Page 194 of Hidden Ties

“I’m glad we got that straightened out.” Casually standing her back on her feet, he smoothed his hand over her butt.

She gaped at him as he left her bathroom then raised her arms to take off her mangled shirt and bra. As she did so, she noticed the mess on the floor. Her makeup had been strewn everywhere. She didn’t remember knocking it over.

Bending down, she picked up her favorite eye shadow kit that had taken her a whole month to save up for. When she opened it, she saw that the mirror and three of the eye shadows were cracked.

Angrily holding the makeup kit, she made a beeline for Creed’s bathroom. Mr. Top Dog was going to fork up the cash to buy her a new one.

FORTY-SEVEN

“What are your plans for the day?”

Sage wiped up the mess Tinsley was making with her scrambled eggs, automatically raising her cheek for Creed’s kiss as he walked into the dining room.

“Not a thing, other than washing clothes, straightening up the kids’ playroom, feeding them lunch, putting them down for nap, and making some stir-fry for dinner.”

Creed ran a caressing hand along the nape of her neck. “Is that all? Sounds like you’re getting off easy. Sure you don’t want to add mopping the floors to your schedule?”

Looking up, she saw he was teasing. “Hardy har har. You’re a riot,” she teased back.

“I should be home by five. Do you need me to bring anything?”

“Just yourself.”

The kiss Creed gave her made her wish Tayla weren’t off today. Since she had moved in with Creed, he had hired Tayla to work full-time helping with the girls and the never-ending household chores. She had objected, not wanting to take Creed’s money. It was Tayla who wanted the job so badly she had pleaded with her. Accepting his generosity hard been hard toswallow at first, making her feel uncomfortable, yet when she saw how everyone was flourishing, she was glad she had let her pride take the hit.

Creed had hired Allie full-time, too, which allowed her to focus on the kids during the day until he came home. During the evening, they would all eat dinner together then watch television in the living room until Glory became tired and would go to bed. Then Creed would do the cleanup and dishes in the kitchen while she put the girls to bed.

Glory’s condition had worsened in the last three months since they had moved into the house. Time was running out for her sister. Sage wanted to spend every minute with her, which was why Creed had been able to convince her to hire Tayla.

“I better be going.” He gave her another kiss then raised his fist to Tinsley for a fist-bump before moving to Colby’s chair to give her a high-five. “Girls, be good today.”

“Bring kisses when you come home!” Colby yelled.

“Me, too.” Tinsley mumbled around a piece of toast.

“I won’t forget them,” he promised.

Once Creed was gone, they all went to the girls’ rooms to wash up. Getting them dressed was easier said than done. Finally, the girls both decided on jean shorts. Colby chose a pretty flower shirt, while Tinsley, after crying that her favorite one was dirty, decided on a plain pink shirt.

Tinsley took her hand, wiggling down from her bedroom chair after having her hair brushed. “Go play,” she demanded.

“After we clean the kitchen,” she gently told her no without saying the word, which could cause a tantrum.

Knowing it was useless to argue, the girls skipped after her.

Sage felt a hard tug on her hand.

“Go play!” Tinsley yelled.

Realizing what Tinsley was determined to play with, Sage shook her head. “Not today.”

Sage stared at the object of Tinsley’s fascination. She had thought Creed would turn the room into his office and was shocked to see when they had come home from picking Glory and girls up to move in with them a piano had been delivered while they were gone. Creed had simply wheeled Glory’s wheelchair by the room, continuing on to Glory’s new bedroom, giving her time to acclimate to the fact it was there.

There was no mistaking the piano. It was the same one she had seen in the Hollingsworths’ house.

“Gail sold it to me,” Creed had told her, coming back after leaving the girls and Glory in her room with Allie. “She said her son didn’t want to play anymore and wanted to sell it. Gail is selling everything not nailed down in Garrett’s home before she asks for a divorce.”

“Garrett is letting her?”