Chapter Twenty-Seven

Laurel

“Holy shit,” Bailey gasped. “This place is fucking lit!”

“Wow,” Devlyn muttered as she, like Bailey, gaped in awe at the opulence of the Rosewood Ski Resort. “Lived in Rosewood my whole life and I can’t believe I’ve never been in this place. All I can say is, wow. Just wow!”

“Nothing’s too good for a McDonald woman,” my mom preened, smiling like the cat that ate the canary. “Isn’t that right, Laurel?”

“I don’t know, Mom.” I smirked. “I kinda liked the simplicity of wedding number four. The décor and location better suited who you are.”

“That was a beautiful wedding, but the groom was a dud.” My mom smiled, spreading her arms wide while she twirled around in the ballroom at the Ski Resort. “Now this place. This place is magical.”

“Hell’s bells, LeeAnn,” Bailey chirped, reaching for her phone. “If you wanted magic, all you had to do was say so. I can call Scribe’s mom and sisters. I’m sure Athena could whip something up that would knock your socks off.”

“Are you crazy!” Devlyn snarked. “Put that damn phone away and never mention those witches again.”

Bailey grinned. “I’m telling Phoebe you said that.”

“Go ahead!” Dev said. “I’m not afraid of her.”

“Ladies, please,” my mom groaned, looking at me. “I swear those two act just like your sisters.”

“Speaking of the McDonald Belles.” I chuckled. “When can I expect Lilly and Leigha to grace us with their presence?”

“OMG!”

“We sure are steppin’ in high cotton now, Lilly.”

Groaning, I covered my face when my mother let out a loud squeal, then ran to the overpainted, dressed-to-perfection Southern Belles that just walked into the ballroom.

“Son of a bitch. It’s Malibu Barbie and her sister Skipper.” Devlyn gasped.

“Never had a Barbie.” Bailey grimaced while she glared at my sisters. “Why are they dressed like that?”

Turning, I groaned.

Holy fuck.

No, they didn’t.

Hanging my head, I prayed for patience when my two sisters walked in, overdressed in floral pink and blue chiffon, knee length dresses, matching heels, with big ass fucking hats on their heads. With gloved hands, they each carried a parasol.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I snarked. “Why the hell are you two dressed for the Annual Running of the Kentucky Derby?”

Leigha groaned. “That’s in May, you silly goose. It’s Bama Rush week!”

“My God,” I groaned. “You really are as useless as tits on a bull.”

Bailey giggled.

My mother glared at me, then smiled. “Bailey and Devlyn, I would like to introduce you to my oldest daughter, Lilly.”

“Only by one year,” Lilly quickly added. “I still look much younger than Laurel.”

I rolled my eyes as Lilly stuck her tongue out at me.

“And this is my baby, Leigha.”

My baby sister actually curtsied as she batted her fucking eyelashes.

“Now, which one is hunting for a sucker named Edward that drives a red Camero?” Bailey asked.

Lilly thought nothing of it and smiled, raising her hand. “That would be me.”

“Better not let hubby number three hear you say that, Lilly. He may revoke that prenup before the ink settles on the divorce papers,” I snarked.

My sister huffed. “You would like that, wouldn’t you, Laurel Shay? You’ve always been jealous of me, but the joke’s on you. I already got my twenty-five grand.”

Frowning, I tilted my head and peered at Mom, who was looking at something on the ceiling.

“Mom? Wasn’t that prenup for one hundred grand?”

“What!” Lilly gasped, looking at Mom. “A hundred grand? What do you mean?”

Sighing, my mom glared at me. “Big mouth. Lilly, you only got the one hundred grand if you produced a child within the first year.”

“A baby!” Lilly screeched. “That would ruin my figure! Look what those boys did to Laurel. She can never wear a dress without Spanx again!”

“And you’re still as useless as a screen door on a submarine, Lilly.”

“My God,” Devlyn whispered. “It’s like watching the Real Wives of Atlanta.”

“More like the Beverly Hillbillies,” I whispered as Bailey chuckled.

“Oh honey.” Leigha grimaced. “We’re from Alabama. We’re Roll Tide all the way.”

“Told ya,” I muttered, looking at Bailey. “That one wouldn’t know how to pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were printed on the heel.”

“Good afternoon, ladies,” Josephine greeted everyone, then smiled at me. “And congratulations on your recent marriage, Laurel. I’m so happy for you.”

“You got married?” Leigha squealed.

“To whom?” Lilly frowned, placing her hands on her hips.

“Is he handsome?”

“More importantly, is he rich?” Lilly asked.

“Girls.” My mom stopped the Spanish Inquisition and said, “Laurel married Nikoli Dubrovsky.”

Lilly grimaced. “The boy who knocked her up?”

“Yes, Lilly Rain McDonald.” I growled, getting to my feet. “I married Nash’s father. Go ahead, say what you want to say. Get it all out now because when we leave this place, I won’t have you upsetting him.”

My sister blinked and her brow furrowed. “Laurel, why would I upset Nikoli? He’s been your true love since you were both fifteen. We all saw the way you looked at him. All I want to know is if you are happy? You are happy, right?”

Nodding, I whispered, “Yes. I am happy. I love Nikoli.”

“Then, sweetie, that’s all that matters.”

“You mean it?”

Pulling me into a hug, my sister muttered, “Of course, you silly girl. I’m your big sister. It’s my job to annoy and aggravate you, but mostly, it’s my job to make sure that you are happy. And if Nikoli makes you happy, then, sweetie, I’m so happy for you.”

