Page 88 of Operation Annulment
Zane gives me a questioning look while Dakota incinerates me with her eyes.
I think it’s safe to assume that the rest of the night will be miserable.
thirty-four
COMMANDMENT #35: THOU SHALT NOT MEDDLE IN THE AFFAIRS OF OTHERS
Kate
Out of all the things I expected on my sister’s wedding day, being locked out of the dressing room was not one of them. Ava came out and apologetically informed me I would need to get ready elsewhere.
Running into my grandparents as they tried to sneak in a back door at the event center wasn’t high on my list of possibilities, either.
“Mary Katherine, there you are,” Nan crows. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for months now.”
Her hair still has a faint purple tint, and I suppress a smile, knowing who was responsible. The coldness reflected in her eyes, though, tells me everything I need to know.
She doesn’t feel a shred of remorse for stealing from us.
“Nan. Pops,” I say, my tone indifferent. “I didn’t think you got an invitation.”
Pops takes in the decorated tables. “We didn’t. Will you just tell us what’s going on? Your Nan and I have done just about everything, trying to get in touch with you girls. When I saw theannouncement in the paper, I told her we had to try at least. So, I’m here to say we’re sorry for whatever we’ve done to upset the both of you.”
I blink rapidly, fighting against the lump in my throat. It’s been there for so long that I’m beginning to think it’s a tumor. “Pops, you know why Dakota and I are so upset. Mama told us everything.”
My grandmother’s eyes bulge. “Your mother? What lies did she feed you this time? She’s always tried to turn you away from us!”
Little Ricky rounds the corner, only to retreat immediately upon seeing the commotion.
Some help he is.
My fingernails dig into my palms, and I take a deep breath. “My mother sent money from the moment we moved in with you. Money to cover clothing, college, and cars. We never saw a cent, though. Oh, and my father is alive. Which part is a lie?”
Pops shakes his head adamantly. “We never received money from your mother and had to dip into our retirement savings to keep you two as comfortable as possible. As for your father, he isn’t exactly an upstanding citizen, and your mother felt it best for you to believe he was dead. If we’re guilty of anything, it’s honoring her wishes.”
I narrow my eyes at Nan, giving her the sweeping once-over she often used on me and Dakota growing up. “Really?” I ask with a bitter laugh, jerking my thumb toward my grandmother. “Care to explain how she’s afforded all her little surgeries and that expensive Cadillac?”
His face darkens, and a vein bulges in his forehead. “Mary Katherine, what your grandmother does is none of your damn concern! That money was an inheritance from a relative of hers that passed a few years back! Young lady, I ought to?—”
“Ought towhat?” a voice growls from behind me, raising the hairs on my neck. “Choose your words carefully, old man. That’s my baby girl you’re speaking to.”
Grey steps in between us, and Nan’s face drains of color. Even Pops stumbles back in fear.
“Which relative was it, Norma? Last I checked, not a single one of ‘em had a pot to piss in.”
“J-J-Jamie, we don’t want any trouble,” Pops stammers. “Mary Katherine was mistaken.”
Jamie?
I thought his name was Grey and had long assumed his parents were hippies who had a thing for the names of colors.
My father stands in a wide-legged stance, effectively blocking me from getting around him to defend myself.
“Dick,” he says, keeping his voice low. “Kate ain’t mistaken, and I never for a minute thought you knew jack shit about what went on under your roof. But I’m out a fuck ton of money—money that was meant for my girls. Norma knows all about it, though, and she’s gonna come clean, ain’t she?”
Nan nods shakily, lowering her head as she admits, “I—I did it. I took the money.”
Pops gasps. “Jesus, Norma! How much did you take? We can fix this. Please, let me make this right.”
