Page 191 of Remiss
“Brava, Harley,” Bailey called. “If your apology was genuine, you wouldn’t have had to look to Zoann for permission.”
“Aunt Zoann is on your side, Mommie.”
“Oh, please. She’s unable to have a daughter of her own, so she’s trying to steal mine.”
Fury blanketed Chester’s face, but Mort cleared his throat, and she snapped her gaze to his.
“Breathe, baby,” he told her, halfway joking.
“Why are you here, Zoann?” Bailey asked sharply.
Chester wanted to fuck Bailey up. Instead of a verbal response, she glowered at her, promising painful retribution. She’d beat Bailey’s ass. Val wouldn’t involve himself. Prezmightstand down this time. But, again…Meggie. Bailey wasn’t her favorite person.
Mort scrubbed a hand over his face. “I asked Chester to come because she told me all the strides Harley made. She can fill you in, Bailey.”
“Andher?” She nodded to Bunny. “Why is she here?”
“Because that’s our sister-in-law. She need our support right now while Digger laid up.”
“What happened to him?” Bailey asked.
“Prez,” Mortician answered.
“And I’m just finding out about this? Didn’t you learn anything from your mistress?”
Symphony came to Mort’s mind and he squinted. Until Bailey’s satisfied smirk registered.
“You fucking bitch,” Roxanne said.
“What else is Meggie to Lucas?” Bailey asked. “She snaps her fingers. He goes running. I’m surprised you didn’t ask your precious CJ to join in.”
“Mommie?”
“Shut up, heifer,” Bailey snarled. “Does everything have to be breaking news around here? We have no privacy.”
Harley ran to Bailey and hugged her. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “I did a lot in front of everybody. I think Daddy just wanted to—”
Bailey shoved Harley away.
Mort rushed forward and inserted himself between his wife and his daughter. “Bailey, keep your goddamn hands to yourself.”
“She had no fucking problem raising her hand to me.” She struggled to see around Mortician. “Suddenly, you know whatmy husband wants better than me. What about what I want? An apology.”
“Harley apologized, Mom,” Lou said. “She’s sorry.”
“Not sorry enough. Your sister only apologized because Zoann told her to.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, you stupid bitch, does it really fucking matter if Bugs Bunny got her to this point?” Chester exploded, jumping from her seat and rushing to Bailey.
Placing his hand on Harley’s shoulder, Mort guided her back to the sofa, then stepped between Bailey and Chester.
Bailey hadn’t stood and Chester wouldn’t give a fuck. She’d beat Bailey to a fucking pulp even with the disadvantage.
“I want my family back,” Bailey said, beginning to cry.
Roxanne snorted. “You got a fucked way of showing that, cow.”
“But I want to matter. I want Harley to apologize to me because I deserve it. I want Bunny to realizewe’rethe head of the family. I want Kendall—and especially Meggie—to depend ontheirhusbands instead of mine.”
