Page 87 of Playing With Fire
As I pull back onto the highway, Shannon seethes. “I cannotbelieve the nerve of that man. The infuriating part is that I’m questioning everything. Did he ever love me? And if he didn’t, I can’tbelieveI fell for his bullshit!”
I stay silent, letting her process. It takes about an hour before she’s ready to talk again.
“Hud, he threatened your sister’s job. He threatenedyourjob. Your savings, your retirement. We have to let Monica know and I’m sure she’s going to be even less of a fan of mine once we tell her.”
“Shan, you forget that Mon and I have our own bone to pick with Gregor. He might’ve spewed threats to scare you into thinking we’d all be mad at you for dragging us into this, but that’s only because he’s too arrogant to realize he dragged us into it himself. All he did was make our forces stronger by giving us another person who wants to see him pay.”
The devil will fall by his own hands.
Chapter 35
Shannon
I’ve never been so relieved to see my daughter in all my life. I inhale her as I wrap my arms around her tiny body, swaying gently as she giggles in my arms…right before her eyes land on the man behind me and she reaches for him like always.
It might’ve hurt my feelings, but I think she knows Hudson needs the reassurance. Standing on my parents’ doorstep can’t be comfortable for him. Even as an adult, facing my parents with the undeniable truth ofI slept with this man while I was married to someone else,flowing between us is a little awkward.
Serafina happily stares at Hudson, planting her little fingers on his chin, as we move inside and I do introductions.
“Mom, Dad, this is Hudson Goddorah. Hud, my parents. Hank and Barbara Staudemeyer.”
“Goddorah?” my dad says. “Like that thing from Godzilla?”
My eyes flash to Hudson, waiting to see if he answers my father with the same quip about heads that he gave me.
Rolling his lips inward to hide his smile, Hudson nods. “Yes, sir. Pronounced the same at least.”
Just then, my mother, who can apparently bite her tongue foryearsif she wants to—but decides that now is not one of those times—adds, “You packing a third head we don’t know about?”
My father jerks his own head back to look at my mother with a puzzled expression on his face. “A third? Where’s the second?”
Hudson and I both burst out in laughter as my mom pats my dad’s shoulder. “Don’t you worry about it.”
My dad grunts. He knows he missed something, but also knows he probably doesn’t want to be clued in. Barbara Staudemeyer isn’t known for her conservative sense of humor.
“Well, Hudson, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” my mom says, diplomatically. “You two have a quite a shitstorm headed your way.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I deadpan.
“Well, you didn’t let me finish. I was going to say that you two are always welcome here. Shan, your father and I have talked and we’re happy to help however you need it, whether that means I’m opening Nanny’s daycare five days a week or you need something else, you just let us know.”
I hug my mom since Hud still has Serafina.
“Thanks, Mom,” I say, much more sincerely this time.
Turning her attention to Hudson, she gives him a once-over, her eyes briefly resting on where Serafina is playing with the silver chain he’s always wearing. “Seems my granddaughter is smitten, so that tells me all I need to know about you.” Then she turns her head to me and holds her hand up to block her mouth from view. Too bad she doesn’t lower her voice.
“Hotdamn, Shan. Talk about an upgrade.”
“Mooooom. Ohmygod, Hudson, I’m so sorry,” I lament, covering my face with my hands. But like always, Hudson is easy going and exactly where he’s supposed to be.
“Don’t listen to her,” he whispers to my mom. “I like knowing my efforts at the gym aren’t going unnoticed.”
“Don’t encourage her, son,” my dad says, making me laugh before I take a second to realize, in the all the time we were together, my dad never once referred to Gregor by that title.
Probably because Gregor always looked down on my father for being a plumber and never once addressed him assir. Looking back now, I don’t think my dad was ever comfortable around Greg at all.
As I’m about to usher Hudson out the door, an idea hits me. It’s small and hopefully won’t be necessary, but I ask it anyway.
