Amazing how they couldn’t remember where they put their car keys, but they could recite each and every one of Meg’s indiscretions since elementary school.
Scurrying down the hall, she forced another smile and greeted her dad’s assistant, the dragon lady who loyally guarded the gates to hell, better known as the mayor’s office. “Hi, Mrs. Duncan. How are you?”
The assistant looked up from her computer screen and quirked a brow. “So the prodigal child returns home once again, huh? The mayor’s in a meeting and since you weren’t on the invite list you can just wait over there until they’re through.”
Before Meg could respond, her oldest brother, Ben, arrived.
“Hey, Muckity Muck.” Throwing his big arm around Meg’s shoulder, he winked at Mrs. Duncan. “I’m sure Dad didn’t know Megan was back when he asked you to send out the details of the meeting. It involves the whole family. You’re looking lovely today, by the way.”
So much testosterone pumped from Ben that he cast a spell over the entire female race. He was the opposite of her brother Ryan, who spoke only when necessary.
“You’re probably right, Doc. Go on in.” When the woman’s eyelids fluttered seductively, Meg’s gag reflex kicked in.
Ben lifted his chin as a farewell, dragging Meg along with him. When they got out of earshot, he whispered, “Welcome back. Bring Haley by the clinic. I want to check her breathing.”
“I will. Thanks.”
He opened the office door for her to enter first. When her feet refused to move any closer to her raging bull of a father, Ben placed his big hand on her lower back and pushed. “Good luck.”
Good luck? That wasn’t a good omen.
Her father stopped mid-sentence and his jaw clenched. Before he could yell at her, Ben said, “Sorry we’re late. I asked Meg to help me with something.” He looked down at her and grinned. “Yellow paint was clearly involved.”
Grandma snorted out a laugh. “Come on in, you two. We were just getting started, weren’t we, Mitchell?” Her tone dared Dad to disagree with her.
“Why am I not surprised to see you here uninvited, Megan?” The frown lines deepened on her father’s weathered face. “Have a seat. Let’s get this over with.”
The steady thump of a dog’s tail signaled at least someone was happy to see her—Dad’s dog, Numbskull, who lived up to his name.
She ventured deeper into the room, stunned that even the step-monster was in attendance. Sue Ann never came to these things. Normally the woman was too busy rushing off to Denver and spending Dad’s money to worry about the details of how they all made it for her by running the many businesses in their little resort town. She hailed from Texas originally, was only ten years older than Casey, still spoke with a twang, and had perfect makeup, big hair, and even bigger fake boobs. It made Megan wish she’d thought to at least take her ponytail down and brush her hair. “Hi, everyone,” she said.
Sue Ann raised a brow, then shook her head as her eyes did the up and down over Meg’s outfit. “Lord, you’re a mess. As usual.”
Nice.
Plastering on a smile as fake as her stepmother’s double Ds, Meg said, “Great to see you too, Sue Ann.”
Meg found an empty chair next to Ryan, and Ben plopped down next to Casey. Ryan leaned over and gave Meg a shoulder bump in silent greeting.
Sending her brother a weak grin, she braced for the impact.
Wasting no time, Dad asked, “So, Megan, how long are you planning to stay this time?”
No welcome home or how’re you doing? As usual. “For the summer season at least. Then we’ll see. I want Haley to—”
“And how were you planning to support yourself and Haley this summer? I told you you’re not welcome to work for our company after the last time you ran off, leaving us high and dry.”
Casey sighed. “She didn’t leave us high and—”
“You, Casey.” Dad’s meaty finger changed direction toward Grandma. “And you, Mother, are the reason Meg’s so damned irresponsible. You both baby her and look where that got us.” His steely gaze found Meg again. “I’m serious, Megan. You’re welcome to see if anyone else in town will have you, but they all know you, and are aware of your stellar track record.”
Her father really was serious this time. “I’m sorry about before, Dad. But after Haley was born I was just doing the leftovers no one else wanted anyway. I didn’t think you’d mind if I left.” Her father had lost all respect for her for “getting herself knocked up” and had barely been speaking to her. That was the real reason she’d left, but mentioning it wasn’t going to help.