Leigha sniffed, hugging the both of us. “Me too, Sis. We love you. We only want to see you happy.”

Looking over at my mom, she stood there with her hand on her heart, smiling. “My babies.”

“I think I’m gonna be sick.” Bailey gagged.

“I need a drink,” Dev groaned.

“Let’s go find a bar.”

Snagging Bailey by the back of her shirt, I warned, “You leave me with them, you will be helping me bury the bodies.”

Bailey, Devlyn and I were sitting at the bar when we watched Josephine rush toward the entrance of the resort to greet George Steiner. The newest doctor in Rosewood and the brother of Frank.

“What the hell is George doing here?” Devlyn asked, swiveling around on her stool to get a better look.

“He’s got his medical bag.” Bailey frowned. “This can’t be good.”

“Didn’t Josephine say that her dad was sick?” I asked, seeing Jasper and Jasmine watching close by, worried expressions on their faces.

“Yeah,” Bailey whispered. “She did.”

“Bails,” I said, getting to my feet. “The kids.”

Seeing Josephine’s twins, we walked over to them, wrapping our arms around them. They were the same age as Kai, Cameron and Benny. In the same grade, too.

“It’s going to be okay, guys,” Bailey said, kneeling before them.

“Grandpa is sick.” Jasmine sniffed.

“Real sick,” Jasper added.

“We know,” I said, looking over my shoulder while Josephine and George walked off.

“Bails, stay with the kids. I’m gonna go be with Josephine.”

“Sure, no problem.” Bailey nodded. “Come on, kids. You wanna meet two real life-sized Barbie dolls?”

“Huh?” Jasper frowned.

Bailey took both their hands, ushering them toward the kitchen where my mother and sisters were.

Devlyn followed them.

Catching up with Josephine, I snuck into the elevator just before it closed. George said nothing when I reached for Josie’s hand.

“Thought you could use a friend.”

“Thank you,” the pretty woman murmured. “Dad is private. He didn’t want to be in a hospital. He won’t listen to me.”

“That’s why I’m here, Josephine.” George sighed angrily. “Stubborn fool will listen to me.”

The elevator doors opened into a spacious living quarter and George marched forward yelling, “Jack! Where the hell are you?”

“Go away!”

“Listen up, old man!” George shouted, searching room after room. “I don’t have time for your damn games.”

“Then go away!”

Standing near the elevators with Josie, she looked worried. “Dad has been a little combative lately. He only listens to George. I don’t know why, because George aggravates him the most and he scares the home nurse I hired. The only time Dad is remotely reasonable is when the kids are around.”

“Josie, can I ask what is wrong with your dad?”

Josie smirked. “That’s just it. George can’t find anything wrong with him. Last year, Dad started having dizzy spells and was forgetting things. But so far, every test has come back negative. I thought if the kids and I moved back home, I could help take some stress off him. But he’s only gotten worse. Now, he refuses to leave and walks around in a robe all day muttering about stuff that doesn’t make sense.”

“God damn it, Jack! Where the hell are you?”

“Don’t you curse me, boy! I can still whip your ass!”

“Try me, old man,” George sneered, walking back toward us.

“Didn’t know we had company?” someone said from behind me.

Turning, I stared wide-eyed at the most devilishly handsome silver fox I’d ever seen.

Holy shitballs.

He was fucking D.E.V.I.N.E!

Standing close to six and a half feet tall and still very well built, the man was fucking gorgeous. Of course, wearing a silk black robe and nothing else probably had something to do with that, but damn.

Tightening the belt on his robe, the silver fox gave me a panty melting smile. I swear, if I wasn’t married, I would be all over this man like white on rice.

He was fucking yummy.

Extending his hand, I took it and damn near melted right there in a puddle of goo when he kissed the back of my hand. “Jack Orlean, and you are?”

Gulping, I sputtered, “Laurel. Laurel Shay McDonald.”

“It’s Dubrovsky now,” George groaned. “Or have you already forgotten you married Banks?”

Blinking, I muttered, “Oh yeah, him.”

Jack winked at me as he released my hand before looking at George.

“Go away. I’m entertaining.”

“You are being a pain in the ass, Jack, and you know it. Where is Donna?”

“She left.” The silver fox frowned, walking over to a small bar, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. “Woman couldn’t do her job, so I fired her.”

Josie groaned. “Dad.”

George marched over and snagged the glass from him. “No alcohol.”

Jack huffed. “Party pooper.”

The elevator doors opened and the next thing I heard made me cringe. “Laurel Shay, how dare you leave me with your sisters!” my mother snipped. “You know I can’t handle them by myself.”

“Mom, now is not a good time,” I whispered.

Jack smiled, shoving George aside as he walked over to us. And just like he did with me, he reached for my mother’s hand and kissed the back, before saying, “Well, aren’t you a breath of sunshine on a cloudy day. Like morning dew on a spring morning. I’m Jack Orlean and I’m at your service, my lady.”

OH NO!

Oh God no!

“Well, aren’t you a fresh glass of sparkling water,” my mom preened, batting her eyelashes as she fanned her flushed face. “You, sir, are the most gallant man around these parts and it’s my pleasure to make your acquaintance. I’m LeeAnn McDonald and this is my daughter Laurel.”

“Oh, now that’s impossible,” Jack scoffed. “She can’t be your daughter. Older sister maybe, but not your daughter.”

My mom blushed as she slipped her hand in the crook of his arm and they walked off together.

This was not fucking good.

Nope.

Not good at all.