not safe with you, neither is my family. It’s clear you do not have our best interests at heart, so it is what it is. Please get help.” My head is absolutely pounding. I just want her gone.

Zane bands his arm around my waist. I sink back into him. He kisses my temple. Whispers, “I love you, I know this is excruciating.”

”Yeah.” I stave off tears, which will come later. For sure. I focus back on my mother. “Mom, you need to leave. Now.”

She shuffles away with Zeke following several paces behind. Zane and I trail after them. At the front door, Zeke holds it ajar. Just when I think she’s going to finally get the fuck out, she turns. “You’ll regret this, Fiona. I’m your only family. The one whotrulyloves you. Don’t you get fooled into thinking all of this is your real life. You’ve never done anything in your life to deserve being this rich. It’s obscene.You’reobscene. A fat, lazy, insecure little bitch who couldn’t accomplish a fucking thing on her own. You’ll never get a Michelin Star. You should never have been born, you utter waste of human space.”

I gasp. She’s stabbed me a million times in the past and again tonight with her words. It feels like the final blow. I literally crumple to the ground. She flashes me a triumphant sneer on her way out.

If that weren’t the worst thing that could happen, I see movement on the staircase. Mia. She heard everything.

Zane sees it too, he frantically looks at me and then up at where Mia was. Back again. He’s conflicted, but I’m not. “Go to her, please. I need a minute.”

“Fee, youknowwhat she said isn’t true.” He crouches down and takes my face in his hands. “She’s lost control of you, she’d say any fucking thing to get it back.”

My head knows this, but my heart hasn’t caught up. Doesn’t matter, Mia’s who is most important. “Please, babe. Can you check on her? Give me a chance to shake this off and I’ll be right up.”

“But ...” He’s so incredibly pure and sweet.

I must release him from worrying about me. For both our sakes. “Zane, Alex had a miscarriage. Zoey and Ty are dealing with his past issues with a mother who actually physically abused him. Ronni has a nanny who’s obsessed with her husband. I’m fine. We’ll talk later. Please make sure our daughter is okay. I’m holding it together for her. Believe me, I just need to have a cry and I’ll be better. I don’t want to do it in front of her.”

”Okay, babe. Okay.” He kisses me deeply. “She’s horrible.” Kisses. “I love you.” More kisses. You didn’t deserveanyof that.”

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