“I remember every second of that horrible ordeal, Mom,” Griffin snapped. “Do you think I could just forget it? Son of a … where the heck did she go?”
“Perhaps she grew tired of you smothering her,” Katherine suggested. “Perhaps she ran off to join the circus.”
I exchanged an offended look with Aidan. “Like I would join the circus,” I muttered.
“Shh.” Braden scalded me with a warning look.
“You know I’m afraid of clowns,” I complained.
“Shut your trap,” Braden ordered. “I’m trying to listen.”
“She thinks I’m smothering her,” Griffin groused. “I saw the look on her face when we got out of the bathtub, but I pushed her anyway. She doesn’t like being smothered.”
“Well, because she almost died, I would think that’s a pragmatic approach to taking care of her,” Katherine argued primly. “If she doesn’t want to allow you to do it, perhaps that says something about her.”
“Like what?” I grumbled.
“Like you’re a pain in the ass,” Braden replied. “Shut it!”
“Yes, Mother, it does say something about her,” Griffin’s voice grew sharp. “It says that she’s an independent person who doesn’t like being bossed around. I knew that, and yet I couldn’t stop myself from doing it. She’s still weak. It takes everything I have not to wrap myself around her and shelter her with my body.”
“That’s very noble,” Katherine said. “I know you love her, son. I see it whenever you look at her. I think it’s beautiful. And I’m very proud of the way you took care of her when she was injured.”
“But?” Griffin prodded.
“But she’s hiding something,” Katherine replied. “That story they told at the hospital was hogwash. How does someone smack around a girl in a retirement center and then manage to escape without anyone seeing him?”
“I don’t know, Mom,” Griffin growl. “I wasn’t there, so I didn’t see it.”
“I think it was the brother.” Katherine’s voice was barely a whisper. “Why else would they lie? I think the brother gets off on beating her up.”
“That unholy bitch,” Aidan muttered, moving to crawl in the direction of my bedroom.
I grabbed him around the waist and shook my head. “Stop it.”
“I’m going to smack her around,” Aidan promised.
“Mother, Aidan would never hurt Aisling,” Griffin countered, his temper clearly wearing thin. “He loves her. They’re twins. He would die to protect her. He feels bad enough about being in the building and not saving her as it is. Don’t compound the problem.”
“So you don’t believe it was him?”
“Of course not, Mom,” Griffin barked. “All of Aisling’s brothers love her beyond reason. Sure, they fight and squabble … and you don’t ever want to play a game with them. They all cheat and beat each other up – but not in a murderous way, so wipe that look off your face. They adore one another. If something had happened to Aisling … this family would’ve never recovered.”
“You wouldn’t have either.”
“You’re right there, Mom.”
Griffin sounded so forlorn my heart almost split in two.
“Mother, I love Aisling more than anything. That’s not going to change,” Griffin said. “Her brothers love her, too. Her father loves her. Jerry loves her. No one who loves her did this.”
“Then who?”
“I … don’t know.” Griffin wasn’t a very good liar. I could hear the shift in his voice. So, apparently, could his mother.
“You know what did this to her, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?” Griffin asked a little too quickly. It was obvious he was being evasive.
“You know what she’s hiding,” Katherine noted, her voice hopping a bit. “I didn’t think you did. I thought she was lying to you, too, but she’s not. She told you the truth and … you know. Aisling isn’t lying; you are.”
“I think you’re imagining things,” Griffin argued. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You always were a bad liar.”
“Well, she’s not wrong,” Braden muttered, licking his lips. “This argument is about to end, and then Griffin is going to come looking for you, Ais. I think the most sympathetic place for him to find you is in the kitchen.”
“He’s right.” Aidan bobbed his head in agreement. “We’ll say we were merely feeding you and have no idea why everyone is fighting. It’s our best shot.”
I wasn’t keen on abandoning Griffin, but I had no intention of getting in trouble. “Okay, but I want pickles and tomato juice.”
