“That can’t be true. I can’t believe someone wouldn’t want you.”
“It is true,” McKenna said adamantly. “Sam said so himself. Besides, he already has a real daughter with his wife, Kate, and there isn’t any room left in his life for me or my twin brother, Kenyon.”
“Jesus,” Trevor moaned with sympathy. “How fucked up is that? Your parents are two lesbians and your brother is your dad. I thought you rich people were supposed to have your shit together.”
“I told you it was complicated,” McKenna chuckled miserably.
“It doesn’t change how I feel about you. I still want you. Just…” Trevor paused and let out a groan, “…not like this. Not when we’re sneaking around…”
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” McKenna quickly interrupted. “We wouldn’t have to sneak around if you would meet my parents.”
“Do you honestly believe they’re going to let someone like me anywhere near their daughter?”
“Yes,” she declared confidently. If need be, she would force their permission. After all the lies and deceit, they owed it to her.
Chapter 13
It sounded good in theory, but McKenna knew the reality of both her parents giving their wholehearted approval of Trevor wasn’t going to happen. Hannah was going to hate him, which, at first, had been a huge part of his appeal. Now that she wanted a real relationship, one that didn’t involve sneaking around, it was a problem—a huge problem. Although she was still devastated by the discovery that her family was far from perfect, at least they weren’t gangbangers. McKenna hoped her family might influence Trevor to change his ways. Of course, that wasn’t going to happen if Hannah had her way.
There was only one person on this earth that could change her mind once it was set—Willow. Both of the twins learned a long time ago that if there was something they really wanted but knew Hannah would refuse, the trick was to go Willow first. She wasn’t exactly a complete sucker, just very tenderhearted and tears worked like magic.
That afternoon, McKenna asked Trevor to drop her off at Willow’s office downtown instead of the entrance of the gated neighborhood as he usually did. Willow seemed surprised yet pleased by her unannounced visit.
“Hey you,” she called out with a warm smile as she hugged McKenna. “What are you doing here?”
“I just wanted to drop by and see what you were working on,” McKenna answered casually.
“Just next season’s lingerie. So what do you think?”
McKenna glanced down at the sketch with a smile. Inwardly, she cringed. Sometimes she wished her mother would just design normal clothes and not bondage garments. Thank God neither of her parents ever wore any of this stuff. Trevor’s rude comments about her parent’s relationship were still fresh in her memory. They were very affection with each other—sometimes kissing and holding hands, but never disgustingly demonstrative. Yuck! No one likes to think about their parents having sex. “That’s really nice. Is it leather?”
“No, it is a synthetic. I thought you were supposed be with the prom committee?” Willow said.
“It was canceled,” McKenna muttered without meeting her eyes.
Damn, Willow thought to herself. She has been lying. Hannah was right, and for the past two weeks, Willow had insisted that she needed to trust McKenna. She would probably never hear the end of this. She also knew McKenna wanted something from her. Something that would no doubt make Hannah very unhappy. The two women were co-parents and shared the division of labor equally, but ultimately Hannah was the CEO of the household, especially with the childrearing issues. It wasn’t something they planned, but Hannah had such talent at being a mother, it just happened naturally.
“So, what’s really going on, McKenna?”
“I…” McKenna started and took a deep breath, “…I met someone.”
Willow blinked with surprise. It was the last thing she had expected. Although it was a perfectly normal conversation, she was shocked to be having it with her mostly because McKenna never talked about boys. Unless… “Does this person have a name?”
“His name is Trevor.”
“Oh,” Willow responded blankly.
“Mom, I really, really like him. And I want both of you to like him too,” McKenna rushed with excitement.
“I’m sure we will both adore him. You know we would like anyone who was important to you.”
“Yeah,” McKenna muttered with uncertainty. “I don’t think Mommy will like him.”
“Why not?”
“Well—for starters, he is just a little bit older than me,” McKenna said quietly.
“How much older?” Willow asked drily.
“He’s twenty-two years old.”
Strike one. “What does Trevor do?”
“What do you mean?” McKenna asked.
“I mean—is he in school or does he have a job?”
“I don’t know,” McKenna shrugged. “We’ve never really talked about it.”
Strike two. “Is there anything else about him she wouldn’t approve of?”
“He drives a motorcycle, and he has a few tattoos,” McKenna squeaked.
Strike three. Strike four. There was no way Trevor could hit a homerun. Hannah wouldn’t let him get anywhere near the plate.
“Oh McKenna,” Willow groaned. “She is going to hate him. You do realize that, don’t you?”
“It’s like what you said. He is really important to me,” McKenna cried. Usually, it took her a few minutes to really work the tear angle but she was surprised how easily they came. Maybe her emotions were a little closer to the surface than she realized? In no time at all, her eyes were blurry and her lips started to quiver. “After everything…” she started, but couldn’t get the rest of the words out because she started choking on her sobs.
“Baby,” Willow whispered and pulled McKenna in her arms. Stroking her hair, she said, “I know you don’t understand now, but one day you will.”
“I... I… It’s just been so hard,” McKenna stammered. “And… and… Trevor makes me happy.”
