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Deciding they could do with some space, I say, “Gran, come and make me some of your tea.”
We leave Mum and King who look like they’re ready to duel and head into the kitchen. Gran puts the kettle on and makes tea while I unpack the ingredients for dinner into the fridge.
“It was about time you came home, child,” Gran says as I close the fridge. “Your mother has been going crazy with worry for the last four years.”
My grandmother is the one who gave my mother her crazy genes. Mum’s a little more practical than Gran, but seriously, these two come out with the most outlandish things sometimes.
“I know she was worried to begin with, but I don’t think she’s spent the whole time worrying, Gran.”
She arches her brows. “You might be surprised, Zara. She worried from the day you left after having your heart broken and hasn’t stopped. Especially with all the broken hearts you’ve had since. The only thing that kept her strong was knowing you had Birdie to help you through things. I think she might have packed herself up and moved to Melbourne if not for Birdie.”
Guilt twists through me. I did flee Sydney in a haze of heartbreak and angst after Fury told me he was going to be with Lynette. I
sold a heap of my belongings, borrowed cash off Holly, and moved into the cheapest share house I could find in Melbourne. King had chased me down and demanded to know what the fuck was going on, so in a moment of desperation to be left to my own devices, I told him a guy had broken my heart and I needed to not be in Sydney anymore.
All the breakups that Gran mentions, though, that’s being dramatic. I had two breakups before I started dating Angus. That’s hardly many. But I know this is her telling me in her own way that she also missed me, so I let it slide.
“You guys don’t need to worry about me. I’m not heartbroken over Angus. And I’ve sworn off men for a while.”
She looks at me like I’m the crazy one. “There’s no need to go overboard, darling.”
I’m laughing at that when I hear Tatum at the front door. “Lil, the door’s open; I’m coming in.”
“We’re in the kitchen, Tatum,” I call out.
She joins us a moment later, carrying a bottle of wine. Placing it on the counter, she wraps her arms around me and says, “It’s so good to see you back here.”
“Anyone would think I was away on another planet,” I say when she lets me go. “I mean, it’s not like I didn’t come home for Christmas and stuff.”
“Those visits aren’t the same as having you close,” she says.
She’s right. While I needed to be in Melbourne for my own sanity, I’ve missed my family. All of it—Storm included. I had Birdie and Winter down there, but I didn’t spend time at the clubhouse because I didn’t want to chance running into Fury when he visited.
Changing the subject, I say, “I didn’t think you were coming over until later.”
“I wasn’t, but I had an argument with Nitro this morning and I need your mum to talk sense into me because Monroe’s busy with Sage and Parker today. I love those kids like nothing else, but all these birthday parties they get invited to is ridiculous. Roe spends her weekends running all over the damn place.”
“I think maybe you should have brought more than one bottle of wine. Mum and King fought this morning, too. Actually, they’re in their room probably still fighting.”
Tatum sits on a stool at the counter across from me. “I’m figuring a lot of the old ladies are going through the same thing. It’s too tense and dangerous at the moment. I know that’s why Nitro lost his shit today. Knowing this doesn’t make it any easier to deal with, though.”
The mood shifts as we all contemplate the current club turmoil. I don’t know the details of what’s happened, but multiple funerals over the last week means something bad is going down.
“Tatum,” King says from the doorway. “Have you heard from Nitro in the last hour?” There’s an edge to his voice I don’t like. A scary edge.
She shakes her head. “No. Why?”
His face gives nothing away and he says nothing in reply, but the heavy thud of his boots and the slam of the front door reinforce the dark vibes I got from him.
“Fuck,” she says softly as she pulls out her phone and calls Nitro. When he doesn’t answer, she leaves a message, “Call me. I’m worried about you. Let me know you’re okay.”
Mum walks in, looking frazzled. Spotting the wine, she reaches for it. “We need to drink this now. And then we need to find another bottle. And probably another. I’ve officially reached my limit with him.”
Shit.
This is not good.
Mum and Tatum get smashed. Gran leaves us at around 4:00 p.m. to get ready for a date she has tonight. And I make dinner. Not that I think either of them are going to eat any, but I’m hungry. And Holly is coming over, so she’ll want food, too.