“Done.” Braden grabbed one arm and Aidan the other as they helped me stand. We turned together toward the bottom of the stairs and I swallowed hard when I caught sight of Dad standing there, hands on hips and glare on face.
“Uh-oh.”
“Crap. He’s going to kill us,” Aidan muttered.
“You three are in so much trouble,” Dad bellowed. “I’m grounding every single person in this house. Yes, that’s right. I’m laying down the law. Look out, world! Here comes trouble!”
I heaved out a sigh as I risked a glance over my shoulder and found Griffin standing at the top of the stairs. He looked angrier than my father, if that was even possible.
“Did I mention I love you?” I offered lamely.
“That won’t get you out of your grounding,” Griffin replied, although he almost looked amused. “When your father is done yelling I’m going to start, so don’t get comfortable.”
“Yeah, I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
17
Seventeen
“What do you think you’re doing out of bed?” Griffin’s expression was cold as he pinned me with a dark look, not waiting for my father to unload and rein in his temper as I initially expected. “You agreed to rest.”
“I … .” He wasn’t my parent, but I felt flustered all the same. If he’d been angry instead of hurt – and that was the emotion most clearly emanating from him – it would’ve been much easier to mouth off. Instead I felt guilty … and a little sick to my stomach.
“It’s not her fault,” Braden volunteered, catching me off guard. “She was awake when I glanced in and I wanted to talk to her. I didn’t want to wake you because I knew how exhausted you were, so I motioned for her to join me in the hallway.”
I widened my eyes a bit as I stared at my brother, dumbfounded. When I was a kid Braden was the last to make up an excuse to save me.
“It’s true,” Aidan added, narrowing his eyes. “I wanted to talk to her, too, and I went with Braden to see if she was awake. If you want to blame anyone, blame us.”
Dad planted his hands on his hips, his eyes narrowing. “You’re not fooling anybody.”
I ignored him and remained focused on Griffin. “I’m sorry I frightened you. I just … you were asleep and I didn’t want to wake you.”
“You’re supposed to be resting,” Griffin reminded me. “The doctor cut you loose because you agreed to take it easy. Do you want to go back to the hospital?”
That wasn’t going to happen, no matter what. “No, but I don’t want to lounge around in bed and grow mold either. We were twenty feet from the bedroom, for crying out loud.” I pointed toward the open doorway that led to my room for emphasis. “What do you think was going to happen?”
“I … .” Griffin worked his jaw, his weary eyes flicking to the floor as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Don’t you even think of doing that to him,” Dad bellowed, causing my shoulders to jolt. “Son, you’re not to feel guilty. She very well may have been trying to be respectful when she didn’t wake you. She’s clearly worried about how little sleep you’re getting. It’s written all over her face.”
I balked. “Mind your own business, Dad.”
“You are my business, Aisling,” Dad fired back. “You’re trying to guilt him to get out of trouble. I won’t allow it. She got out of bed b
ecause she was feeling restless and she happened to run into her brothers. They’re covering for her.”
Griffin’s eyes darkened. “Is that true?”
“Not if it gets me in trouble.”
Griffin looked as if he wanted to yell, but instead he cracked a smile. “I’m too tired to fight with you. You didn’t go far.”
“Oh, geez.” Dad shot Griffin a dirty look. “Don’t start spoiling her now. If you do, you’ll never stop. Trust me. I know.”
Griffin fingered the ends of my hair as he smiled. “She just got out of the hospital. If anyone deserves to be spoiled, she does.”
“Oh, good grief.” Dad pinched the bridge of his nose. “I should’ve stopped after one kid. I swear it. Think how different my life would be if I’d had only one kid.”
“I agree, Dad,” Redmond offered, appearing at the bottom of the staircase and patting Dad’s shoulder as a mischievous smile played at the corners of his lips. “Things would be so much better if I were an only child.”
“You would miss us,” Braden argued.
