Julian leaned in close to Ellie. “This is counterproductive, honey. Let the judge work it out.”
Lia stiffened. “What judge? What’re you talking about?”
“We’ve petitioned the court to legally adopt Bella and Mya,” Julian said. “He’s agreed to hear the case on Thursday.”
“Too bad I won’t be sticking around to hear his decision. Go!” She snapped her fingers in Ellie’s face. “Fetch my children. I’ll be taking them home now.”
Julian grabbed her wrist and brought her arm down to her side. “That’s not happening. You can’t remove them from our custody without approval from the judge.”
“Says who?”
“Says the law,” Julian said.
Lia suspected he was bluffing, but she decided not to push it. “Well. If that’s the case, get your guest room ready, because I’m moving in.” She kicked the suitcase on the floor at her feet for emphasis.
“Over my dead body,” Julian said.
“Dead is not how I want to see you, Julian.” She eyed him up and down. “Naked would be my choice.”
Ellie’s palm came out of nowhere, landing a blow on the side of Lia’s cheek.
Her hand shot to her cheek. “Why, you little bitch!” Lia went after her sister with fists flinging. The dude with the gun tried to stop her, but she elbowed and kicked him out of the way. She managed to claw Ellie’s neck with her fingernails and yank a handful of hair from her head before the sound of a child screaming got her attention and made her stop.
All eyes traveled to the back of the hallway, to the adolescent child who stood frozen in place with tears streaming down her face.
“Well now,” Lia said. “If it isn’t the red-headed foster child. It’s not enough for my sister to kidnap my children. She has to take strays off the street as well.”
When the child dashed up the stairs, Ellie took off behind her.
Julian crossed the hall in three determined strides and flung open the door. “Get out!” he demanded. “You are not welcome here.”
Lia hunched her shoulders. “But I have no money and nowhere to go.”
Abbott took her suitcase with one hand and her elbow with the other and marched Lia out the front door and down the sidewalk to his car. He tossed her suitcase in the trunk and shoved her in the passenger seat.
“You’re a piece of work, you know that?” he said as he slid behind the steering wheel.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It wasn’t meant to be a compliment.” He started the engine. “Where to? The train or the bus station?”
“Hell no!” Lia stomped her foot against the floorboard. “I’m not leaving town without my kids. It’s too late to go anywhere today anyway.”
He hesitated before putting the car in gear. “Fine. I’ll pay for one night, and one night only, at a hotel. After that, you’re on your own.”
“Can I at least have an upgrade? The last place I stayed in was a dump.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” He stepped on the accelerator and sped off down the block.
As he flew through the streets of downtown, Lia felt herself beginning to tank. Even though it’d been a long time since she’d experienced the dark loneliness of depression, she knew the feeling all too well. By the time they reached the Days Inn on Meeting Street, she’d bottomed out.
He retrieved her suitcase from the trunk, and they entered the motel office together. “One room for one night, please.” Abbott gave his credit card to the clerk, a haggard-looking man with a braided ponytail hanging midway down his back. The clerk processed his credit card and handed Abbott a packet of key cards.
“Number 260. Last room at the end of the corridor on the second floor.”
As Abbott bounced her suitcase up the single flight of concrete steps and down the exterior corridor to her room, Lia dragged herself along behind him, the energy draining from her body with each step. He unlocked the door to her room. Setting her suitcase on the floor inside, he opened his wallet and gave her all the cash he had.
“Do us all a favor and catch the next bus, train, or plane headed out of town. You and I both know you are not fit to parent those children. Get yourself some help, Lia. Believe me, you need it.”
“Go to hell, Abbott.” She slammed the door in his face and spun around to face the dingy room. Everything was brown—carpet, walls, and bedspread. She glanced down at the wad of cash in her hand.
Leave town, hell. Daddy Dearest is going home to a nice supper with Ellie Darling in her big fancy house with my children. It’s gonna take more than a few hundred dollars to get rid of me. I’ll deal with them tomorrow after I get some rest.
She collapsed onto the bed fully clothed and fell into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Ellie
Ruby was lying facedown, crying into her pillow when Ellie entered the room.
“Oh, honey,” she said as she sat down on the bed beside her. “I’m so sorry. My sister didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. She’s mad at me and took her anger out on you.”
“Sisters aren’t supposed to fight,” Ruby cried, her words muffled by the pillow. “They’re supposed to love each other.”
“No one gets along all the time,” Ellie said, rubbing circles on the child’s back. “Not siblings or friends or husbands and wives. My sister and I disagree about where the twins should live. In healthy relationships, each party has to compromise in order to reach an agreement. Sadly, my sister is having some emotional problems right now, which is why we need a judge to make the decision for us. Does that make sense?”
“Sorta.” Ruby rolled over onto her back. “She’s mean, like mama’s boyfriend. I got scared when I saw her hitting you. I didn’t want her to hurt you.”
“Of course you were scared, sweetheart.” She took Ruby’s hand in hers and brought it to her lips. “Julian and I are not the kind of people who solve our problems with our fists. In all my life, until today, I’ve never been in a physical fight, and I will not allow it to happen in this house ever again. We want you to feel safe here. That’s why we hired a security guard. Robbie is looking out for us.”
