Page 35 of Wedded to a Wayne

Austen looks at me in surprise, but Rowena sneers attractively.

Even her sneers are attractive.

“How did he luck into snagging such a little submissive to play his obedient wife? And one with all that money in the bank. Emerson thinks he’s so clever. I’ll admit, you’re the whole package. You’re rich, you work with children, you’d get the judge’s sympathy vote for being disabled. He’s really trying to make me look bad.”

She stares pointedly at the prosthesis hidden by my skirt and then I’m holding the pregnant Austen back with both hands. “Say it again and I’ll get you a sympathy vote.”

“Austen? Go inside and let Emerson know we have company?” I ask her, pleading with my eyes. I’d never forgive myself if Royal’s pregnant wife landed on her butt in the snow because she threw down with an Amazon while defending me.

“Fine. But I’ll be back.”

“Yes, Austen. Go get my husband,” Rowena taunts. “But take your time. Ms. Chahal and I have things to discuss.”

“I’d prefer it if you called me Mrs. Wayne, thank you. But if you want to discuss the custody hearing, I’m afraid you’ll have to speak to our lawyers.”

She waves a gloved hand in my direction as if swatting a bug. “Do you know the first time I spent Thanksgiving with Foster and Cassandra Wayne, I thought I’d died and gone to happy family heaven? My mother was too busy at the bar drinking herself to an early grave, so I ate this up with a spoon.” She made a face. “It is like ice cream though, isn’t it? This family? Too much and it can make you sick to your stomach. It doesn’t even come in other flavors. Just vanilla day after day, week after week.”

I’d started feeling sorry for her, but now she’s insulting this family. My family. “If you wanted to see the boys for Thanksgiving, you just had to call. I’m sure Emerson would have made it happen.”

“Because he cares so much about my feelings? Or yours? Does he have you fooled?” She crosses her arms, shivering now. “That man doesn’t care about anything but his family. Believe me, I was married to him for years and he never once told me he loved me. If you’re waiting on that, you’ll be disappointed. I know I was.”

The barb hits, but I take it on the chin. “If you want to see the boys—”

“I wanted to talk to Emerson and get a look at you,” she interrupts. “My lawyer says you complicated things, so I thought I’d see how serious you were about going through with this.”

Tonight? When she knew everyone would be gathered together? “I think it’s safe to say my husband and I are very serious about the children. But you know that. Rowena, did you want to come in and see them?”

She grimaces. “God no. I’ve got a man who says he loves me now. He took me to Europe and spoils me rotten. Now he wants to go home to his estate in Arizona and marry me. His estate. We’ll see how long it takes for the glitter to wear off, but right now I’m doing fine without the almighty Waynes. The only thing we’re waiting on are my kids. He wants to bring them along for the ride.”

Hewants?

She doesn’t sound too happy about it. And I’m surprised my glare isn’t lighting her on fire right now. “The kids should stay here where they belong. If your fiancé wants children, why don’t you have some with him instead of breaking up this family?”

She takes a step toward me. “Oh, don’t get judgmental on me, Mrs. Wayne. I’m having a pleasant conversation with you instead of ripping your eyes out. You think I’m not maternal enough? You aren’t the one who got fat and sick and couldn’t wear any of your clothes for nine months. Twice. Which is why I made sure I wouldn’t get pregnant again years ago. Nothing is worth going through that again. But I did, so they’re mine.”

I’m incredulous. And pissed. That’s the word. I’m definitely pissed. Does she know what I would give to—

No. This isn’t about me. “You shouldn’t be telling me this without your attorney present, Rowena. You shouldn’t be telling me this at all.”

“Fine. I’ll wait for Emerson, and maybe I will say hello to the boys before I go.”

“After what you just said?” I step forward, and now she is literally towering over me. Not that I care. “You tell me you’re hurting your children, hurting your ex-husband, and wasting the court’s time, all to pacify a man who wants to play at being a dad? You need to leave. You’ll get near those boys tonight over my dead body.”

“Not that submissive then.” A gleam enters Rowena’s eyes “You’d almost think you were playing at being someone’s mommy. None of what’s inside that house will ever belong to you. They are an island unto themselves and they will drop you in a heartbeat if you step out of line. Not that I couldn’t get it back if I still wanted it. Between you and me? There’s no contest.”

My research wasn’t missing anything about Rowena. “I know part of you regrets what you’ve done. You have to. You left your children. You did that. And now you want to take them from their father and grandparents and the only home they’ve ever known. You want to uproot them from their school and friends on the whim of a man that the glitter might wear off of. Because it will hurt the almighty Waynes? Did you know that since you called, Barry’s been a wreck about having to leave? Lang tries to be strong for his brother, but he’s decorating for Christmas like it might be his last. Do you care what this is doing to them? Are you so selfish that you can’t do what’s right for your children instead of yourself?”

I should have seen the slap coming after I lost my temper. Instead, I stumble back in surprise, hand on my cheek. Thankfully, my first girl fight is over before it begins. I’ve got heart, but she’s a giant, and I’m not sure I could take her.

“Way to be trashy, Ro. This is my family’s front yard, not an episode of Springer. You need to go.” Bronte Finn wraps an arm around my shoulder, the pregnant Austen closing in on my other side.

“I decided to bring everyone,” she murmurs to me. To Rowena she says, “Hugo’s husband is on duty, but we can call him over. You remember what he does for a living, don’t you?”

Emerson’s ex-wife looks over our heads and I follow her gaze. Cassandra is standing like a sentinel in the doorway.

Rowena starts crying on cue. “I deserve to see my kids, Mama.”

“Do not.” My mother-in-law’s words are like a slap of their own. “We all heard you. My grandchildren heard you. I’m only holding my son back because you’re not worth his time. You’re not welcome here tonight, Rowena. Go home.”

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