“Not all of you.” Redmond said the words, but he clearly didn’t mean them. “I might miss Cillian.”
“Don’t make me come down there,” I warned.
“You’re not going anywhere but to bed,” Dad barked. “I’m not kidding. You almost died. You might not remember it, but we sat next to your bed for days thinking you might never wake up. You’re taking it easy even if I have to tie you to the bed.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Dad stomped his foot to cut me off.
“Don’t even think of arguing with me, Aisling,” Dad bellowed. “You have no idea what we went through. You’re going to bed and you’re going to like it. I won’t hear another moment of argument on this subject.”
As if on cue, Cillian shuffled into the room behind Dad and exchanged an amused look with Redmond. A magical memory moment flicked through my brothers and me and we opened our mouths at the same time.
“Not one more word!” We all did our best impression of Dad as we yelled the statement in unison.
I wasn’t sure if Katherine had yet put it together that we were eavesdropping, but she giggled at the furious expression on Dad’s face as his scalding gaze bounced between us.
To make matters worse, we all popped our palms against our mouths, making stereotypical Native American ceremonial sounds as we did when playing cowboys and Indians as kids. I’m not sure what possessed us to do it – perhaps we all remembered the same point in time in unison – but Dad’s face turned a violent shade of red.
“Owowowowow.”
“That is not funny,” Dad snapped.
“Owowowowowow.”
“I hated it when you did it as kids. I hate it even more now.”
“Owowowowow.”
“Now I wish I had no children.”
Things were bad. Sure, they were also amusing, but I didn’t think they could get worse. I was wrong. That was the moment Mom let herself into the house and stopped in the middle of the foyer to stare up the stairs.
“Oh, look,” she intoned, smiling sweetly. “It’s my little Indians forming a raiding party. I forgot you guys used to do that to drive your father nuts. It’s still kind of cute.”
“It is not cute,” Dad snapped, glaring at Mom. “What did we talk about?”
“You’ll have to be more specific, dear.” Mom absentmindedly patted Dad’s arm. “We’ve talked about so many things.”
“Knocking! What did we talk about when it comes to knocking? You’re supposed to knock, Lily.”
Mom shrugged, unbothered. “I forgot.”
“You forgot,” Dad muttered. “We didn’t allow the kids to get away with lame excuses like that during their terrible teen years. What makes you think it’s appropriate for you to do the same?”
“I’m gifted.” Mom blew him an antagonistic kiss and shifted her eyes to me. “You look better.”
“Compared to what?”
“How you looked in the hospital,” Mom replied simply, tilting her chin so she could see everyone on the second-floor landing. “You still look a little rough, Griffin. You need to catch up on some sleep.”
“I was trying to do that when Aisling slipped out of bed,” Griffin replied dryly. “She’s supposed to be resting, but … she found Braden and Aidan instead.”
“That always happens when they’re together under one roof.” Mom smiled brightly. “So … what’s for dinner?”
“You’re not invited for dinner,” Dad argued. “Why are you here?”
“To check on my daughter,” Mom replied, not missing a beat.
“You checked. Now you can go.”
“I might want to have a word with you after we’ve finished eating.” Mom’s tone was heavy and pointed. “I want a meal with my children first. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
Dad flicked his eyes to me, unsure. “I’m not sure Aisling is up for it.”
Oh, well, great. He was going to put it on me. That just figured. “If I can eat in the dining room without people fawning all over me, she can stay,” I offered.
“We both know I can’t guarantee that,” Mom shot back. “I’m staying regardless. As for eating in the dining room … I think your father knows better than trying to keep you out.”
“I hope so.” I said it for Dad’s benefit. “He owes me an ice cream sundae bar.”
Dad scowled. “I owe you a boot in the rear end. That’s what I owe you.”
“Yeah? Well, I want an ice cream sundae bar. I also want something solid to eat. I’m sick of soup. What’s for dinner?”
