“Rhodes, would you wait here?” Rory looked miserable.
“I’m coming with you. Let me help. Please.” I wasn’t sending her to deal with this on her own.
We rounded the corner and came upon the scene. Davis, the security guard, faced the mother. He was stoic, and she was red-faced, still yelling. Tammy Harris wore lived-in jeans and a plaid shirt open over a tight-fitting concert tank top. She had Rory’s fair coloring, but the similarities ended there. Instead of Rory’s curves, she was all sharp angles. She had long, wild hair, kohl-rimmed eyes, and her face had the weathered look that came with years of hard living.
She stopped hollering when she saw us.
Her eyes went to Rory first, then me—curiously, shrewdly taking in our formal clothing and entwined hands.
“There she is,” she barked at the security guard. “There’s my daughter!”
“Mom.” Rory sounded remarkably steady. “What are you doing here?”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Tammy screeched. “What amIdoing here? I’m here because someone’s trying to take my kids. And you know all about it!”
“Mom—”
“I got served papers last night! Banging on my hotel door until I opened up! Everyone heard it!”
“I’m sorry that happened to you. Why don’t we just calm down, so we can talk it through?” Rory offered.
“Oh, I bet you’d like that, Little Miss Holier than Thou,” she snorted, then jerked her chin in my direction. “Who’s the suit?”
“Rhodes Barrington,” I said.
“Oh yeah, I read all about you on the plane.” She took a step toward the gate. Davis moved subtly to maintain his position. “You’ve got my daughter living in your fancy house, doing your bidding, and now you’re trying to take my other kids? My son and my daughter? Over my dead body!”
“Ms. Harris, I’m sure we could talk this through?—”
“I AM GOING TO BURN YOUR LIFE DOWN!” she shrieked. “You think you can get away with tearing my family apart? You think you can get away withtraffickingmy daughter? I am going to fuck your shit up?—”
“Mom!Stop it!” Rory yelled.
“Don’t you raise your voice at me. Shame on you.” Tammy’s eyes narrowed on her daughter. “You always were too big for your britches. Howdareyou try to take Josie and Bo from me. Just ‘cause you’re living in a big house wearing fancy clothes doesn’t make you better than me. My kids are all I got, and you know it!”
“You’re the one who left them.” Rory’s eyes were wild, her chest heaving with emotion. “You’re the one who picked your stupid boyfriend over them and left them behind with nothing!”
“Don’t you dare judge me!” Tammy’s cheeks flushed red. “You think you’re better than me? Good luck. You left them for a man, too, and you haven’t even looked back. Grammy told me!”
They kept screaming at each other as Davis and I watched with wide eyes. It absolutely felt like an episode of a terrible daytime talk show, where the family members ended things by throwing chairs at each other. That would be in line with Tammy Harris’s brand, in fact.
How did I get here?
Ah, yes. The internet.Bad idea, Rhodes.
“Ms. Harris.” I stepped between them. “I understand that you’re upset, and you have every right.”
“See?” She didn’t tear her gaze from Rory. Her nostrils flared. “I’mright.”
“I also understand you’ve traveled a long way, and that you have concerns about the guardianship filing. Your concerns can be addressed through the appropriate legal channels.” I paused for a beat. “It’ll all be worked out in the children’s best interests, which I’m sure is your paramount concern.”
“Myparamount concern,” she said in a singsong voice, mimicking me. “That’s very fancy, Mr. Suit. But what the fuck are you saying?”
“I’m talking about the correct legal process,” I said. “Which will proceed whether you’re standing at my gate or not. It’s time for you to go.”
I’m not leaving till you call it off. I’ll keep screaming—trust me.” She jutted her chin. “Then everybody will know about my daughter and who shereallyis.”
Rory said nothing. Her eyes were bright, but she seemed determined not to cry in front of her mother.
