Page 52 of Her Bossy Daddy

“It’s no trouble.” I smiled as Lacey handed me a plate of food. “Thank you, love.” She nodded, and then sat down on the stool closet to my sister. “So, which direction is your story going?”

“I thought you were too busy to give a damn about what I was doing, but—” Raegan glanced to Lacey who had remained quiet. “This is a hard story to tell.”

“I’m the absolute last person who would ever judge you,” Lacey smiled and encouraged my sister to continue. “I won’t go into details, but it’s been sort of an intense weekend.”

“Oh? Well, maybe you’ll share with me sometime.” Rae took a breath. “One night my mom really let me have it. I’d been coming home early in the morning or sometimes not at all. Mum raged at me for like an hour. Told me I spoiled my father’s memory. Told me I’d never amount to anything. So, I’d told her to mind her own damn business because I hadn’t mattered to anyone for a while. My mum got in my face one too many times, and I did the unthinkable. I called her a cunt, and smacked her across the face.”

“I used to call you whenever I got a break at work, but you stopped answering my calls. I know our sisters were trapped in their own world of grief, and it doesn’t make it right, but we were all trying to find the strength to go on every day.” I jabbed my fingers through my hair. “Mom couldn’t be there for you, and I know she regrets it to this day.”

“She locked me out of the house! She took my keys, my phone, and my wallet. Then she demanded I wait outside, and said you would deal with me when you got home.” Raegan looked up at the ceiling and back down. “You did what she said you would.”

“You don’t know the entire story, Rae. I’d been working late when Mom called me. She said you threw a punch. I asked you multiple times when I got home about the incident, but you refused to open up and tell me.” I twirled the shot glass around on the table. “Multiple times in fact.”

“I figured you already had your mind made up.” Rae plucked the glass from in between my fingers and twirled it in front of her. I plucked it right back and we stared at each other for a moment. She cocked an eyebrow. “One more, please?”

“I’ve never taken anyone’s word solidly without seeking all the information, Rae. You know me better than to assume such a thing.” I poured out one last round for the two of us since it would go to Lacey’s head if I insisted on her hitting another. “Anyhow, I couldn’t allow you, no, I wouldn’t allow you to disrespect our mother or yourself any longer. You’ve never raised a hand to her since then. I’d say something stuck in your head.” I spun the bottle of Jameson, and wished I’d been more clear all those years ago. “I’m not going to apologize, little sister. Someone needed to get you on a different path.”

“What happened between the two of you?” Lacey whispered. “I don’t have any brothers or sisters, but I can’t imagine holding onto anger for so many years. Life is too freaking short.”

“You have no idea how mad I was for so many years!” Raegan shouted at the same time as Lacey asked her questions. “So many years, Liam.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” I attempted to end the story there but the look in Raegan’s eyes told me we weren’t anywhere close to finished with this. She got to her feet. “We don’t have to continue this, Rae. Let’s just let it go.”

“He spanked me with our father’s strap, like I was some naughty child.” Raegan pointed at me as she spat out the words and her eyes shone with tears.

Lacey opened her mouth to reply, but I held up a hand. She quickly slammed her trap shut, and pretended to lock it with a mock key.

“You were acting like a child, Rae. Raising a hand to our mother proved it.” I kept my tone even, unsure of exactly how much more she was going to share.

“So, you raised a hand to my arse. Did you teach a real lesson there?” Raegan shot back.

“Yeah, or I doubt you’d be here at the moment.” I folded my arms over my chest, and leaned back against the counter. “You could’ve told me to find another lawyer, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t expect to have this conversation with an audience, so I’m a bit on edge.” Raegan brushed at her eyes.

“You’re not making much sense. What is it you really want to say?” I’d wondered for so long what really had bothered her.

“I had to take a long, hard look into myself and do you know what I found? I found out I was an awful, bad-tempered little girl who missed her daddy. Do you know what made me even more angry? I was too proud to call you. Too proud to say thank you for being the one person in this whole damn world who held me accountable. Too proud to say thank you for always being there when no one else could be there.” Her lower lip trembled, but she didn’t back away this time. “No, instead of being able to work through those emotions, I’d let anger and hate boil for a bit. Well, more than a bit. Many, many years I’ve spent being dead wrong with levels of misplaced feelings. I couldn’t be angry at Dad for dying, and yet I was. I took things out on Mom even though it wasn’t her fault. I took it out on our family. Most of all, I took it out on you. When you punished me that night, I was forced to deal with everything. Everything I’d been burrowing deep inside of me. I should have been more open. So, I’ve wasted all this time not talking to you for no fucking reason, right?”

“It’s all right, Rae.” I met the distance between us and wrapped her in a hug. All those years I thought she hated me, when it was the opposite. She cried as soon as I touched her, great racking sobs, and I pulled her closer. My sister cried for several minutes, and finally took a few good breaths. I released her and she looked up at me.

“I miss him so much, Liam. He’s not ever coming back.”

“No, but I’m not going anywhere. Let’s move forward, right? You said what you needed to, and I forgive you.” Lacey rushed past us and grabbed the whistling kettle off the stove.

“We don’t need exploding teapots.” Lacey mumbled. “I need to make a few phone calls. May I?”

“She has to ask to use the phone?” Raegan asked in bewilderment.

“It’s a long story.” I nodded to Lacey. “Yeah, love, go ahead.”

“You have my phone,” Lacey pointed out.

Shit. I forgot I took it away, and stated I wouldn’t give it back until she earned it back. I clenched my jaw a few times, gathering patience. It wasn’t Lacey’s fault that my sister showed up unannounced any more than it was Raegan’s fault for inserting herself into our weekend.

“You took her phone—” my sister started.

“Rae,” I interrupted her with a growl. “We just got back on the same page. Give me a moment.”

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