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Nicky and Liam arrived in their car. Nicky climbed out looking flustered and anxious. Josie ran to them and Liam caught her to him, giving her a huge bear hug. She buried her face in her grandfather’s shoulder and breathed in his reassuring scent. Then she turned toward Max and announced that she was returning home with her grandparents. She told him she would stay with them until the house was sorted and returned to normal. She got in the car and didn’t look back at all as Liam pulled away.
* * *
Later Josie curledup next to her grandmother, sipping a glass of cool dry wine. After dropping them off, Liam returned to 101 to help with the cleanup.
As they sipped their drinks they hashed over the events that led up to Sandy’s attack.
“I just can’t believe that Max forgave her for everything so easily,” Josie repeated for the umpteenth time.
Nicky sighed patiently. “As I explained before, Max has carried quite a burden around. He feels guilt about those military patients whose lives he couldn’t save. Guilt is an enormous burden for someone to carry. Sandy forgiving him for Sean’s death was a very emotional step forward for him.”
Josie instantly fixed her grandmother with a less than friendly stare.
Nicola sighed again. “Listen to your old grandma. It is your turn to let all of the hurt go.”
“What do you mean?” she bristled.
Nicky covered her hand with her own and gave it a squeeze. “I think you know, darling. You’ve been pushing Max’s buttons for weeks now. Now this has happened and you are using it as an excuse to push him away, but Josie, he needs you, especially right now. If you allow a distance to form between you, it’s possible you could lose Max, and then Sandy will have won.”
Josie took a sip of her wine and pondered her grandmother’s words.
There was a sudden reel of sound overhead.
“Ah, the fireworks have started!” Nicky said, “shall we take our wine outside and watch the display?”
The two women gathered their glasses and moved outside into the yard. Ribbons of golden stars shot high into the sky, exploding with the exuberance of a thousand champagne corks popping all at once. This was followed by a whole host of blue sparkling rockets that burst into a thousand tiny silver sparks which sank gracefully down to earth. As they lengthened and elongated they mimicked falling rain. The two women watched in silence as the spectacle continued. As the final flash diminished in the night sky, Josie turned to her grandmother.
“Happy Fourth of July, Grandma. Thank you for always being there when I need you. I love you and Grandpa.” She hugged Nicky close.
“I won’t always be around, sweetie, but while I am, know that I love you and will always have your back!”
“There you are, my two favorite girls!” Liam’s voice boomed as he stepped out to join them on the decking. Striding over, he slung his arms around each of their shoulders, hugging them both to him. “I come bearing gifts!” he said as he handed them each a long sparkler. Striking a match, he lit them both in turn. “Happy Fourth, my lovely ladies.”
They returned his greeting although Josie knew she sounded subdued. She dutifully swirled her hand-held firework about until the white blaze of light had faded, then she dropped the metal rod onto the grass, leaving it to cool down. “Come on inside and have some dinner, you must be starving,” Liam encouraged. They followed him inside the house.
Chapter 17
Max arrived and let himself in with the key Liam had given him. He noticed the pizza box sitting on the kitchen counter and began to serve up, guessing Josie and her grandparents were outside watching the fireworks. When they trooped inside, he returned Nicky’s hug and handed her the cutlery. He cast a glance at Josie but she wouldn’t meet his eye. He watched as she fetched the salad from the fridge and headed for the table. He followed carrying beers for Liam and himself. Josie poured more wine into the women’s glasses. She still wouldn’t look at him.
Max watched her. When she put the bottle down he went and pulled her into his arms. “Happy Fourth, darling; not quite the night I had in mind for us, but thankfully the bad stuff is behind us now.” He lowered his mouth to hers but just before their lips met Josie turned her head and he ended by kissing her cheek instead.
“Ah, the ‘Diana’ kiss. Wow, that’s bad news,” he said with an attempt at humor. He hoped her response had been an unplanned reaction.
“Yeah, happy Fourth; I guess I’m upset and exhausted. Let’s go eat before this gets cold. The fireworks were pretty.”
Max, dejected by her cool demeanor, nodded as they sat down at the table. He tore into his pizza with real hunger. It had been a long, stressful and emotional day. What he needed first and foremost was Josie’s understanding. He wanted to take her to bed and spoon with her, reassuring her and himself, as he buried himself deep into the welcoming warmth of her body. He guessed he’d have to kiss the latter goodbye if her cool reaction now was anything to go by. He began to fill in the family on what had happened after they’d left.
“At least the house is habitable again. Brent brought in an industrial vacuum cleaner for clearing the glass and he had someone change the locks. You can shop for more cushions and ornaments whenever you want, Josie. Tell you what, buy whatever the hell you like to make the place feel like home again.” He felt bewildered when she merely shrugged. Usually she would have leapt into his lap and covered him with kisses for offering her such a shopping extravaganza. He realized things were seriously wrong between them for her to behave so out of character.
“Nicky, you have a lot of insight into human behavior. Do you think I should press charges against Sandy?” he asked.
Josie’s sarcastically muttered, “Go Figure!” had his palm itching. He gritted his teeth as he waited for Nicola’s reply.
She cocked her head, considering. “I think maybe you and Josie should go and talk to her in a few days. Let everything settle for a bit. See how she responds to the treatment the hospital recommends before you make that decision.”
There was an ear-splitting scraping noise as Josie leapt backward, shoving her chair across the wooden floor and out of her way. Max stared at her flushed face. It was quite obvious to him that she was about to throw a tantrum and he certainly wasn’t standing for that, not tonight. It was time to show her that he was her Dom and she was his submissive. He knew now was the time to take charge and settle this nonsense once and for all.
“Sit!” he commanded using his deepest Dom tone of voice.
