It’s been a shitty day, and the meeting was long, boring, and didn’t do anything to improve my mood. I was expecting the house to be quiet and dark upon my return, but I was wrong.
There were charges for the spa, the restaurant, and the grocery store on the credit card, and that was it. That was hours ago, so I’m surprised when I hear my mother’s voice in the kitchen.
Cori is standing at the kitchen island, wearing a black apron and pouring a drink for my mother.
“No more, sweetheart. My head is already spinning.” Mom giggles, and Cori fills her glass to the brim. I approach and kiss my mother’s cheek. Since my mother is here, I attempt to kiss my wife, but she grabs a wooden spoon and holds it between us like it’s a barrier.
Thankfully, Mom doesn’t notice, and since my wife doesn’t offer me a drink, I pour my own. It’s a fruity but strong wine, and I down it all and refill my glass.Her eyes narrow at me.
“So, Momma Had, are you ready? My paternal grandmother was from New Orleans, so this is her signature dish. She taught my mom and me, but I’m better at this than Mom.” Cori puts a finger to her lips. “Don’t tell her, but Grandma said southern cooking is in my blood. I hope you like it.”
“I can’t wait.” Mom rubs her hands together in anticipation.
“Have you been here long, Mom?” I ask.
“We were at the spa for a couple of hours, and Cori asked me to spend the day with her. We had a light lunch, did some food shopping, and we’ve been here for a few hours.” Mom rises from her seat and hugs Cori. My wife wraps her arms around my mother and kisses both her cheeks.
“You’re the best, Momma Had. We should do a girls' lunch once a week.”
“I’d love that.” Mom beams, sits and sips her drink. Cori doesn’t look my way. Not wanting to talk to her, I leave the kitchen to search for Finch.
“Where thefuckis my dog?” Mom’s head whips around, and she frowns.
“Who are you talking to like that, boy? Cori is your wife, not some stranger off the street. You better watch your language and your tone before I knock your ass out.” I ignore my mother and confront my wife. She’s setting the table, and I notice she only has two dishes out. I wrap my hand around her wrist and snatch the plate from her hand.
“Where’s my fucking dog?” Her eyes widen, and she takes a step back, but there’s nowhere for her to go since I’m holding her wrist.
“How am I supposed to know. Finch is your dog. I don’t have anything to do with her.” She pulls her wrist, but I don’t let her go. “Let me go, you jerk.”
“Son, Finch was here this morning when I left with Cori. She’s been with me all day.” I glare into my wife’s lying eyes and shake my head in disgust. She managed to fool me again, because I bought her little act of wanting to spend the day with my mother, but I should have known better.
“Mom, she’s not here. I found her collar, which has her tracker in it.”
Cori manages to pull away from me and continues to set the table.
“Momma Had, we should take a girls' trip to New Orleans. You, me, and Josie, but Selene and Eden might want to come too.” I snort at that. “But I think it would be great if it’s the three of us girls. We can make it a little family trip. What do you think?”
Conniving and manipulative. This girl has my mother eating out of the palm of her hand. Mom grabs her phone, and I know she’s texting my sister. Knowing my mother the way I do, she will have the trip dates picked out by tomorrow, and I hope Cori doesn’t break her heart by not following through.
“That sounds lovely. I love the idea of the three of us, at least the first time. We can open it up to others another time. I absolutely love New Orleans, though I haven’t been in a while. I’m going to go call your sister, Daxton.” She presses the phone to her ear and leaves the kitchen.
Cori busies herself putting the food in a serving dish. She refills their glasses and carries them to the table without saying a word to me.
After she puts the glasses down, I get in her face. She goes around me, but I cut her off.
“If you hurt a hair on Finch’s head, it will be the last thing you ever do. Tell me where she is.”
“Or what?” She drops the innocent act and stares me in the eyes. She gives me a smug look and looks me over. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve been with your mother all day.” She leaves and returns to the stove. “And I don’t know how someone like her gave birth to someone like you.”
“I can say the same about your mother.” I press into her back. “I guess you’re an opportunist like your father.”
She faces me while holding a wooden spoon. “What opportunities? You?” She points the spoon at me. “Don’t make me laugh, but I will end up with everything you own. Very soon, and by any means necessary. Remember in the good ol’ days when women would poison their husbands?” She looks past me before lowering her voice. “Be careful what you eat or drink in this house,sweetheart.”
Fed up with her and her bullshit, I stick my hands under her armpits, lift her off her feet, and press her into the wall. “Tell me where my fucking dog is before I lose my shit.”
She presses her lips shut, but she tries to kick me. I press my body into hers, leaving her no room to move her legs.
“You want to fuck with me? Fine, but if you touch my dog—”
