“Oh, no,” Barbara said, clapping her hand over her mouth.
“How did you get out of that?” Dad asked, his face draining of color.
“Aidan was inside on his job, and he scared them away,” I said. “I held on to the scepter and survived. You should be throwing me a party, not yelling at me.”
“Aisling, I don’t want to upset you after you’ve been through so much,” Dad said, running his hand over the back of my head. “You’re a bleeding idiot, though!”
I took an involuntary step back and smacked into Griffin’s broad chest, whimpering as the pain coursed through my shoulder.
“Be careful,” Griffin ordered, gingerly putting his hand on my waist to stabilize me. “I’m not joking about her shoulder. It’s a mess.”
“I’m sorry,” Dad said, holding up his hands. “This is just … unbelievable. Why didn’t anyone tell me this yesterday?”
“Maybe they didn’t think you would take it so well,” Braden suggested.
“I will beat you if you don’t shut up, Braden!”
Braden didn’t look particularly worried when he locked gazes with me. “Are you sure it was the reaper who was with Mom that night?” He looked crestfallen.
I nodded. “That wasn’t the first night I saw him,” I reminded him. “He was outside that sports bar with a couple wraiths before then. It was definitely him.”
“Well, that can’t be good,” Dad said, moving back to his chair and sitting with a heavy sigh. “I don’t suppose anyone knows where your mother is, do they?”
Aidan and I exchanged a brief look, which went unnoticed by absolutely no one.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Dad asked, his voice low and dangerous.
“Mom was waiting on the front porch when I came home,” I said, opting to rip off the Band-Aid in a single yank. “She acted surprised by my injuries and then hurt when I told her I didn’t believe her. I banned her from the townhouse until she comes clean and tells us everything.”
“What did she say?” Braden asked.
“She was … angry,” I answered. “She got in Griffin’s face and said she didn’t have to do what he said. Then I said that wasn’t true and she took a step back. She said it wasn’t over and I would see her again.”
“Maybe the reaper went rogue and turned on her,” Braden suggested. “Maybe she’s trying to protect us and she’s in over her head.”
Despite what I’d just told him, Dad’s expression softened. He knew that of all us Braden was having the toughest time. “Son, I know you want to believe that, but your mother’s refusal to explain any of this to us doesn’t bode well for her intentions.”
“I know, but … maybe she can’t tell us in case it will get us killed,” Braden argued. He wasn’t ready to believe Mom was evil. My heart rolled at the earnest expression on his face.
“Aisling could’ve easily been killed yesterday,” Redmond pointed out. “If she’s trying to protect us, leaving us in the dark isn’t the right way to do it. I’m sorry, Braden, but I agree with everyone else. Until Mom wants to answer some tough questions, we can’t let her in.”
Dad looked relieved at Redmond’s pronouncement. “Are you certain you’re all right, Aisling?”
I nodded.
“Well, I guess it’s good we have that red velvet cake you love so much for dinner tonight, eh?” Dad always rewards us with our favorite foods when we are sick or sad. “It’s prime rib tonight. That should make you happy, too.”
“You have no idea,” I said, my stomach growling in anticipation.
“Is that everything?” Dad asked.
I glanced at Griffin and watched as he swallowed hard.
“Well, actually, I … .” Griffin didn’t have a chance to finish his sentence because the butler appeared in the doorway and fixed Dad with an odd look.
“What’s wrong?” Dad asked, instantly alert.
“Your guest has arrived, sir.”
“What guest?” Dad knit his eyebrows. “Are you talking about Jerry? He’s not a guest, he’s family. Maya isn’t coming, right?”
Cillian shook his head. “She’s working tonight.”
“Jerry isn’t a guest,” Dad said. “You don’t have to announce him.”
“I was not referring to Mr. Collins,” the butler said. “I was referring to your other guest.”
“Who?”
“That would be me,” Mom announced brightly, moving in front of the butler. “Guess who’s coming to dinner?”