“Then why didn’t he stop your sister from hitting you?”
“Because none of us realized Lia would do something like that. He’ll be better prepared the next time.” Ellie saw the look of horror on Ruby’s face at the mention of a next time. “If there is a next time, which I doubt very seriously if my father has anything to do with it. Okay?”
Ruby smiled. “K.”
Ellie leaned over and kissed her freckled forehead. “Julian and I love you very much. I want you to know you’re as much a part of this family as Katie and the twins.”
“Really?” Ruby beamed.
Ellie placed her hand over her heart. “Truly.”
Once they’d sorted out this mess with the twins, she planned to look into a more permanent arrangement for Ruby with her family. She decided not to mention it to Ruby for fear of getting her hopes up. Not until she had a chance to discuss it with Julian and their attorney.
She patted Ruby’s knee. “Why don’t you get started on your homework while I go check on things downstairs?”
“Okay.” Ruby sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I don’t know much about these things, Miss Ellie, because I’m just a kid, but family is family. You’re good at helping people. Look what you’ve done for me and the twins. Maybe if you help your sister fix whatever’s wrong with her emotions, she’ll be a nicer person.”
“You know what, Ruby? I think you’re right.” She mussed the child’s orange hair. “And kid or no kid, I think you’re pretty darn smart.”
Rising from the bed, Ellie smoothed the wrinkles in her linen slacks and forged a smile as she exited the room. Becca was in the hallway, hovering behind the twins’ bedroom door. “Is everything okay?” She eyed Ellie’s neck. “I heard yelling and was afraid to come out.”
Ellie fingered the scratches on her nec
k. “My sister was here stirring up trouble again, but everything is under control now. Did the twins hear the argument?”
“No, ma’am. They slept right through it. They’re awake now, though. Is it safe to bring them down for a snack?”
“I’d rather you keep them in their room for a few more minutes while I get cleaned up and check on things downstairs. I’ll let you know when it’s okay to come down.” She started toward her bedroom, then turned back to face Becca. “I seem to be asking this a lot of you lately, but is there any chance you can stay late today? I have a lot to discuss with my husband and father.”
“Of course! I can stay as long as you need me.”
“In that case, instead of spoiling their appetite with a snack, why don’t you go ahead and feed the girls dinner? Maddie left a chicken-and-rice casserole warming in the oven. There’s plenty for you as well.”
Becca’s face brightened at the mention of free food. “That sounds perfect. Thanks.”
Ellie was distraught at the sight of her reflection in her bathroom mirror. In addition to her tangled hair and the angry marks on her neck, her face was pale and drawn, with purple half-moons as dark as bruises under her eyes. This predicament with her sister was taking its toll. She longed to crawl in her bed, pull the covers over her head, and sleep until the crisis was resolved. Instead, she splashed water on her face, dabbed on some makeup, and changed into fresh clothes. Hoping the vibrant colors would lighten her mood, she chose a pink cotton T-shirt and Lilly Pulitzer capris.
Downstairs, she discovered that peace had been restored. Lia was gone. Robbie was once again perched on the settee, looking alert. And her father was deep in conversation with Julian in his study. Both men stood when she entered the room.
“You’re so pale,” Julian said, rushing to her side.
“Gee, thanks. I put on makeup and everything.”
“Here, come sit down.” Julian gripped her arm as though she might fall and escorted her to the sofa. “This will help.” He poured two fingers of amber liquid into a crystal glass and handed it to her.
“I’m fine, honestly. Just a little shaken up. Nothing a good shot of bourbon won’t cure.” She downed the bourbon in one gulp.
“Atta girl,” Julian said, and poured more liquid in her glass.
She relaxed against the soft leather cushions. “Where’d she go?”
“I took her to the Days Inn on Meeting Street,” Abbott said. “I paid for one night and gave her the contents of my wallet, suggesting strongly that she use the money to buy a ticket on the first mode of transportation out of town tomorrow morning.”
Ellie grunted. “That’s not likely to happen.”
Abbott hung his head and stared into his drink. “No, I’m afraid you’re probably right.”
“She’s a monster.” Julian crossed the room and closed the door for privacy. “After what happened here today, I’m genuinely concerned for the safety of all our children. Poor Ruby. How is she?”
“She’s calmer now. We had a good talk. She’s quite a remarkable child.” Ellie smiled at the thought of her foster child.
Julian sat down close to Ellie. “I’m at a loss as to where we go from here. I thought that hiring a security guard was a good solution. A lot of good he was.”
“In Robbie’s defense, he took his lead from me,” Ellie said. “I told him I could handle it. He had no way of knowing she’d go berserk. None of us did.”
“Well, it won’t happen again,” Julian said. “I had a little talk with Robbie. He is to contact the police immediately if he sees Lia anywhere near our property. Under no circumstances is he to let her inside this house.”
“Maybe you should pack up the kids and go stay in a hotel,” Abbott suggested. “At least until after the hearing on Thursday.”
