The intensity of Meggie’s blue regard made Fee squirm. “Kendall’s off her medicines.”
Although she phrased it as a statement, Fee heard the question in Meggie’s voice, so she nodded.
“The reason you didn’t tell Christopher immediately?”
“I thought she needed a friend. I didn’t think things would get so bad.”
“Daphne.”
The name fell between them like a shard of ice. Fee went rigid, afraid that Meggie would never forgive her and even more fearful of Christopher’s reaction.
“Every time something went on with Daphne, Kendall happened to be there,” Meggie continued. “That wasn’t coincidence.”
Fee swallowed, wanting to cry and scream and beg for forgiveness.
“God.” Meggie tipped her head to the ceiling. “Christopher is going to kill Kendall. The baby won’t matter. Nothing.”
“I tried to…I didn’t…” Anything Fee said would confirm Kendall’s guilt and her own, too.
“You didn’t what? Want to go along with Kendall?”
“She was blackmailing me, Meggie,” Fee whispered, feeling as pathetic as she sounded. “Even when I went to Johnnie to tell him some things, I didn’t tell him about the Daphne stuff. I was that afraid that she’d go to Christopher.”
“She never would’ve exposed you. She doesn’t want Johnnie to know what a mean witch she’s being again. If she’d gone to Christopher, the whole story would’ve come out. Then, Johnnie would’ve gotten wind of it.”
Oh my fuck! Meggie was so right. Fee had been had! Ashamed, she covered her face. “I’m so sorry, Meggie. I know you must hate me as much as you hate Kendall.” As much as Kendall hated Meggie.
“I don’t hate you or her. I’m just fed up with her behavior. When she accused Ryder of being Johnnie’s baby, I suspected she was once again defying her doctor’s orders. Now, she’s put me in the position of having to protect her from Christopher.” Meggie huffed out a breath. “She makes me so mad. I’ve sided with her a lot. More than she knows. I know this is all about her stupid job. She doesn’t see all that she’s done just proves that I was right in my decision.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“As the club’s co-counsel, Kendall had access to email addresses, cell phone numbers, contacts, handwriting. She probably has some files still in her possession, which she used for her latest scheme. Last time, she took it upon herself to okay a deal, then stowed away on a plane. She shouldn’t be anywhere near club business. She’s going to get my husband into all types of problems.”
Even now, when Kendall had once again caused so much trouble, Meggie didn’t sound vicious as she spoke about her. Not the way when the situation was reversed.
“There’s going to be no reasoning with her while she’s pregnant,” Meggie concluded. “We’re just going to have to keep her out of Christopher’s way.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Should we tell Johnnie?”
“I don’t know, Fee. He was devastated when Kendall walked away. Given her current mood, if we go to him and he confronts her, she might leave. I doubt Johnnie would stand for that a second time. I also very much doubt he’d allow Kendall to take his children. His love for her would turn into hate in the blink of an eye, and they’d go out of their way to hurt each other. I can’t see breaking up their family, if I can find a way to save them. Despite everything, those two love each other.”
“Listening to you makes me wonder if it’s more need and dependency. Really, who else does Kendall have but Johnnie? Ella spends more time with the kids than she does.”
“Kendall loves Johnnie, Fee. Never doubt that. And Kendall has us. She has me. When she’s ready to be my friend, I’m here for her. However, I’m never putting up with her behavior. Ever again. I’ll never forget the image of that man in Christopher’s cut. Dead. That…” Meggie’s voice trailed off and she shook her head. “I’ll see her kicked off club property before I allow her to jeopardize my husband again. For a few hours that evening, my entire world was gone. That’s when my patience and good will stopped for her.”
Fee slid closer to Meggie and hugged her. Months later, the pain she’d felt at believing Christopher dead still came through.
“That makes me going along with Kendall so much worse,” Fee whispered.
“I could shake her until her brain rattles. Most of the time, her actions affect all of us and she must be held accountable. But you did what you thought you had to do to protect the men you love. You did what you thought you needed to do to be her friend.”