Page 99 of Remiss

Christopher was—

“Meggie?”

“What, Ophelia?”

Unlike Roxy, Ophelia came in from the opposite end, where a hallway led to the breakfast room.

“This is such a beautiful house. Do you know how many kitchens they have here?”

“I’m well aware. What do you want?”

Ophelia stepped closer. “One is exclusively for the ballroom.”

Meggie glowered at her.

“You know when Mama died, Christopher was so alone.”

“Who’s fault was that?” Meggie bit out.

“You’d left him and—”

“Not.Andif you aren’t about to add you and your sisters deserted him, don’t say another word.”

“We were hurting. We blamed him for Mama’s death.”

Meggie wondered how they’d feel if they knew just how vile Patricia had been. She didn’t care. Her concern was Christopher’s reaction. Discovering her own mother’s treachery wasn’t as shocking to read about in those horrific letters as finding out just what abitchhis mother had been. She’d killed so many people, including Cee Cee’s granddaughter. She was a psychotic hypocrite.

Did Cee Cee’s violation destroy her sanity? Meggie didn’t know since her craziness started after. Cee Cee’s assault was so disturbing that Meggie couldn’t help but feel for her mother-in-law. But that didn’t excuse everything she’d done between that time and when Rack killed her.

Christopher blamed himself for his mother’s lot in life. He blamed himself for her death. Yet Meggie knew he still idolized her. If the truth wouldn’t completely destroy his faith in humanity, she’d tell him she’d gotten her wretched self killed.

Snake, that idiot, just threw outmy father, your motherto torture Christopher.

“Mama meant everything to us, Meggie,” Ophelia went on. “She wanted Christopher to stop being a biker. If he had, she would’ve lived.”

“Don’t you hand me that nonsense,” Meggie snarled. “After all these years, you have the unmitigated gall to still blame Christopher for Patricia’s death. Rack killed her.”

“I’m not blaming him. And he killed her because of Christopher.”

“What do you want? At the moment, you’re thoroughly testing my patience. Tell me why you sought me out and then get out of my face with your nonsense.”

“Christopher loves you.”

“I’m not interested in discussing my marriage, or your brother, withyou.”

“We were friends.”

“As long as Cash is against Christopher and you are aligned with him,weare enemies.”

“But—”

“I’m not interested in anything you have to say, Ophelia. We went through this song and dance at dinner. You aren’t changing my mind.”

“Christopher and I made up because of you,” Ophelia pressed. “Remember? You facilitated that. I’m trying to help you see how wrong you are. Our jobs, as women, is to stand by our men and raise their children. I cannot believe you’d walk away from him when he needs you the most. You aren’t the woman I thought you were and my brother may be better off without you. You keep him all twisted. Irefuseto confuse Cash by adding my two cents. I may not agree with him. However, I have to stand by him until he works through this. Cash is brilliant. Like Johnnie. If they think peace is what’s needed, then I’m not going to get in his head and make him second guess himself. You need to try that.”

Meggie studied her nails.

“Did you even hear me?”