Dream Keeper (Dream Team 4)

“Excellent foresight, Dad, lining up a young harem for when the old model fades away,” I snapped sarcastically.

I felt Auggie’s hand slide from the small of my back to wrap around the side of my waist.

Dad moved closer to us, hissing, “I cannot believe you showed during services, causing a scene.”

“And I cannot believe I have three stepmoms. Do I have more brothers and sisters? Considering your wives’ ages, should I get in touch with Santa? Make sure I get access to my baby bros’ and sisses’ lists for Christmas?”

Dad had stopped a few feet away. “You decided not to be a part of our lives, so you aren’t. It’s only your mother who wants you in the fold. If it wasn’t for her, I would have been happy to let you waste your life in sin and depravity.”

I blinked.

A lot.

And rapidly.

Because he didn’t answer my question.

“Do I have brothers and sisters?” I whispered.

Dad said nothing.

I looked over my shoulder at Auggie.

His mouth was tight.

“Do I?” I squeaked.

His fingers gave me a squeeze. “I don’t know, baby. Honestly.”

The door opened again and Saffron came out.

“You didn’t tell me how bad she was,” I accused loudly, before the door closed.

“Now is not the time, Pepper,” she snapped.

“When is the time, Saff?” I asked. “I mean, I’m somewhat over the fact you didn’t ask me to be the maid of honor at your upcoming wedding…”

Her eyes darted to Dad.

Dad glowered at me.

“…it’s your wedding, your choice. But she’s…” I leaned forward, “our mom. And I should know she’s at death’s fucking door.”

“Do not speak like that in this building,” Dad ordered.

“Are you crazy?” I asked. “My mother is dying!”

“You need to leave, Pepper,” he retorted.

“I think you might have wanted to form the prayer circle about three months ago, Dad,” I returned.

He looked down to Saffron. “Get her out of here.”

“How much time does she have?” I demanded of my dad.

Saffron came my way.

Lottie shifted in front of me. “Do not get near her.”

My attention remained locked on my father. “Do I have other siblings?”

Dad turned toward the sanctuary.

“Answer me!” I shouted.

He turned back around. “The doctors say she won’t last the year. And my family has expanded by two boys and one girl, but they are not your brothers and sister. You are my blood. But you are a bastard of the church. And therefore, I do not claim you as mine so you do not taint them, and you will not.”

Yes.

He was crazy.

The outside doors opened but I didn’t look that way.

I looked to my sister.

And a chill glided over my skin so bad, it was a wonder the fine hair covering it didn’t frost over when I saw the way she was sneering at my father.

Actually sneering.

What on earth?

Even as I sensed Mo, Boone and Axl joining this tableau (Aug probably gave the signal and one of the girls texted them), what my dad said hit me.

She won’t last the year.

It was November!

“Is she in pain?” I asked.

Dad opened the door to the sanctuary.

“Is she in pain?” I screeched.

But I didn’t know why I did it, the answer to that question screamed from my mother’s every pore.

Saffron came to stand in front of me.

The door to the sanctuary closed behind my father.

I looked to my sister and repeated my question, because I damn well wanted her to admit it.

“Is she in pain?”

“She needs assistance getting to services, yes.”

The breath I drew in whistled between my teeth.

Auggie glued himself to my back.

Lottie took my hand.

“We take care of her, Pepper,” Saffron asserted.

“She should be in bed. She should have morphine.”

“We take care of her.”

“How?” I asked then pointed at the sanctuary. “Like that? She looks like death. She looks like she wants to be dead. What are you thinking?”

“She’s closest to God in there.”

“You’re mad,” I whispered.

She opened her mouth.

“And you’re cruel,” I spat. “Saff, what’s the matter with you? You have got to know that’s wrong.”

“It’s what she wants.”

“It’s what Dad wants.”

“Yes, and that’s what Mom wants.”

We stared at each other, and damn it all to hell, I did it knowing my sister wasn’t lying.

I closed my eyes.

Tight.

“Pepper, please. This is definitely not helping her,” Saffron said quietly.

I opened my eyes.

Something was in my sister’s face, I just didn’t have it in me to read it.

I wanted to shake her.

Slap some sense into her.

Punch her and kick her and take all my fury out on her that it’s all come to this.

I didn’t do any of that.

I pulled my hand from Lottie’s, turned, and walking around the girls and boys on the far side from Saffron, I headed to the doors to the outside.

“Have you located Birch?” Saffron called.

I stopped and turned back. “Yes. He knows. It’s up to him what he does with that information. I’m out of that.” I held her gaze steadily and stated firmly, “But I want time with my mother, Saffron. You arrange that. Sometime next week. I want time with my mom.”