"You're never my most recent call. You’ve avoided me like the plague until recently." There's snark in her voice, but no genuine irritation.
"I avoided you like the plague because I didn't want you to fuck around with my love life the way you did with Titus and Toby’s."
"And how did that work out for you?"
I tip my head as I consider. "Pretty well, outside of the fact that she's now temporarily living in Maryland."
"So I want to make sure I’m clear on this.” She pauses. "You’re calling now because you do, in fact, want me to fuck around with your love life. Am I getting this right?"
Fucking hell. I should've known this was coming. Should have seen it a fucking mile away. "Yes, mother. Please meddle in my business so we can get Ruth and your grandchild back in Wyoming as soon as possible."
My mother scoffs. "Using Birdie against me was a dirty trick."
"I'm not above dirty tricks if it gets them here." I'm not above much if it results in Ruth and Birdie being back with me. Blackmail. Extortion. Hell, I might even let Heidi go with her plan B if it comes down to it. William Sheppard probably deserves to be at least a little dead for all the bullshit he's pulled on innocent women.
"You just tell me when and where, and I'm there." Proving she is my ride or die all the way, my mother sounds just as determined as I am. "If our girls want to come home, they deserve to feel safe coming home."
Home. I hope that's how Ruth feels about this place. I hope that's how she feels about me.
We’re about to find out.
I fill my mother in on what Heidi said, promising to let her know as soon as I've scheduled a time and place for us to meet the women who are going to help me as much as I help them.
That seems to be the way I live my life now, and I’m not mad about it.
It's really fuckingweird to sit here looking at Birdie's siblings. They’re all just as cute as she is, but thankfully different enough the sight of them doesn't make my heart ache.
Too much.
My mother works her way from woman to woman, pouring glasses of lemonade, serving everyone gathered around the table of her luxurious breakfast room. "I'm so grateful you ladies were willing to come here today." She pauses beside Taylor—the woman with the oldest child, a five-year-old girl—to give her daughter a warm smile. "And I'm thrilled you brought the little ones with you."
I wasn't actually expecting anyone to bring their children, but I guess it does make sense. This might be the only time they get to see someone their kids share DNA with. I think it's a good sign everyone was comfortable bringing their kids. It says a lot about the weight my mother's name and reputation carries.
And she seems fucking delighted by it. So delighted, there’s a pretty good chance she's going to try to talk one of them intomeeting Walker. I'd warn him, except he probably deserves my mother’s attention for telling me the best thing I could do was let Ruth leave. He wasn’t necessarily wrong about the leaving part. I do agree with my mother that Ruth probably needed to feel like she could do it, but I'm pretty confident he meant I should let her go permanently.
He was real fucking wrong about that.
I sit quietly as the women around me chitchat, making small talk while they feel each other out. The only thing I really bring to the table is the connections to help them out, so the last thing they probably want or need is input from me. I don't know what it's like to be in their shoes, so I’ve got nothing to offer.
Especially when what they’re getting out of this is likely more than just rid of William. Seeing someone else was duped the same way they were might help them come to terms with what happened.
At least that's what Bert told me.
He also told me not to get my hopes up. That the chances any of these women would put themselves and their children on the line was slim to none.
I hope to God he was just tempering expectations. Ruth has been gone over two weeks now, and I feel like I'm slowly losing my mind.
Once my mother has made sure everyone has plenty of the asparagus and herb quiche she made, as well as more than their fair share of fresh fruit and roasted potatoes, she takes her seat, leaning forward in a way I'm likely the only one to recognize.
It's her ‘let’s get down to business’ pose, and has me straightening in anticipation.
“So.” She brings her hands together in a soft clap. “How are we going to make sure William Sheppard never bothers you or your children again?”
Taylor snorts. “You genuinely think you can make him leaveus alone?” She leans back in her chair, crossing both arms over her chest. “Because I’m pretty sure he gets off on terrorizing us.”
“I’m sure he does, dear.” My mother gives her a sweet smile. “All the smallest men do.” She pours herself a glass of lemonade. “That’s why it’s important we make it very clear to him he’s no longer the one doing the terrorizing.”
Taylor looks skeptical. “You think we’re going to be able to turn the tables on him?”
