The St Patrick Series Book #1: The St Patrick Bride

Chapter Forty Nine: It Adds Up

Courtney's POV
"Let's have one meeting." Lucille clapped to get everyone's attention. She looks extra happy. When I got here she was drinking wine. She has been drinking since. Her blue eyes have nothing but intent in their depths. I chose to sit in between my parents to keep Chris from talking to me. He's irritated. It is better if we sit apart from each other like this. I'm still raw with emotion. He's repaying my nasty glares with fleeting smiles. "Everytime the Major General or Chris leave, I panic. I worry. I go through a lot of stress and knocks on the door freak me out. Chris, when you were away, I had Court to freak out with. She has proved to be an immense sour e of support for me. I love you for that." She blew a kiss my way. "We are happy you're home and we hope you stay home. Really Chris, just stay home."

"The boy has to make a living." The Major countered. "I won't host lazy people in my house."

"Oh Major! It's like you were reading my mind!" Lucille laughed. "Thank you to all of you for joining us today. We have been fortunate to gain a new member of the family. I want to introduce Aubrey St Patrick."

My parents applaused. I didn't bother. "Aubrey Brigette St Patrick." Tommy corrected.

"I don't think Brigette suits her." This is about to be fun. I paid attention to Lucille's irritation. The Major looks like he's about to snap. "I don't want my name to be used by her. Please erase it."

"Patent it." Tommy told her.

"Tommy, stop-" Allegra tried to get in between but when these two fight, steer clear.

"No Tommy, don't hold back! Show us all how disrespectful you can be! Don't be shy!"

"Lucille, not today. Not in front of our guests." The Major warned her.

"They are not guests. Rayne is like my sister! Leo is Court's dad and Court is your daughter! They are not guests. Let me fill you guys in so that you can catch on quick." She addressed my parents. "This boy fights with his mother."

"That is enough." The Major took her by the arm. "Behave yourself!"

"Let me go. Or do you want to manhandle me like Tommy manhandles women? Does he learn it from you?"

"Ma, that's enough. Let's go take a walk." Chris tried to distract her.

"I'm not going anywhere Chris. This is an issue."

"I apologized." Tommy told everyone. "I apologized to you, didn't I?"

"But you never learn, do you? A few weeks before it was Court ."

"What?" My parents asked.

"Water under the bridge, the problem was resolved." The Major addressed them.

"No, no Major." My father stood up. It is so on! Tommy is going to get it! "It's not water under the bridge because I'm just hearing about it. What did your son do to my daughter?"

"Sir it was a misunderstanding-"

"I'm not talking to you. Courtney, what did he do? Tell daddy what he did."

This is the moment I get to lay it on thick! This is my chance to make sure Tommy gets the whooping of my life. The Major's eyes pleaded me not to. "The Major is right. It's water under the bridge."

Sometimes I take the higher road.

"He roughly pinned your daughter against the wall and out his hands under her dress. So you better tell us why your hands were under her dress!" Lucille is all about low blows today. She knows nothing happened. But all a father needs to hear is the part where another man's hands -a man he did not give his daughter to- was under his daughter's dress. I can't imagine what is going on in the Ambassador's mind but the right hook that followed spoke volumes. It took the Major and Chris to pull my father away from Tommy.