14
Fourteen
“Oh, come on,” Griffin muttered. “Now he’s definitely going to kill me if I tell him what’s going on.”
I shot him a sympathetic look and then turned my gaze to Mom. She wore an ankle-length black skirt with matching boots. They looked to be this season’s Steve Maddens. Jerry would know, but apparently he was boycotting dinner. From the looks of this situation, that was probably a good thing.
“Lily,” Dad said, moving to position himself in the center of the room in case Mom made a move on anyone. “What are you doing here?”
Mom’s smile was wide. “I’m here for dinner.”
“You weren’t invited to dinner,” Dad growled.
“Yes, but it’s still my house too, so that doesn’t really matter, does it?” Mom asked, turning her eyes to the rest of the room. “I see we have a full house. Redmond, Braden and Cillian, I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you.”
Mom opened her arms as if she expected my brothers to stampede to her. They remained seated, their eyes wide. Even Braden didn’t make a move to hug her. Mom’s expression fell and her smile tightened as she lowered her arms.
“It’s all right, boys,” Mom said. “I know you’re wary. I promise I’m not here to hurt anyone.”
“Just to eat us,” I muttered.
“Knock it off, Aisling,” Braden said, shaking his head. “Don’t make things worse.”
“Like you always do,” Redmond added.
I frowned. Redmond was usually the first to take my side. Now he looked … torn. I didn’t like it. “Mom, I told you yesterday that you weren’t to come around until you were ready to answer questions,” I said. “I wasn’t joking.”
“What better time to answer questions than over a family dinner?” Mom asked, locking gazes with me. “Your face looks horrible.”
“So I’ve been told,” I said.
Griffin rested his hand on the back of my neck to offer me his support as the room fell into uncomfortable silence. Mom seemed happy with the turn of events, fixing everyone with a pointed look before shifting her attention to Barbara.
“And who are you?”
“Oh, um … .” Barbara looked uncomfortable. Who could blame her? It’s not every day you have to sit through dinner with your boyfriend’s rotten kids and then watch as their back-from-the-dead mother invites herself to the meal.
“Barbara is with me,” Dad said smoothly, forcing Mom’s attention to him. “She’s my date.”
“Oh, well, how fun,” Mom said, turning to face Aidan. “Doesn’t anyone want to get me a drink?”
Aidan looked like a reaper caught in death lights. “Um … sure. Do you want a brandy?”
“That sounds great,” Mom said, settling on the couch without invitation. “So, how was everyone’s day?”
The situation couldn’t get any more surreal if we popped a reality star in the room and started filming it for the masses.
“I’ll answer that one,” Dad said, moving to his own chair and sitting, never taking his eyes off Mom. “Let’s see. Oh, well, I had a normal workday. Then we came in here for drinks. Aisling hid upstairs so I wouldn’t see her face until the last minute. Then she told us what happened to her yesterday.”
“It’s quite terrible, isn’t it?” Mom fretted, shaking her head. “She needs to be more careful. It’s a dangerous world out there.”
Her words could be taken as motherly worry. Or as a threat. Dad took them as the latter.
; “Aisling says the reaper who attacked her was with you the night you showed up here,” Dad prodded. “Do you have any idea why your friend would attack my daughter?”
“Our daughter,” Mom corrected.
“My daughter,” Dad shot back. “She was almost killed because your friend had a wraith with him. The only thing that saved her was Aidan and his penchant for drinking tea and eating cookies with old ladies.”
“That makes me sound like something of a pervert,” Aidan complained.
Dad ignored him. “Do you want to explain why your friend went after my daughter?”
“This isn’t going to end well,” Griffin whispered, slipping his arm around my waist and resting his hand on my abdomen. He was making sure he had a firm grip on me should he have to shield me from danger. I had a feeling Mom wasn’t here to physically harm us, though. Emotional harm was another story entirely.
“I honestly have no idea what happened yesterday,” Mom said, smiling at Aidan as he delivered her snifter. “I think there’s a very good possibility Aisling confused events in her mind. A wraith attack can be very brutal, after all. She probably didn’t see what she thinks she saw.”
