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Winifred sniffed. “Such language. I never knew what Aaron saw in you. I figured he was just going through a slumming phase. He would have gotten over it and dumped you as soon as he realized what trash you were.”
She wouldn’t let her get to her. She would not.
“You need to leave. I don’t know why you have any interest in Caleb and Jamie now, but you will have nothing to do with them.”
The bitch smiled. “I do believe the courts may have a different opinion once I let them know that my grandsons are in danger.”
Her eyes widened. “They’re not in danger.”
“Living here? I do believe there is a very real possibility they could be harmed irrevocably. They are so impressionable. The only safe place for them is under my tender care.”
Tender care? She didn’t even know how to be a semi-decent human being. She wasn’t getting her hands on Jamie and Caleb. But while Aspen knew her charges had no foundation, she could cause trouble, bring Child Protection Services in, have them examine her life and Saxon’s.
“You need to leave before I call the police.”
“We’ll be back. Come Marcus.” The man nodded at her then helped escort the old bitch down to the car waiting in the driveway.
Aspen stumbled back, shutting the door. Her breath seized in her lungs. She couldn’t breathe. Panic held her captive as she slid to the floor with a thump.
She was going to take her boys. She couldn’t. She couldn’t. Aspen would run before she let that happen. She didn’t know why she wanted them now, but she wasn’t getting her hands on them.
No. No. She needed to go.
She couldn’t go. Joel. She needed to talk to Joel.
Oh, God. What was she going to do? She ran up the stairs to grab her cell phone and quickly searched for his number. It went immediately to voicemail.
Shit. Shit.
Her stomach churned, and, knowing she was going to vomit, she raced into the bathroom and heaved into the toilet. When her stomach had rid itself of its contents, she slid to the floor, leaning back against the wall.
She took a deep breath. Then another. This wasn’t helping. This is what the old bitch wanted—for her to panic and just give in. Well, Aspen was built tougher than that. And Winifred Hartfield was not getting Jamie and Caleb.
But what to do?
Joel couldn’t help her. Even if she did get hold of him, he’d be torn between helping his friends and her. He wouldn’t be happy that she kept it from him but she’d deal with that later. R
ight now, she needed to do something about Winifred.
She glanced down at her phone. Joel was always telling her that she had friends who would help her in a heartbeat. Time to see if that was true. She searched for another number, waiting impatiently for the other person to pick up.
“Hello, Molly? It’s Aspen. I need help.”
She was in a state of shock. It was the only explanation for the way she stood there, staring around the room, her mouth half-open. Where had all these people come from?
“Aspen, sit down before you fall down. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“More like the devil in disguise.” But she followed Molly over to the couch. “What’s everyone doing here?”
“We’re here to help you,” Hannah said from where she sat at the other end of the couch. She held a clipboard, pen, and phone.
“We’re going to teach that old crone not to mess with one of our own,” Molly said cheerfully. “Now, Jake said he would be here soon with more reinforcements, but can you tell us anything more that will help?”
There were ten other people sitting or standing around. Most were on cell phones. It was bizarre.
“I didn’t expect all of this.” In truth, she hadn’t been certain what to expect.
Molly sat on the coffee table in front of her and leaned over and took her hand. “Lots of people care about you, Aspen. Do you think we’d let you fight this on your own?”
