“If your daughter hadn’t been out chasing the security guard by the stables for a mid-night rendezvous maybe none of us would be in this situation!”
“What?” Remington saw red.
“Yes. Your precious angel was trying to hook up with a man almost twice her age. In her effort to show off for him, she fell off the damn horse.”
“Is that true?” Remington glanced at Bella.
Her face blushed. “She’s just a child, REMI. She probably thought she was in love.”
Remington glanced from Kane to Bella. He didn’t for one second believe a word that came out of either of their mouths, but if he didn’t want to get brought up on murder charges, it was best to leave. And that was precisely what he did.
Remington got into his car and slammed the door. His tires squealed as he peeled out of the driveway.
He made a mental note. Call the lawyers. Put the damned house up for sale.
Chapter 18
“I just got your text. What’s up?” Sky walked into Charlie’s room the next morning.
She struggled to sit up on her own but managed. “I was hoping you would come before my dad comes back from the cafeteria. Can I talk to you about something?”
Sky pulled up a chair and sat down. “Of course.”
“I mean, you have to promise not to say a word especially to him.”
“As long as it doesn’t put you in danger, I’ll take it to my grave.” Sky crossed her heart and gave the Boy’s Scout salute.
Charlie pursed her lips together. “I am a little nervous about moving in with him.”
“Okaaaay. Would you rather live with your mother?”
“Oh, god. No!” Charlie wrinkled up her nose.
Her reaction went a long way to confirm her suspicions.
“It’s just that I’ve changed a lot in three years. What if—what if he doesn’t like me?”
“Are you saying that you haven’t spent time with your father in three years?”
She shook her head. “No. I spent Father’s Day, his birthday week, two weeks out of the summer, and spring break with him. Both my parents travel too much for the every other weekend thing. When it was his time to have me, he was always busy working. He left it to his assistant to keep me busy.” Charlie sighed. “Who am I kidding? Now that I think about it, I’m sure that’s what will happen when I move in. He’ll hire a glorified babysitter. I guess I’ve answered my own question. Too bad my legs don’t work. At least, I could run away. I can’t even sneak out anymore.”
Sky chose her words carefully. “I have a feeling that your father is going to try to make some changes in his life. I think he knows that he made mistakes with you, and more than anything probably wants a chance to do better.”
The door to Charlie’s room opened, and there stood Bella in all her pageantry glory.
“Dr. Kirby isn’t it interesting that you think you know my REMI so well, enough to advocate on his behalf.” She strutted further into the hospital room in full red-carpet attire. “Hi, darlin’.” She floated over to Charlie and kissed her on the forehead as if she hadn’t been MIA. “How are you feeling today?”
Charlie didn’t make eye contact as she mumbled. “Okay.”
Slowly, Sky stood. She did not like that woman. Bella was a self-absorbed, vapid piece of work. But for Charlie’s sake, Sky would play nice. “Charlie is showing marked improvements every day. At this rate, she could be released to a rehabilitation center very soon.” If you were around more, you would know that.
“Okay? Just okay? How am I supposed to go to this industry thing tonight if my baby-girl is feeling okay?” Bella had never been more animated.
Charlie turned her head towards the wall. “It’s never stopped you before so I don’t know why today would be any different.”
Bella’s porcelain white face turned three shades of red. Before she could respond, Remington sauntered into the room carrying a bouquet of balloons. Sky was in his line of vision, and his grin grew wide the second he saw her.
For a brief moment, Sky’s eyes locked with his, and then she remembered they weren’t alone.
Bella saw the exchange, and she did not like it. “There you are REMI?” Her high-pitched voice was all sweet like saccharine.
It made Sky want to vomit. She also realized Bella was the reason she hated the name REMI.
The smile on his face faded as soon as he realized Bella was in the room.
Sky attempted to make a graceful exit. “I have a few patients to see.”
“Oh. Good. I was starting to think Charlie was your only patient.” Bella’s words were full of venom.
Charlie squealed. “Mom! Stop. Pleassse.”
Remington’s voice joined Charlie’s as it hardened. “Stop with the shenanigans, Bella.”
Sky wasn’t in a Michelle Obama kind of mood. But out of respect for Charlie and Remington, she wouldn’t go low and snap. Instead, she focused on Charlie. “It’s fine. I’ll see you later.” She wasted no time leaving.
*****
Sky was elbow deep in paperwork when Bella entered her office. “We should have had a conversation a long time ago. But, since we didn’t, now is a good a time as any. It’s obvious I need to set a few ground rules.”
Sky looked up, placed her elbows on her desk, and linked her fingers together. “Pray tell, what would those rules be, Mrs. Langston?”
Bella wasn’t used to people not kowtowing