“Oh, good, Aisling,” Griffin deadpanned. “Your mother is calling you a liar.”
“That’s not what she said,” Braden snapped.
“That’s exactly what she said,” Dad argued. “Don’t come in this house and call my daughter a liar, Lily. Aisling is many things, including obnoxious, spoiled and self-centered. She is not, however, a liar.”
I guess he forgot the time I stole his car and told him my period made me crazy and I had no control over my actions becomes hormones made me do it. Now probably wasn’t the time to bring it up.
“I didn’t say she was a liar,” Mom said, her tone chilly. “I said she was mistaken. There’s a difference.”
“Aisling knows what happened to her,” Redmond interjected. “Dad is right about her being a pain. She’s not lying about this, though.”
“She lied about Mom being alive,” Braden reminded us, causing me to narrow my eyes. “She kept that from us.”
“Braden, this is different,” Dad said. “Don’t … please … .” Braden’s attitude regarding Mom was difficult to accept. Dad didn’t want to make a scene when we should pose a united front for Mom’s benefit. He didn’t know what to do, though.
“Braden, it’s perfectly all right,” Mom soothed. I recognized that tone from when I was a kid and, for a moment, an odd yearning filled my chest. It didn’t last. “Aisling has every right to be suspicious. I think her friend is whispering warnings in her ear. She’s just confused.”
I opened my mouth to say something truly horrible, but Dad didn’t give me the chance.
“Don’t even think of trying to turn this family against Griffin,” Dad warned. “He’s one of us now. He’s earned our loyalty and respect. If you try to manipulate us to turn against him, you’ll have a rude awakening.”
My heart soared at the words.
“Don’t let that go to your head,” Dad added, glancing at Griffin and wagging a finger. “You’re still handsy.”
“Understood,” Griffin said dryly.
“I think things are entirely too tense in here,” Mom said. “Why don’t we move into the dining room and finish our discussion over dinner?”
“Because you weren’t invited to dinner,” I reminded her.
Mom pretended she didn’t hear me as she moved toward the dining room. “Is that prime rib I smell? I haven’t had a good slice of beef in years. This should be exciting.”
“That’s because she’s been eating people,” I complained.
“Stop saying that, Aisling!” Braden exploded.
“Braden and Aisling, make sure you sit at opposite ends of the table,” Dad instructed. “This meal will be awful enough without you two adding your special blend of mayhem to the mix.”
“Maybe I should leave,” Barbara offered.
“I would like you to stay, but I understand if you want to leave,” Dad said, sighing. “This will get ugly.”
Barbara’s smile was watery but heartfelt as she kissed Dad’s cheek. “Great. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing at her hasty retreat, but when I risked a glance at Dad I saw quiet fury resting there. “We can kick her out,” I suggested. “My shoulder hurts but I have one good arm and no problem punching her if it comes to it.”
“Oh, no,” Dad replied, shaking his head. “If she wants a family dinner, she’s going to get one. I only hope you’re all on your worst behavior. She has a decade of fights to catch up on. Don’t let her down.”
“THIS LOOKS divine,” Mom said, digging into her slice of rare prime rib with gusto. “So, tell me about your lives.”
“Ugh. I think I lost my appetite,” I muttered.
“Eat,” Griffin ordered. “You need your strength.”
“Yes, listen to him, Aisling,” Mom said. “You should always do what your man tells you to do. That’s how I raised you, after all.”
I narrowed my eyes as I sawed off a huge chunk of prime rib and shoved it into my mouth, methodically chewing for everyone to see before swallowing. I knew exactly what she was doing. If she thought I was going to turn on Griffin, she was sorely mistaken.
“Why isn’t Jerry here?” Redmond asked, glancing around the table. “He’d be good for a laugh right about now.”
“He’s … um … busy,” Aidan answered, exchanging a worried look with me. “He sends his apologies.”
“That’s too bad,” Braden said. “He’s exactly what we need.”
