Page 96 of Relentles
Something felt off, although CJ wasn’t sure what that might be. Mom and Dad looked tragic. He suspected it was Jo. Usually,CJ was allowed to hold her, but Torie had refused since the day of his brothers’ putridness with the shitcapade.
CJ wanted to ask what had so upset his parents, but he was afraid to discover the answer. It stood to reason his parents wouldn’t share the news and ruin everyone’s Christmas. CJ appreciated the reprieve. The constant tragedies were overwhelming him.
Once they arrived home, Axel sped toward the den. He wanted his gifts. Mom and Rebel branched off to the kitchen while everyone else headed to the gifts.
In the den, Axel scooted around the tree, searching the gift tags for his name.
“Wait for your mom and sister,” Dad ordered.
Ten minutes later, Mom and Rebel carried in trays containing sodas, beer, and juice, Dad frowned.
“Where’s Bunny?”
“At home, Christopher,” Mom said quietly, setting the tray on the coffee table and stepping aside so Rebel could do the same with hers. “I told her to stay with her family.” She glanced at the clock. “Just because we’re running late doesn’t mean we have to impose on them.”
Dad narrowed his eyes. “This got to do with Digger?”
“No.” Mom’s expression didn’t change, as unreadable as her monotone.
“I pay her for you to impose on her whatever time of day, whenever you need her, no matter what the fuck’s goin’ on.”
They will be arriving shortly to start tonight’s meal.”
“I would like a glass of wine,” Tabitha announced, nodding at the trays. “I don’t see one.”
Mom gritted her teeth. “Get it yourself, Tabitha,” she snapped. “There are more things in the world to worry about than whether you have a stupid glass of wine.”
Rebel smirked. Dad sighed. CJ worried.
“Uh, of c-course, Aunt Meggie,” Tabitha said, thrown off kilter by Mom’s annoyance. “I can get it.” She sailed out of the room.
Mom walked to the sofa and sat next to Dad. He turned her face toward him, tipped her chin up, and kissed her tenderly.
“Maahhhhh,” Gunner baaed, crawling onto her lap and kneeling on it. He wrapped his chubby arms around her neck. “Pwesents?”
Smiling, Mom nodded.
“Why did we have to visit that stupid baby?” Axel complained. “We’re supposed to wake up first thing in the morning to openallour presents in our jammies. Not half early and half late.”
Mom ignored him, continuing with her funny faces at Gunner and grinning at his laughter.
“MOM!” Axel yelled.
She didn’t answer.
“Momma?” Rebel said.
Swallowing, Mom flinched.
“What’s wrong?” Rebel asked, her voice trembling. “What’s wrong with Jo? They won’t let me hold her anymore. I didn’t think much of it, but I know it’s something bad because of the way you’re acting.”
“Jo needs surgery,” she said, not looking at anyone, pretending to be wrapped up in Gunner’s laughter.
CJ knew his mom. Even with all his siblings, he’d spent the most time with her. He knew her in most of her moods—happy, sad, angry, devious, wanting alone time with Dad, frightened, and everything in between. Watching her, he recognized she was holding herself together by a thread. What he also knew was nothing would keep her from Dad during this time.
But she looked so pitiful, CJ’s heart twisted in his chest.
Jo was in danger.
