Tall, Dark & Lonely (Pyte/Sentinel #1)(10)

Candy pushed past her and headed for the woman. She dragged the woman into a hug and gushed. “Oh, Mama, I’m so happy to see you!”

Grandma pushed her back and dismissed her. “I bet it is.” She focused on the three grandchildren. She took in Joshua and smiled, then Madison and beamed, then Jill and frowned. The breath Madison hadn't realized she was holding left her body. Her grandmother didn’t like the looks of Jill. She was going to help. Thank god.

“Well, let’s go into the living room and have a talk.”

Madison sat on the loveseat. Joshua took the seat next to her. He reached for her hand and held onto it tightly. He was afraid. She knew why. Candy told them over the years how horrible and violent this woman was. Her only prayer was that Candy lied, again.

Grandma clasped her hands together. “I just want to say that I am very pleased to have you children here. This is going to be your home for the rest of your childhood.” She leveled a look on Candy, reminding her that Jill and Joshua were now legally hers. Candy pouted. It was an act. She found another sucker to raise her kids and give her a free ride.

“Now, Joshua and Jill, you each have your own rooms.”

“Really?” Joshua asked excitedly. He’d never had a bedroom never mind his own room.

“Yes, your rooms are near mine so I have a few rules. No loud music. Joshua, you have a bed time of…” She looked at Candy expectantly. She only continued to pout.

Madison gritted her teeth. She was tired of this game. “He goes to bed by eight,” she said.

Grandma nodded. “Sounds reasonable. If you’re a good boy and do your homework and get good grades then we can add a half hour later on. How does that sound?”

Joshua eagerly nodded. Grandma turned her attention to Jill and looked over her outfit and sighed, “You are expected to be in bed by nine. No curfew yet. If you want one you earn it. Understood?” she said firmly.

Jill snorted and looked at Candy. “Candy, do something!” Candy only pouted and looked wounded.

Grandma cleared her throat. “You will refer to her as ‘mom’ or ‘mother’ she is not your friend. She is your mother and her name is Emma,” she said this last part looking at Candy. Candy had enough sense to keep her mouth shut at least.

“Madison.” She looked back to see her grandmother studying her. She looked so different than her brother and sister. Joshua had light brown hair and green eyes and Jill had wild red hair and blue eyes, two different fathers of course. Grandma smiled warmly at her. “You turned out beautifully, Madison. You look so much like your father,” she said proudly. Madison wanted to ask her about her father, but not in front of Candy.

“Thank you, Grandma,” she said. It was weird saying Grandma, but this woman fit somehow. If anyone should be her grandmother it was this woman.

“You’re welcome. You are welcome to stay here as long as you want, sweetheart. All I ask for is the occasional hand and to keep your bedroom and the bathroom you share with one other boarder clean. Does that sound okay?”

“I like to earn my keep, Grandma. How much per week for me and the kids?”

Grandma waved it off. “The kids are in my custody, therefore my responsibility. As for you, you are my granddaughter and I’ve missed you. I’m glad to have you. Just do as I ask and we’re settled. But since we’re on the subject of pay I found you a job. You start tomorrow.”

Madison forced a smile. Another menial job. After nine years of working the worst possible jobs by the worst possible people she thought she escaped, apparently not.

“I talked to Professor O’Shea who had some connections with the local high school. You have a position as a teacher in the history department at Rascal High School.”

That was not what Madison expected. She was out of her chair and hugging Grandma before she knew it. “Oh thank you, thank you!” she said.

Grandma laughed and hugged her back. She whispered fiercely in Madison’s ear. “I’m proud of you, kiddo. I’m sorry you had to do it on your own for all these years.”

Madison nodded and wiped a tear away. She sat back down. “Now, as for you, Emma, you’re welcome to stay as long as you follow the rules. You start at seven in the morning and stop at four in the afternoon. Room and board are included. I’ll pay you five dollars an hour.” Candy opened her mouth to interrupt but Grandma kept going. “I’ve already filed the papers and it’s legal so you don’t have to worry about the kids.” It was a threat and a promise and Candy knew it. She wasn’t going to hide behind the kids any longer.

“There are no drugs, no drinking, and no men in your room. Also, we have three male guests. You are not to become involved with any of them. Am I understood?”

The pout was gone. It was replaced by the bitch look. Her eyes were narrowed, her arms were folded over her chest and her jaw was set. “And if I don’t agree?”

Grandma smiled. “Then don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.”

Candy ground her jaw once again. There was nowhere for her to go and no money. She was trapped. She nodded slowly.

“Good.” She turned to look at Madison. “I almost forgot, if you give your mother any money I will throw you out. You’re not doing her any favors by letting her take advantage of you and you’re not helping yourself. You’ve done enough and you don’t owe her anything. Am I understood?”