Page 87 of Remiss
“Another question.”
“You have an endless amount.”
“Ask questions or stay in the dark,” he retorted. “Why are you on a burner?”
“I’m not–”
“You are. You sent me your personal cell phone number in your note. When you called earlier, this one came up as ‘Unknown’.”
“It isn’t important.”
“I can draw my own conclusions.”
“Please do, so I don’t have to paint the fucking picture and talk to you another twenty minutes.”
He snickered. “I have so many uses for your smart mouth.”
“Goodbye.”
“One other question.”
“What?” she asked irritably.
“Does Meggie really look out for you that much?”
“Yes,” Kendall said softly. “I don’t know where I would be without her and Roxy. Meggie…Meggie deserves better thanwhat she’s been getting from Johnnie. From everyone. If she falls, we all will.”
“I’ll fix everything, Kendall,” Bash swore. “Let’s talk first. Don’t worry about anything else. I’m on this.”
He disconnected.
Like most of the Banks’ LA mansion, the sunken dining room adjacent to the kitchen had a black and white color scheme. Stark white walls, ceiling, and floor, black pendant chandeliers directly above the black dining table with ten white side chairs—five on each side—and two black armed chairs at each end. While the black bar and its black marble counter were edgy, it would’ve worked just as well with a splash of color. Theonly variance were the six gray steps that led up to the kitchen. Even the wall art was black and white.
To each their own, but around the time of Bailey’s last redecoration when she refused any of Bunny’s suggestions, she’d begun to pull away. Whereas before it was home away from home, now the estate reflected a joyless monochrome that bled into their everyday lives.
Mattie sat a bowl of salad and a cruet filled with oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs on one end of the table while Harley mimicked her and did the same at the other end. Kendall and Bunny poured wine into everyone’s glasses except Axel and Winnie’s. Because of her orthopedic boot, Meggie watched the bustle. Her ankle was mostly healed, but the house was big with multiple levels.
Axel scowled at Bunny when she bypassed him, but Meggie lifted a brow at him and he immediately smiled at her, then grabbed his water glass and took a big gulp.
“Meggie darling, will you hate me if I ask that we leave tomorrow?” Kendall asked as she and Bunny took their seats.
Zoann sipped her wine, but Meggie didn’t miss the way her sister-in-law’s eyes lit up. “Tomorrow? I, uh, we do have a new client Monday morning. It’ll also give Harley a day to rest before she returns to school.”
“I can get back to Derby,” Gypsy put in, eyeing the salad with anticipation. “I’m sure he misses me.”
“In your fucking dreams,” Kendall said, not the biggest fan of Gypsy. She blamed her for opening her mouth to Derby and turning him against Meggie.
Kendall felt as if Gypsy purposely repeated whatever advice Meggie gave to her because she felt threatened by her. Once, Meggie argued it was up to her to stop offering adviceandGypsy knew Meggie would never betray Christopher with anyone.
“I need to prepare for my meeting with Bash,” Kendall went on. “It’s supposed to happen Wednesday. I want to try to talk Johnnie into coming with me,” she said quietly, although she couldn’t hide her pain and sadness.
It was contagious.
Meggie nodded and looked at the women at the table. Friends, family, her strength in times of distress. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I love all of you so much. I want to see Rule before I go. Or at least visit the place he’s at if he w-won’t see me. I haven’t been able to get through to Father Wilkins.” He constantly sent her calls to voicemail. “If I haven’t heard from him by Friday, I’ll come home.” She swallowed, drew in a deep breath, and looked at Zoann. “Val must be crushed. He did nothing. Thank yousomuch for dropping everything to come with me. You don’t know how much it means to me. But go to your husband. Love him the way he loves you.”
“Oh Meggie, baby,” Zoann said quietly. “I could kill Christopher.”
“Do you want me to stay as your bodyguard, Mom?” Axel asked. “You’ll be here all alone.”
