Page 240 of Restless
She wasn’t. She felt peculiarly warm and lightheaded.
“I swear to you, CJ, I only said what I did out of sarcasm after spending the last twenty minutes trying to talk her into having a hysterectomy. She insists she wants ten more children.”
Lowering her lids, Meggie glanced at the sidewalk. It was better for CJ to believe that flaming lie for the time being. Drawing herself up, she smiled at her son. “I love babies,” she mumbled.
Disapproval crossed CJ’s face, then he glared at Johnnie. “That’s between my parents, fuckhead.Myfather is her husband, not you, so get to fucking stepping and the fuck out of my mother’s face.”
“Megan—”
“Now, uncle.” CJ nodded in the direction of the parking lot.
“This isn’t over.” Johnnie stormed away.
Meggie wasn’t sure what game Johnnie was playing, but Christopher wasn’t in a good frame of mind. He’d shoot now and regret later, since worry for her continued to consume him. Whenever she broached the subject of another baby to feel him out and see if there was any truth to Johnnie’s words, Christopher insisted he wanted whatever she wanted.
Now, Johnnie was switching tactics, claiming she wanted more babies after she’d almost died having Jo and her family was traumatized.
Something was brewing and none of it was good.
Inside the coffee shop, CJ guided her to a table near a window but secluded from most of the other patrons.
Meggie’s head was pounding. No matter how much she pretended otherwise, Johnnie’s unreasonable words, and sudden reversal, were affecting her. She wanted to crawl into bed and stay there.
But no matter what Johnnie said, Christopher would be as devastated and inconsolable as her if they separated.
“Here, Mom.”
CJ sat a medium sized coffee in front of Meggie, along with two steaming Cheese Danishes. He walked away, returning moments later with a blueberry muffin, chocolate croissant, and a slice of lemon loaf, along with a large coffee.
“Eat,” he encouraged after taking his seat and scarfing down the croissant and the muffin. He gulped his coffee and started on the lemon loaf. “Dad said you didn’t eat breakfast. You must be starving.”
Meggie smiled. “I had a banana and juice.”
“Hours ago.” CJ narrowed his eyes. “Wait! Are you okay? What did Aunt Jordan say? Fuck, Mom!” He jumped to his feet. “Give me your keys. I’ll rush you to the ER. Let me call Dad—”
“Son!” Meggie stood and stepped in front of her frantic boy. She placed a hand on his chest. “Calm down, potato. I’m fine. Jordan said I have to watch what I eat.” She explained about her blood pressure, then nodded to CJ’s chair. “Sit.”
“Does Dad know?” he asked, after they were both seated again.
“Not yet,” Meggie admitted. “By the time I got home, he’d have Kendall making menus for us.”
“Foryou,” CJ said, grinning. He winked at her. “We love you, Mom, but in this instance that would be your cross to bear. Aunt Kendall thinks it’s good culinary skills to cook charcoal, kelp, ink, and clay.”
Meggie bit into one of the Danishes. “She finds edible ingredients, potato.”
“Noneof that is edible, Mom,” CJ said with indignation.
“Squidink is, as is activated charcoal.” She bit another piece of her pastry, then sipped her coffee.
Scowling, he snatched her untouched Danish and chomped on it. She giggled.
“You had a huge breakfast, CJ,” she teased.
“I’m a growing boy, ma’am. Besides, shopping is exhausting. I’m so glad Uncle Val had Bishop and Orange bring the cargo vans to transport motherfuckers and merchandise back to the club.”
“Don’t call your brothers and cousinsmotherfuckers, son.”
CJ guffawed. “Don’t say motherfuckers, Mom. Your propriety butchers the word.”