“I’ll talk to her. I won’t make you any promises, but I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you, Mom. I knew you would understand,” McKenna whispered.
“Where have you been? It is five o’clock and you were supposed to be home an hour ago,” Hannah demanded as soon as they walked into the door.
“I went to visit my mother at work. Is that a crime now too?” McKenna shot back sarcastically.
“McKenna, go to your room,” Willow said softly.
“What’s going on?” Hannah asked once she had left.
Willow ignored her and began searching through the cabinets until she found a bottle of wine. It wasn’t the best year, but it was white and that was what was important. “Let’s have a drink,” she finally suggested.
“It’s the middle of the afternoon, and I don’t want a drink,” Hannah snapped back.
“Oh, I think you will,” Willow denied as she placed the bottle of wine on the butcher block on the kitchen table. Her gaze drifted lovingly towards the old table. She had so many good memories there. Countless family dinners when it was just the four of them. Lots and lots of sex when the children were not around. She really hoped Hannah didn’t destroy it when she exploded.
“Damn it, Willow, just tell me what has happened! Is McKenna taking drugs?”
“Hmm, no,” Willow answered nonchalantly as she began pillaging through the cabinets for stray breakables—anything that would shatter.
“Is she pregnant?”
“Good God, I hope not,” Willow grunted. “Do you ever use this glass casserole dish anymore?”
“Not often. What the hell are you doing? Those cabinets are immaculate. I cleaned them myself.”
“Here take this,” Willow commanded as she handed over the casserole dish and then took a step back. “McKenna met someone.”
“Oh,” Hannah murmured calmly. Considering the way Willow was behaving, it was rather ant
iclimactic. It was normal for girls McKenna age to become interested in… well, in other people. The truth suddenly dawned upon her. She realized where Willow was heading with this conversation but was surprised she thought it would shock her. Hannah had known for years. And what the hell was she supposed to do with the casserole dish?
As discreetly as possible, Willow took a step back and then another. Her ultimate goal was to get out of the range of fire. In Hannah’s defense, she hadn’t gone insane in several years, but then again, their daughter had never done anything like this. She decided the best way to go about it was to rip off the truth like a Band-Aid.
“McKenna is interested in a twenty-two year old man named Trevor. He has tattoos, rides a motorcycle, and may or may not be employed.”
“What?”
“I know what you’re thinking. Trust me, I am thinking the same thing too… Oh damn it, Hannah! Not the table. That’s why I gave you the casserole dish,” Willow groaned and stared down with dismay at the upended piece of furniture. She didn’t have too much time to reflect upon the broken wood because Hannah was already heading for the door. Crossing the room in a few graceful leaps, she held steady at the threshold.
“Hannah, no!” Willow screamed. “Just think about this for a minute. The harder you push, the faster she will run straight for him. We have to stay level-headed about this.”
Hannah blinked and then took a deep breath. “You’re right,” she muttered.
“I am?” Willow questioned warily.
“Of course, you’re right,” Hannah agreed as she reached out and stroked Willow’s cheek.
Willow let out a sigh of relief and stepped away from the door.
“I am going to remain calm,” Hannah assured evenly as she started to move past her and then her huge eyes narrowed to lethal slits. “Then I am going to fucking lock her in her bedroom until she is fifty fucking years old! The only way she will ever see that piece of fucking trash is over my goddamn dead body!”
“Han-nah!” Willow shouted but she was already halfway up the stairs. All she could do was follow behind and pray Hannah and McKenna didn’t end up killing each other.
“McKenna, open this door,” Hannah commanded. When McKenna refused to comply with her simple request, a black, vile rage spewed from her throat. “Open this goddamn fucking door or I’ll rip the motherfucker from its hinges,” she screeched.
A few seconds later, the door was opened. McKenna stared at her with a combination of shock and fear.
“No,” Hannah growled. “Absolutely not. This is not going to happen. Do you understand me?”
For several moments, McKenna was dumbfounded and speechless. She had never seen her mommy act this way let alone say those words. Had she really just dropped the F-bomb? Whatever happened to good girls don’t talk like that? It was more than a little frightening. She glanced over Hannah’s shoulder at Willow for support, but she only shrugged helplessly. Something snapped inside her. If Mommy wasn’t going to play by the rules then damned if she would either.
“Fuck you,” McKenna spat.
“What did you say to me?”
“I said fuck you,” McKenna screamed as loud as she could.
“Don’t you ever say that to me again,” Hannah shrieked. “I am your mother, you disrespectful little bitch!”
“You’re a fucking hypocrite,” McKenna cried. “You always say you shouldn’t judge someone until you know them, and you have never even met Trevor.”
“You are a child, and he is a grown man. I don’t need to meet him to know what he is—nothing but a nasty, twisted pedophile.”
“That is such bullshit. He is the one, Mommy.”
“He is not the one,” Hannah denied adamantly.
“He is. He isn’t a pervert. I practically begged him to make love to me and he wouldn’t do it because he wants our first time to be special.”
Hannah gasped as she covered her mouth in horror. Feeling as if McKenna had just ripped her heart out of her chest, she spat roughly, “You are too young to even think about sex let alone actually do it.”