Dad stared at me for several seconds and then blew out a sigh, resigned. “The doctor said you can’t have anything too spicy, so the Mexican feast I was planning will have to wait a bit. I went with comfort food.”
“Like?”
“Prime rib. Mashes potatoes. Roasted Brussels sprouts. Corn. Sweet potatoes. Gravy. Roasted chicken. Stuffed mushrooms. Homemade rolls and bread.”
“Geez, Dad, save some food for the rest of the neighborhood.” Redmond was practically salivating as he clapped Dad on the shoulder. “That sounds terrible.”
“Screw you,” I countered. “That sounds awesome. Let’s eat.”
“Fine.” Dad swiveled his shoulders to face Mom. “Don’t even think of making things harder than they need to be.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, dear.”
Griffin looped his arm through mine to help me down the stairs, fixing me with a goofy smile as he took on the bulk of my weight. “You’re going to eat your dinner, enjoy a little time with your family and then go to bed. Promise me.”
“I promise.” I honestly meant it.
“Good.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I can only take so much. You’ve already snuck around the house with your brothers, eavesdropped, mouthed off to your mother, guilted your father and made me a nervous wreck. I think you’ve peaked for the day.”
I wasn’t so sure.
Katherine fell into step behind Aidan and Braden and followed us down the stairs. “So, that’s your mother? I’ve been dying to meet her.”
Well, those might be some interesting last words if my mother was in a mood. I pushed the worry out of my mind. “I’m going to eat my weight in prime rib.”
Braden barked out a laugh. “That sounds like a plan.”
“SO, MRS. GRIMLOCK, I understand your husband told your children you were dead but you really abandoned them.”
As far as opening lines go, it was a showstopper. I risked a glance at Mom so I could watch the way she digested Katherine’s question. It was almost comical to see the way she twisted her face and maintained control of her emotions.
Griffin sat on my right side, Aidan on my left, and I felt cocooned in warmth even as Dad shifted in his seat and shot Mom a warning look. His message was clear: Don’t foul this up.
“What happened ten years ago is difficult for me to discuss,” Mom said finally, choosing her wo
rds carefully. “It’s not something we really talk about over dinner.”
“No, we much prefer doing it through doors and in dark parking lots in the middle of the night,” I volunteered.
“Aisling, eat your dinner,” Mom ordered, her eyes flashing.
“I don’t have any dinner yet,” I pointed out, gesturing toward the empty plate in front of me. “I’m starving to death and no one cares.”
“Don’t push it,” Griffin growled, stabbing two huge hunks of prime rib and dropping them on my plate. “More?”
“I’ve been in the hospital for days,” I reminded him. “I need nourishment.”
“Yes, but that also means your stomach has shrunk.”
“Let her take as much as she wants,” Dad ordered. “Her brothers will eat whatever she doesn’t. That’s what they do.”
“Yes, we fancy ourselves garbage disposals in our spare time,” Redmond deadpanned.
“Don’t make me beat you.” Dad wagged a finger in Redmond’s face and then shifted his wary eyes to Mom. As far as surreal situations went, this one pretty much topped anything else I’d ever been involved with … and that’s saying something because I’m a grim reaper and my mother came back from the dead. “Where have you been the last couple of days? I saw you around the hospital before Aisling woke up, but I didn’t see you after.”
“I saw her the night I woke up,” I offered, although I had no idea why I was sticking up for her. “She was around.”
“You did?” Dad lifted an eyebrow.
“I took the mirror out of the hospital room,” Mom supplied. “She didn’t want it and I didn’t think she would sleep as long as it was in there.”
“Oh, I didn’t even think of that.” Dad offered me an apologetic smile.
“I think you had other things on your mind,” I said dryly, making a face as I glanced at the table. “Where is Jerry? I haven’t seen him all day. I went searching for him when I left the bedroom.”
“He’s coming.” Aidan wrinkled his nose. “I told you he was making a special cake.”
Grim Holiday (Aisling Grimlock Book 6) Page 16