“Don’t play fuckin’ dumb, Magic, because I know better. Aunt Shirley sent it a year ago, and I need it.”
“You’re here for a key?” I asked, confused. What about my twins? What did Jody mean by ‘those kids didn’t exist’? If she hadn’t aborted them, what had happened? Panicked, I paled, and now Jody frowned.
“You miscarried?” I pressed, needing answers.
“Can we stay on topic? Magic, give me the key.”
What was Jody on about? A faint memory poked at me: about a year ago, I’d received a safety deposit key. It had arrived with a note to keep it safe and that someday someone would come for it. Me being me, and being a perverse fucker, I’d thrown it in adrawer and forgotten about it. Apparently, I had an answer to that mystery: Shirley had been behind it.
“Tell Shirley to come and fetch it,” I retorted spicily.
This wasn’t how I dreamed of seeing Jody again. I’d pictured Jody begging, pleading for my forgiveness and listening as I explained what had happened. Tears would have streamed down Jody’s face as she realised she’d been impatient and cost us everything. This wasn’t the version of Jody I’d imagined.
“Shirley’s dead. She died a few months ago after… Magic, the key, please.” Pain erupted from Jody, and it was tangible.
“Bitch, I wanted my kids, now you understand what it is to want,” I snapped back angrily.
“You fuckin’ liar!” Jody exploded. Her fists opened and closed, and I wondered if she was considering punching me. But I’d unlocked the floodgates, and Jody let rip.
“Several times I tried telling you, but you kept shutting me down. How dare you stand there and lie to my face? Magic, you knew before me that I was pregnant and turned against me. The day I learned about the twins, I came to the yard. Remember that?‘Not now! Christ, Jody, you’ll get me fired!’Those were your words when I said it was important. And that evening, does this ring a bell?‘You aren’t my equal. We’re not even on the same level, Jody. Know your place, and I’ll know mine.’
“For a fortnight, I tried to tell you I was pregnant, and you didn’t listen to anything. I begged you to attend that doctor’s appointment, and do you remember your reply, Magic? Because I do, word for word. How about this?‘For fuck’s sake, Jody! I said I’ll try’when I told you how important the appointment was. Or perhaps,‘I have shit going on…’or even better, and this was epic,‘Not everything is about you, Jody.’
“Don’t stand there in front of your friends, staff, and the fuckin’ peanut gallery and pretend you were the innocent party,” Jody snarled. “Magic, I want Shirley’s key. Now!”
“Jody, you got a lot of stuff wrong, and you never let me explain.” I was fully prepared to argue. Jody was taking words and twisting them.
“The fuck I didn’t.‘Not everything is about you, Jody.’Something every pregnant and scared woman needs to hear. Plus, you didn’t come home that night. Probably shacked up with some cheap whore. Don’t worry. My husband did a wonderful job of loving and nurturing my kids,” Jody spat, and I reeled inwardly.
Was some other guy raising my children?
“They call him Dad?” I whispered. That was a stab to the heart.
“Why not? Vulcanwastheir daddy,” Jody said without an ounce of spite. I physically flinched. Another man had raised my kids and was their dad.
“Magic, I’m not here to dig into the past. It’s done and dusted. We’ve both experienced a lot of shit, and there’s never any do-overs. If you’re really worried,” and Jody sounded like she doubted that, “the twins have a good life and are loved and doted upon. Vulcan was an amazing man. Please, Magic, now that you’ve filled everyone’s mouths with a shitload of gossip, can I have Shirley’s key?”
“Jody, I’ve no idea where it is.”
“I see. Spite is the path you’re choosing. Fine, Magic, enjoy your resentment,” Jody shot back and turned on her heel.
“Wait. I actually do mean I’ve misplaced it. Give me a few days, and I’ll find it. What’s your address?”
“I’ll be back in four days. Is that enough time?” Jody asked.
“Don’t want me confusing the children?” I demanded, feeling a pang of bitterness.
“The twins understand you’re their sperm donor. But believe me, they’re fully aware of who their dad is. Don’t even think of starting shit with them.”
With that, Jody turned and marched out. Eyes bored into the back of my head, and Alice appeared.
“You want to tell me something, asshole?” Alice snapped, hurt in her voice. Aw hell. Here we go.
Jody
Magic was as gorgeous as I remembered, and time had been kind to him. He was as big as ever, and his eyes told me he’d lived. I wondered what he’d been through, but that wasn’t my business. I was shocked, though, that Magic remained in close contact with Onyx. Had Magic joined their club? Although he wore a cut, I’d not seen patches on it linking him to Riders of Vengeance. The drive home was filled with unanswered questions.
“Did you see him?” Lars demanded as I entered Crook House.