“Oh my God,” McKenna cried. “I am eighteen years old. At my age, neither one of you was a virgin.”
“I waited for your mother,” Hannah hissed.
“You waited for lesbian sex. That doesn’t count,” McKenna screamed.
At that moment, Hannah realized that she could no longer be in this room with her daughter—not if she wanted anything or anyone left standing. As evenly as possible, she said, “No,” and then turned and walked away.
That evening, Hannah and Willow got ready for bed in silence. Willow didn’t know where Hannah had disappeared to for several hours, only that when she did finally get home she looked sweaty and exhausted. Hopefully, she had gone to the gym.
Hannah stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower without a word. For a moment, Willow considered joining her but decided against it as neither of them was in the mood. Instead, she waited patiently until Hannah was finished. Once she was toweled off and dressed in her pajamas, she pulled out two prescription bottles from the back of the medicine cabinet.
Willow could no longer hold her tongue. “Those are past the expiration date. Is that safe?”
Hannah swallowed the anti-psychotic and anxiety pills and then smirked. “It’s safer than the alternative. Besides, my physician gives me a refill in case of emergencies.”
“Did you call him first? You haven’t taken those medications in years.”
“Well, Willow, no. Strangely enough, I had a few other things on my mind,” Hannah snapped back sarcastically.
Willow lingered for a moment before going to bed. She remembered how watching Hannah take her medications was once a part of their nightly ritual. Although it hardly sounded romantic, it was actually quite so. It was her way of proving that she could be healthy. Willow had hoped it wouldn’t come to this but was relieved that Hannah had taken the initiative and that she hadn’t had to suggest it.
Hannah turned off the light and came to bed. Tonight, there would no cuddling, as she stayed stiffly on her side of the bed. After several long moments, she finally spoke into the darkness. “He is just using her.”
“I know,” Willow replied.
“He will break her heart.”
“I know.”
“Then how can you be all right with this?”
“I’m not—not really,” Willow answered. “I just know that the more we say no, the more she will want him. I also know it takes a lot of broken hearts to find the one,” she whispered as she reached across the mattress for Hannah’s hand. At first, she thought she would push her away, but Hannah surprised her by holding her hand tight and pulling it across her waist.
Hannah rolled to her side. Once Willow was pressed up snuggly to her back, she whispered, “I hate this.”
“I know,” Willow said as she leaned up and kissed Hannah’s temple.
“I screamed at her.”
“It was the first time in eighteen years that you ever raised your voice to either of our children. It was bound to happen one time or another.”
“No, you don’t understand. I could barely control myself.”
Willow rolled Hannah over until they were sharing the pillow face-to-face. She kissed her urgently and then whispered fervently against her mouth, “You are not her. Do you understand me, Hannah Mallory? You are not her.”
Hannah weakly nodded. She wanted to believe. God, how she wanted to believe, but in the deep recesses of her mind, she heard a mocking peal of laughter. The sound belonged to her deceased adopted mother. Several years ago, after going through hell and back, Hannah had finally buried that monster once and for all. Or so she believed.
Chapter 14
“Trevor, this is my mother, Hannah and my other mother, Willow,” McKenna introduced formally.
“Trevor, nice to meet you. Please sit down,” Willow said with a warm smile.
Hannah remained polite but aloof. She sat beside Willow on
the sofa. Willow’s arm was loosely draped across her shoulders. It might look like a sign of affection, but it was really more like a very subtle choker collar in case she freaked out and suddenly lunged across the coffee table.
“So tell us about yourself, Trevor,” Hannah said with a faint smile.
“I work for my uncle. He has a motorcycle shop across town.”
Several long and tense minutes passed and McKenna was relieved that both of her parents had played nice. Or so she thought. As they were walking out the door, Hannah stopped them. “Trevor, we do brunch every Sunday. You will be here,” she commanded.
“Yeah sure. I’ll try to make it.”
“Good,” Hannah smiled.
McKenna turned around and glared at her. She knew what she was thinking. Her mom might be able to influence her behavior, but she had no such affect on Sam. No could stop him once he started—except Hannah. When she returned her heated look with a wink, McKenna knew she had no intention of censoring him. Hannah was going to unleash her queen.
“Just pull over at the stop sign and we’ll switch places,” Trevor said.
“But it’s my car.”
“It’s bad enough I had to park my bike in front of your house. I don’t want to be seen being driven around by a girl.”
“Will it hurt your reputation?” McKenna teased.
“Something like that.”
McKenna waited until they were out of the neighborhood and then pulled off along the side of the road. It felt so strange being on a real date with him. She could hardly believe it was actually happening until their paths crossed in front of the headlights.
“Come here, you,” Trevor chuckled. He pulled her into his arms and then whispered against her mouth, “I missed you this afternoon.”
Like a plant soaking up the sun’s love, McKenna pressed herself against his hard body. Her lips curled upward as he lavished her mouth with his hot kiss.
Trevor pulled back slightly and groaned huskily, “I’ve never kissed a woman who smiles so much.”
Baby Bitch (Bitches and Queens) Page 7