Page 92 of Remiss
“Words are easy. If I don’t back them up, Cash will just ignore me the next time.”
“Then throw a bucket of water on his dumb ass while he sleeps,” Zoann said. “Make his life miserable.”
“Suppose he leaves?”
“Then good riddance. If he can’t take the heat, stay away from the fucking fire. That’s simple, Ophelia. If Val was still a motherfucker, I would’ve left him years ago.”
“Who are you people?” Ophelia looked from Kendall to Zoann and finally settled on Meggie. “So willing to throw away your marriages.”
“Says the one bitch whoisn’tmarried,” Zoann replied.
Ophelia ignored her and kept her gaze on Meggie. “You’ve disappointed me the most. Your treatment of Christopher is shameful.”
“Sorry not sorry,” Meggie replied, remorseless. As remorseless as he’d become.
“You’re such a—”
“Watch it, Ophelia,” Meggie warned evenly. “Don’t say something you’ll regret.”
“Christopher ismybrother. I can say what I want and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Meggie smirked at her. “Cash is still alive because of you. Anger me and see if that changes.”
Her eyes widened. “You keep talking about his death. As if you want him dead.”
“Better him than Christopher.”
“Cash is the father of two of my children, whom I love dearly.”
“Christopher is my husband and the father of my children,” Meggie replied. “I love him dearly. I don’t appreciate anyone risking his life. Not only his, but all of my sons except Gunner.”
“What are you talking about, Meggie? You’re giving me a headache.”
“Then you’re behind. You’vegivenme one.”
Ophelia glared at her. “You just said you can divorce Christopher and don’t lose sleep over it.”
“That isn’t what I said but think what you want. I’m done with this conversation.”
“It’s good that you’ve left Outlaw, Meggie,” Gypsy said, emptying the last of the salad onto her plate.
Axel peeped his head in. “Is it safe, Mom?”
Meggie smiled. “Yes, sweetheart. Thank you for being so astute.”
Axel’s blank look told her he didn’t know the meaning of the word. She’d explain later, and smiled as he guided Winnie back in, then came to Meggie. “Told you she should’ve been with the other little kids.”
“I understand,” she told him.
He nodded, reminding her so much of Christopher she almost burst into tears.
“I deflected for a long time too,” Gypsy said, determined to carry on the conversation where she left off. “You can finally put him into perspective like I always do with Derby.”
“Christopher does not cheat,” Meggie gritted, appalled that Gypsy compared her husband to Meggie’s.
“Yeah, I forgot, hitting is a hard no for you, too,” Gypsy said. “I understand, but sometimes you have to overlook that shit. We work on a man’s nerves and leave them no choice but to smack us so we’d back off.”
“I have no fucking words,” Zoann hissed. “That is the most fucked-up view I’ve ever heard. You can’t rationalize a motherfucker laying hands on you.”
