Mind Games

“Bullshit it’s not my business. It’s my only business now. I’ll make sure everyone knows how you planned to separate your dead son from my dead daughter. How you’re planning to put their orphaned children in boarding schools.”

“Our reputation—”

“Will be shit before I’m done. I swear on my life, you’ll end up covered in the shit I’ll shovel over your precious reputation. You, who’ve never once tucked them into bed, or rocked them, made a meal for them, loved them, listened to them. You treated my daughter, their mother, your son’s wife of thirteen years, like she was nothing. And it’s God’s truth you didn’t treat your own son much better.”

“How dare you?”

With her mouth twisted into a sneer, Lucy laughed.

“Oh, you have no idea what I’ll dare. I’m an Appalachian woman, born and bred. You try to take these children, children you don’t know or love or give two damns about? I’ll ruin you, I promise you. Why, when I’m done airing your dirty laundry, you’ll be giving parties nobody comes to. Next gala you go to? People’ll be whispering about you behind their hands.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“Drag these children into this, and you’ll see enough to make your eyes burn. John understood you better than I realized. And that’s why he made the guardianship ironclad, why he named you and your husband, his siblings in his will, and I will quote:

“‘Under no circumstances are those named below to serve as legal guardians of the minor children, as they are not fit to care for the minor children.’ Get your high-class lawyers, you go ahead, because I think that’ll hold up in court and embarrass the living hell out of you.”

“If you dare to take this to the media, I’ll sue you for libel.”

“I’d love it. I swear to God, I’d love you to try just that.”

Her heart pounded, but with fury, not fear.

“You’d have to prove I was lying, wouldn’t you? Since I’m not, you go ahead. I’ve got John’s own words on a legal document. I’ve got these kids, who only have to tell the truth to show what kind of people you are. I’ve got the fact that not once, not once since Thea was born, have you gotten your fat ass out to visit. Twelve years, and you couldn’t be bothered. And add a couple more with you treating my daughter, the woman John loved and married and had babies with, like dirt.”

Riding on rage, she flipped through her tattered phone book. “I’ve got John and Cora’s lawyer’s name and number right here. Why don’t you call, and he’ll tell you how far you’ll get with this? And while you’re doing that, I’ll just look up the top paper, TV, and radio stations in San Diego and cut your precious reputation to ribbons.”

“You want them so much, keep them. And know they’ll get nothing more from us.”

“Oh, I think Thea’ll be just fine without thirteen more dollars her next birthday.”

When Christine hung up, Lucy snarled at the phone. “You snake-eyed, blackhearted hell bitch.”

When she turned to put the phone down, Thea and Rem slid into the kitchen.

“Oh, sweet Jesus! You’re supposed to be resting.”

“You were sort of yelling.” Rem’s wide eyes fixed on her face.

“I didn’t mean to.” With a vicious headshake, Lucy hissed out her breath. “No, I damn well did.”

“You were really mad. I didn’t know you could get so really mad.”

“Well, I can. When it’s called for.” She shook a finger at Rem. “So remember that, and don’t make me so really mad.”

“I kinda liked it. You looked like a superhero.”

Thea reached down, took Rem’s hand. “Can they take us away?”

“No, my darlings, they can’t and they won’t. That’s a promise I can make and know I can keep. I talked to the lawyer in Virginia while you were outside. You’re mine. We’re each other’s. And that’s how it’s going to be.”

“Are you going to call the papers?”

“I won’t need to now.” Crossing over, she stroked Thea’s hair, then ruffled Rem’s.

“’Cause you scared her.”

“That’s right, Rem. I scared the crap right out of her.”