Page 192 of Restless
Johnnie seized the opportunity to torture Meggie, playing upon all her fears. She needed her strength back. And she needed the headaches to go away, always heralded by Johnnie’s calls. She was desperate for his harassment to stop, but she didn’t know how to handle the situation in a way that’d allow Johnnie to remain among the living.
Hopefully, the dinner signaled a turning point. Christmas was around the corner. Molly should be released soon. Jo was thriving. Meggie had one more appointment with Jordan before the end of the year. Tonighthadto lighten everyone’s mood.
Her goal of sending Jaleena and her sisters with Rebel, and CJ, Christopher and the rest of the guys with Mr. Davis, while she and the women entertained JaZuria was to put everyone at ease while getting to know each other.
CJ not only wanted to impress Jaleena but her parents. Christopher thought it would be best if he guided their son through meeting Jaleena’s father, while Meggie befriended her mother. Except JaZuria Davis marched next to Meggie with decided hostility. Even when Megan complimented her on her outfit, she barely spoke.
“Hey, baby,” Roxy greeted as Meggie led JaZuria into the kitchen, where a beehive of activity buzzed. As usual, Roxy was calm amid the storm, dressed in a black sequined mini dress, embellished at the wrists with feathers. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” Meggie mumbled, smiling at Mattie as she rushed to her and wrapped her arms around Meggie’s waist.
Like Rebel, Mattie was also taller than Meggie.
“Come and sit down, Aunt Smurfette,” Mattie teased.
Giggling, Meggie allowed her niece to guide her to a stool near where Kendall tore Romaine leaves. Next to her, Bunny cubed potatoes, while Roxy finished her bread pudding mixture.
“This is Ja—”
“Should I go to your office, Aunt Meggie?” Mattie asked, speaking at the same moment. “To help Rebel with the gifts?”
Meggie looked at Kendall and gave the barest shake of her head. Kendall was stunning in a strapless, bandage dress, in the same emerald shade as the bows in her Mattie’s.
“No, darling,” Kendall said. “I think your daddy hasn’t gone to the mancave yet.”
“Rebel will text you,” Meggie added, then nodded to JaZuria. She stood at the far end of the counter, her gaze touching everywhere. “This is Jaleena’s mom. JaZuria Davis. JaZuria, this is—”
“Mrs.JaZuria Davis,” JaZuria corrected, and nodded to Roxy. “If we hadn’t seen Knox, I would have been shocked into speechlessness by your presence, Mrs. Harrington.”
“Mrs. Harrington?” Kendall snickered. “When hasRoxyever been so formal?”
Roxy spooned the last of the bread pudding mixture into a glass baking dish. “When my money is involved and bitches don’t know their place.” She slammed the bowl onto the counter, the spoon clanking in a haphazard movement. “If Bailey keeps it up, that bitch’ll call me Mrs. Harrington, too.”
Pressing her lips together, JaZuria flicked her fingers over the bodice of her dress. “I meant no harm, Mrs. Harrington. I merely wanted to relieve our bartender. If I would’ve known you were Knox’s wife, I never would’ve suggestedyoufill in.”
“Even if I was just a bitch off the street attending as a paying guest, I was in a fucking evening gown, JaZuria. Like you.”
JaZuria lifted her chin, but Jordan rolling in a cart stacked with Meggie’s Santa Claus dishes prevented a response.
“Ava is selecting the glasses, so…JaZuria!” Jordan halted next to the woman and smiled. “You made it.”
“Hi, Jordan.” Offering a relieved smile, JaZuria kissed Jordan’s cheek. “It’s lovely to see you.”
Meggie winced. Bad manners and poor hostessing wouldn’t serve CJ’s purpose, whatever that might be. “JaZuria, would you help with the salad? I still need the tomatoes washed and sliced.”
“We waited for you before we opened a bottle of champagne,” Bunny said, picking up on Meggie’s cues.
“Aunt Meggie, do you think Rebel has started wrapping the presents yet?” Mattie asked. “Maman, can you text Daddy and ask where he’s at?”
“Rebel will text you, darling,” Kendall swore.
Over the past few days, Kendall had thrown herself into helping Meggie, especially with their daughters. The distraction seemed to have returned her equilibrium. Before Christopher and CJ arrived with the rest of their family and the Davises, Kendall led the discussion on the upcoming Mardi Gras Ball. The plans even drew Meggie away from her worry over Christopher and Jo, her concern about Molly, and her weariness Johnnie’s behavior.
“Let me retry with the introductions,” Meggie said into the silence, broken only by Jordan rolling the cart closer and Roxy shoving the bread pudding into the oven. “Mrs.JaZuria Davis, this is Kendall Donovan, my sister-in-law and a lawyer like you.”
“I am anattorney, Mrs. Caldwell,” JaZuria said succinctly. “I can represent my clients in court and other legal matters. Your sister-in-law, a lawyer, cannot.”
Kendall narrowed her smoky, kohl-lined eyes. “I—”