“That’s good to hear,” Jerry said, breezing into the room and taking us all by surprise as he sat next to Aidan. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had something to finish at work.”
“That’s okay,” I said. “I … how are you?”
Jerry didn’t answer, instead focusing on Mom. “Mrs. Grimlock, it’s lovely to see you again.”
“It’s lovely to see you, too, Jerry,” Mom said, beaming. “I love that suit. Most men can’t carry off peach. You do it with distinction.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Dad said, sipping his brandy. I didn’t miss the fact that he had carried the bottle in from the drink cart and planted it next to his plate. I reached for the bottle to pour a glass for myself, but Griffin swatted my hand away.
“You can’t have that. You have to take those pain meds to sleep,” Griffin said. “Drink your iced tea.”
“Yes, drink your iced tea,” Mom echoed, smirking as Griffin shot her a dark look.
“Don’t mess with Griffin, Mom,” I ordered. “He doesn’t deserve your attitude.”
“Don’t talk to her that way, Aisling,” Braden snapped. “I know you love your precious detective, but she’s still our mother.”
“And her henchman tried to kill me yesterday,” I reminded him.
“She says that’s not true,” Braden argued. “I believe her.”
I snorted. “You would.”
“Knock it off, you two,” Dad said. “Argue with your mother, not each other.”
Braden graced Dad with a disgusted look that turned my stomach. “I can’t believe you’re treating her this way after all she’s been through.”
“I can’t believe you’re taking her side over mine,” I offered.
“Maybe that’s because she’s been through hell while you inflict it on others,” Braden charged.
“Speaking of hell, I saw Angelina today,” I said, changing the subject. “I threw a glass of water in her face.”
“That sounds fun,” Dad said refilling his snifter. He hadn’t touched his food. He would be drunk before dessert if I didn’t get that bottle away from him. “Why did you do that?”
“I think it had a little something to do with her face,” I replied.
“And the fact that she called Jerry a fairy,” Aidan added.
“Oh, well, don’t get in a fight on my account,” Jerry sniffed. “We al
l know I’m the last person you’re thinking about these days. You should’ve agreed with her and made her your new best friend.”
“Jerry, now is so not the time for this discussion,” I gritted out. “If you want to argue, we can argue when we get home.”
“We have no home.”
Dad blew out a dramatic sigh. “Why are you two arguing? You never argue.” He glared at Mom. “Did you do this?”
“No,” Mom replied, making a face. “I love Jerry.”
“Mom only wants to get rid of Griffin,” I supplied. “She would never get rid of Jerry … unless she was really, really hungry.”
“I will kill you if you don’t stop saying things like that, Aisling,” Braden seethed.
“Shut up, Braden,” Redmond warned. “I don’t like the way Mom is treating Griffin either. He doesn’t deserve it.”
“Yes, Griffin is perfect,” Jerry said, his voice shrill. “Griffin is Aisling’s new main focus. Griffin is everything, and I’m nothing.”
“What’s stuck in your craw, young man?” Dad asked. “Why did Aidan say you had other plans, only to have you show up? I saw the look on his face. He was surprised. Are you arguing with him, too?”
“I’m not happy with him,” Jerry sniffed. “I’m only truly angry with Aisling and her stupid love muffin, though.”
“Don’t call me that,” Griffin said, shaking his head.
“Come on, Jerry,” I pleaded. “We all agreed to go on your tea room outing to make things up to you. That will be fun.”
“What are you making up to him?” Mom asked, her eyes sparkling. Under the muted light of the chandelier her veins were almost completely hidden. She looked remarkably human. I still didn’t trust her.
“Nothing,” I replied, shoving another hunk of prime rib into my mouth.
“I can’t wait to hear what you two are fighting over,” Redmond said. “It has to be better than anything else we’ve discussed so far tonight. Spill.”
Jerry arched a challenging eyebrow. “You haven’t told them?”
“Jerry.” I shook my head in warning.
Grim Reunion (Aisling Grimlock Book 4) Page 12