Time Will Tell (Maybe #3)(40)

So that’s what I do.

I slam the door shut, lock it, and walk back to the bedroom, taking Xander’s hand along the way.

“Who was it?” he asks again, staring at the door.

“No one,” I mumble. “Just my mother.”

Xander stops in his tracks. “What the f*ck?”

I turn to face him and sigh as she starts pounding on the door. “It’s my mother and I can’t deal. She’s a bitch. She wants something, I just know it. Why else would she be here?”

Xander scrubs his hand down his face and looks between the door and me. “We should at least find out what she has to say, right?”

I shrug. “I guess.”

“Okay,” he says, placing a hand on my arm. “Let her in. I’ll throw some clothes on and meet you in the lounge room. You’re not alone in this. I’m here, okay, Trill. And I won’t let anything happen.”

I believe him.

“Okay,” I whisper.

He kisses my lips. “I’ll just be a minute.”

I nod, attempting a smile, and head back to the front door.

Time to face my past.

*****

Xander is fuming mad.

And I mean fuming.

“You mean to tell me, after abandoning your husband and child, you’re coming back here after all these years to claim that this house is yours and you want it back?” he says, disbelief filling his tone.

My mother sips the cup of coffee I made her. I should have laced it with something. “Your father and I never actually divorced. So, all of this should belong to me.”

I’m speechless.

My mother is a cold-hearted bitch.

“Dad left this house to me in his will,” I say. “It’s mine. You left and you have no say anymore. Now, why don’t you please leave, and go try to ruin someone else’s life.”

Her eyes darken. “If you want to go to court, then fine.”

Xander laughs without humour. “I think if you had to come back here for this house, you don’t have the money for a court case. I know a lawyer in Perth and I’m sure she would love to help us out in this situation. So, I guess we will see you in court. Now, get the f*ck out of Trillian’s house.”

My mother stands up. “If I had known my own daughter would treat me this way, I never would have returned.”

“You returned for the house, not me. Let’s not pretend you’re a good mother,” I add.

I can’t believe her audacity. Does the woman have no shame or pride? Xander walks her out while I sit and stare at the wall. I can’t believe this. I’m so damn disappointed right now that it’s not even funny. I hear the door close, and then I’m safe, wrapped in Xander’s arms.

Only then do I allow the tears to fall.

*****

Later that day, Zach paces up and down my kitchen. “I will handle this.”

I put my orange juice down. “What are you going to do, threaten her?”

He grins evilly. “She doesn’t know just how well-connected you are, does she? I’ll just inform her. No one messes with one of our own and gets away with it. Wait until dad hears about this. Fuck, he’s going to lose it.”

Xander walks into the kitchen, back from the gym. “Hey, Zach.”

He slaps him on the shoulder in an affectionate yet manly way.

“Hey, bro. Heard you met your future mother-in-law.”

I can feel my face flush. Does he have to bring up something like marriage?

Xander chuckles. “Yeah, she was a real treat.”

Zach runs his finger over his bottom lip. “I have a plan.”

Xander looks instantly suspicious. “Let me guess, you’re gonna threaten the shit out of her until she backs off and leaves Trillian alone.”

Zach grins, his eyes taking on a devious gleam. “Yep. The bitch is gonna learn her place.”

Xander looks to me, trying to judge my reaction. I just shrug, causing his lips to curve upwards. “I’m in. Anything to keep that woman away from Trillian. But if we have to go to court, I spoke to Tee, and she’s on call for us if we need her.

Tee, as in Saxon from Morning Alliance’s wife?

I try to keep myself from fan-girling.

And fail.

“Why do you have a creepy serial killer-ish look on your face?” Zach asks me, frowning.

Xander laughs, clutching his stomach. “Fuck, imagine if you actually met Saxon. You’d probably faint.”

I puff out a breath, making a few of my curls wave in the air. “So, I like Morning Alliance, sue me.”

Great choice of words, considering the situation.

Xander groans. “Yeah, you’re never meeting any of them. I wouldn’t want to be arrested for beating the shit out of them.”

Zach makes some whipping sound effects.

“I’m going to have a shower,” Xander says, wiping his forehead with his hand. He’s wearing a pair of blue basketball shorts and a white t-shirt that is pasted against his body. He’s in damn good shape, every inch of him toned and ripped. He pulls off his t-shirt, and I check out his chest and abs before moving to his arms. I love his arms. I stare at the sun tattoo he has, the one I know is meant for Summer.

“Just thought you’d like a closer view,” he says, grinning and flexing.