“That would scare the children. I refuse to be run out of my own home.” Ellie left the sofa and went to stand in front of the fireplace. She lifted her grandfather’s mahogany jogging stick off the mantel and gripped it tight in her hand. She could still feel the sting of the jogging stick against her tiny bare legs. She’d seen the wicked glint in her sister’s eyes when she’d attacked her in the hallway. Lia was cut from the very same cloth as her grandmother. She carried the insanity gene, if there even was such a thing. She restored the stick to the mantel and turned to face her husband and father. “I think we should help her.”
Their jaws dropped simultaneously.
“Are you out of your mind?” Julian asked.
Abbott said, “Help her do what, honey?”
“Get her the psychiatric help she needs to control her bipolar disorder or whatever disorder she has.”
“I don’t understand. Why the sudden about-face?” Julian asked.
“Because a very wise little girl upstairs just reminded me that family is family. We don’t choose our siblings. We’re born from the same parents. Lia and I are not just sisters. We’re twins. If I were the one with emotional problems, I would want someone to save me from myself. She has no one else. I’ll never be able to live with myself if I don’t at least try.”
Julian reached for the decanter beside him and poured more brown liquor into his glass. “The question remains . . . how do you intend to help her? You can’t drag an unwilling person to the psych ward.”
“I realize that, Julian.” She walked back to where they were sitting and stood looking down at them. “I’d like to speak with her in mutual territory, somewhere where we can talk calmly and rationally while I present my offer. If she’s willing to be hospitalized, I will continue to take care of the twins for however long it takes for her to get better. When the doctor deems her stable, I will give her the money to buy a house here in Charleston and help her pay the bills until she can find a job she enjoys.”
Julian and Abbott stared at her, speechless.
Ellie continued, “It’s a win-win situation for everybody when you think about it. Lia gets healthy and she gets to keep her children. Meanwhile, we get to be a part of the twins’ lives while keeping a close eye on their mother.”
“I don’t know, sweetheart,” Abbott said, shaking his head. “After what I’ve witnessed these past few days, I’m not sure Lia will ever be right no matter what mind-altering drugs the doctors give her.” She started to object, and he held his finger up, silencing her. “But I see how much this means to you, so I’m willing to go along with it on the condition that neither you nor the twins are alone with Lia until she’s . . . until she’s cured, for lack of a better word.”
Julian sat back on the couch and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m skeptical, and I’ll continue to be skeptical until I see dramatic improvement in her behavior. I realize the decision is not ultimately mine, but until that time, I would prefer the twins not see her at all.”
Ellie nodded. “I think that’s a smart move.”
“And under no circumstances is she allowed in this house,” Julian added.
“I insist on being present when you talk to her,” Abbott said. “How do you plan to approach her with your proposition?”
“We go to her motel first thing in the morning and request a meeting.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Lia
Lia’s eyes opened wide at midnight, on the dot, according to the digital clock on the table beside her bed. She’d slept a solid seven hours, the most uninterrupted sleep she’d had in months. Forging her way through the fog that threatened to swallow her whole, she forced herself to sit upright. She teetered on the precipice of the abyss. She couldn’t give into despair now, not when she was on the verge of getting everything she’d ever wanted. Freedom. All the material goods that money could buy. The seductive lifestyle that came with being wealthy. Tomorrow, she would figure out how to get her hands on her money. Tonight, she would settle for sex.
She showered for the first time in days and slipped into a low-cut, black knit dress that clung to her curves and left little to the imagination. She fashioned a gauzy red scarf arou
nd her neck and crammed her feet into black stiletto heels. Aside from a bite of a stale sandwich, she hadn’t eaten in over forty-eight hours. But she had no appetite for food. She aimed to satisfy the desire in her loins, not the hunger in her gut.
She stuffed the money Abbott had given her in a cross-body bag and set out on foot toward the waterfront. The going was slow and unsteady, tramping in stilettos on brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets, but she eventually arrived at a dive bar with classic rock-and-roll music blaring from inside and a crowd of patrons spilling out into the street. She nudged her way through the mob to the bar and ordered a glass of wine, her first alcoholic beverage since she’d left Justin. She needed a numbing agent to chase the blues away. She knew it was inevitable, when she stopped taking her medication, that the day would come when her moods would shift and force her to face her demons.
How long will it last this time? Weeks? A month?
She’d survived the depths of depression before. She’d survive this time as well. One thing she knew for certain—she’d become an alcoholic or a nymphomaniac before she went back on lithium.
She lifted her shoulders back and held her head high.
Think positive, Lia. The demons have to catch you before they can drag you down.
She drained her glass of wine and grabbed the man standing next to her by the arm, pulling him onto the dance floor. Her body moved to the beat of the music as she twirled from one man’s arms to another’s. She finally settled into a pair of sinewy tatted-up biceps. He pressed his rock-solid body against hers. He was just the antidepressant she needed.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Ellie
Once again, Abbott stayed the night in Ellie’s guest room. With Lia on the loose, Ellie felt better knowing all her loved ones were under one roof—with Robbie standing sentry over them. Ellie, Julian, and Abbott stayed up talking until almost midnight in the study, and then Julian and Ellie continued the discussion once they’d retired to their bedroom. It took some convincing, but Julian eventually agreed to support her plan. At least for the time being.
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