Chapter 26

The uncles

 

“How could I not have known you were so infuriating? And possibly the most stubborn man alive?” I whined.

“Me? Stubborn? You do remember you were in the hospital a few hours ago, right? And… don’t roll your eyes at me Meadow.”

“Nick. I can walk to the bathroom. You don’t need to carry me every time I have to pee.”

“The doctor said not to put pressure on your leg,” he reminded me for the tenth time. The fluids I’d received at the ER were running through me, and I had to pee every five minutes, which meant Nick was carrying me back and forth to the bathroom every five minutes.

“She said much pressure. I can limp to use the bathroom.”

This time Nick rolled his eyes at me and ignored my protest when he sat me on the couch. When we got home, he’d put me to bed, and I dozed, but a horrible nightmare had woken me up. Nick held me until I stopped crying and now I didn’t want to go back to sleep. The painkillers were making it hard to keep my eyes open, but fear of reliving my attack was a great motivator. So was the grief I saw on Nick’s face when he rocked me, apologizing over and over that he allowed Beth to get to me.

It didn’t matter how many times I told him it wasn’t his fault; he kept saying it was. I’d do anything to keep the guilt and sadness from his eyes. He’d saved me, and I couldn’t understand why he couldn’t see that. Him and Sally. I knew he was keeping secrets from me. For one he told me Sally was out of surgery, but instead of relief, there was trepidation. When I questioned him, he brushed it off. He said he didn’t blame me for Sally getting hurt, but I didn’t believe him. It was my fault. Beth had stabbed her because she was trying to save me. Sally took the blow that was meant for me. How could Nick not hate me? Then there was the issue of Beth’s second phone, and why he was being so secretive about it. I couldn’t figure out what the big deal was. I mean, sure it was weird she had two phones, but it’s not unheard of. Something wasn’t right. I started to tell him that Beth must’ve hacked into my phone or computer because she’d read the messages I’d sent to Veronica Venus. Then there were her weird ramblings about listening to me bitch and complain. That conversation was shut down too, but not before he stumbled on his words and turned very uncomfortable. I didn’t understand why, and I didn’t like it.

“Would you like something to drink?” he asked, ignoring my reminder.

“No, thank you. I’m not drinking anything else that will make me need to pee more until you let me use the bathroom on my own.”

His lips twitched, and his right eyebrow pulled up. “Is that so?”

The first sign of a ghost of a smile since he’d found me.

“Yes, it is.” I smiled at him. “I wish you’d talk to me.”

“We are talking.”

“Don’t be daft. You know what I’m saying.”

“Daft?” Nick chuckled. “I’ve been called many things, daft isn’t one of them.”

“Stop changing the subject,” I groaned.

Nick sighed and brushed my hair over my shoulder, exposing my scar and gently trailing his finger over it. “The details aren’t important. What is important is, you’re here safe and Beth is locked in a cage where she belongs.”

“They’re important to me.”

The knock on the door interrupted his response, and he was all too happy to excuse himself to see who was there. It was strange not having Sally here; her crate and dog bed sat empty in the corner. If Nick refused to give me answers, I’d find them myself. He’d mentioned the name of the clinic she was being treated at; I didn’t know if privacy laws pertained to vets like they did doctors, but I was going to find out. One way or another I would get the truth and not only about Sally. It was frustrating, I had all the information, but I couldn’t put it together.

Nick walked back into the living room, followed by four men, all with matching scowls. I tried to scoot back into the couch and make myself as small as possible. The man that had walked in behind Nick quickly masked his frown and his face went blank.

“Meadow. These are my uncles: Nolan, Lenox, Levi, and Jasper.”

Well, that explained it, Nick Clark came from good stock. The grey and fine wrinkles only added to their appeal.

Can you say – silver fox?

Sweet Jesus. Of all times for me to meet his uncles, I was a mess. I tried to shuffle to stand, and all five men lunged at me.

“Red,” Nick warned.

The other four all made similar warning sounds. Sheesh, now I understood where Nick got that too.

The glare I leveled at Nick did not deter. “Don’t cut your eyes at me. You’re not supposed to put pressure on your leg.”

“Much. Much pressure. I think I can manage to stand for two seconds to meet your family. Either you can help me stand, or I’ll do it myself, and if I bust a stitch and you tell me I told you so, I swear to all things holy I will… scream.” I finished lamely.

“Christ,” one of the men said.

“It is like deja vu,” another added.

“Apple didn’t roll far from the tree.”

“’Bout damn time he found her.”

Nick’s eyes narrowed on the men. “You’re not helping. None of you. She needs to stay off that goddamn leg.”

What was going on? Why was he so upset?

“Nick?” He looked from his uncles to me. “I’ll stay seated. But I want it on record; I’m doing so not because I don’t think I should walk, I’m doing it because it seems to matter to you. I promise you I’m fine. And don’t think because I’m giving in now, means you’re gonna carry me to the bathroom again.”

“Thank you.”

At least he had the decency to look embarrassed about being an overbearing jerk.

“It’s nice to meet you all,” I told the men.

They all returned my greeting, introducing themselves again. Nolan and Nick looked almost identical, and when Nick explained that Clark, as he’s called by the others, was his blood and the rest all served in the Army with him and were honorary uncles, it made sense.

Clark made himself at home, getting everyone drinks. When he handed me a bottle of water, Nick stopped him.

“She’s on strike, refusing to drink until I allow her to walk.”

I got a round of good for you. Clark slapped Nick on the back and muttered something about me fitting right in with his aunts.

I didn’t want to think about what that meant. If more people were on their way over, I was getting up and getting dressed. Nick could throw a temper tantum all he wanted; I was not meeting the women in his family looking like this.