Page 16 of Rebellious

Disconnecting, she stared at her phone, trepidation her overriding emotion. There was a miniscule chance Johnnie would discover her actions, especially since she used her maiden name, but she’d just say she was working on one of Brooks’s case. Whenever Anne gave her an appointment, Kendall would solicit Charlotte’s help or just use the excuse of a spa trip with her to get away.

Johnnie didn’t know both Brooks and Charlotte were out of town.

Her anxiety skyrocketing at the delicate situation, Kendall glanced around, soothed by her surroundings.

The room’s décor was the same as her office at the law firm, understated and quiet, filled with sintered stone, iron, and wooden office furniture, comfortable chairs in front of her desk, an oversized Executive’s chair, and a sitting arrangement on the other side of the room.

Unlike at the law firm, she had two windows on each side of her desk that overlooked the stream and the land beyond. Shades of cream and colorful paintings completed her decoration.

A glance at the sunburst wall clock revealed it was 3:15. Her children knew where to find her, so she turned her cell phone off. Anne probably wouldn’t call today, but on the off chance that she did, Kendall didn’t want to talk to her right now, already regretting her decision to call. It was done. She’d deal with the fallout when she came to that bridge.

Soon, she’d leave her safe haven to start getting ready for CJ’s Science Fair. She wasn’t sure who besides her, JJ, and Mattie were going, but she wouldn’t miss the chance to support her nephew.

Foregoing lunch, she asked Ella to bring her another bowl of cereal and a cup of tea. Now, she sipped her chamomile tea, then set the delicate crystal cup with a butterfly handle back on the matching saucer. Sliding her chair back, she stood and stretched, deciding to work one more hour.

The Bells of Westminster Abbey pealed through the silence. They had a visitor. She wasn’t expecting anyone and she trusted Ella to send anyone other than family on their way. She definitely didn’t want to be bothered with the few of Johnnie’s cronies he allowed entry into their home.

After grabbing her laptop from a drawer and opening it, she powered it on, waiting for the sign-in screen to appear where she’d use the fingerprint reader to log on.

Her opening door interrupted her plans. Johnnie guided Ophelia in, then closed the door and escorted his cousin to one of the chairs in front of Kendall’s desk.

Ophelia plopped down and Kendall scowled at her husband, then looked at Fee and smiled gently. She hadn’t talked to her cousin-in-law since the night of the bombshell revelation about Fee’s paternity was made.

“Hi, darling—”

Ophelia stiffened. “Don’t you ‘darling’ me. How could you? How fucking dare you?”

Kendall wasn’t in the mood for more Donovan bullshit, especially belated bullshit, designed for sympathy rather than real despair. Otherwise, this confrontation would’ve happened days ago.

“You’ve upended my life, Kendall.”

“I understand you’re upset, but—”

“You aren’t taking it out on Kendall,” Johnnie interrupted in a steely voice, hands on hips, legs braced apart. Once, Kendall had adored that powerful stance. “It isn’t her fucking fault your mother pitched pussy around.”

As expected, Ophelia gasped, her outrage deepening. She knew nothing of what a murderous, oversexed maniac Patricia had been, who only loved Outlaw, Zoann, Cee Cee, and Big Joe, and tolerated everyone else.

“How dare you, Johnnie!” Ophelia cried, forever a spineless whiner.

“I dare!” he replied. “I definitely fucking dare. If I would’ve known you planned to confront Kendall, I would’ve slammed the door in your fucking face.”

“Either I would’ve pounded on that door until you answered or I would’ve called Cash. He would’ve made you listen or you would’ve suffered the consequences.”

“Get out,” Kendall snarled, furious because that bitch was making her defend the motherfucker looming next to her like an overgrown specter. “Stand up to Cash before you think to come in my fucking house and threaten my fucking husband.” He smiled at her and she resisted the urge to flip him off. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you’re talking to, Ophelia, but as Johnnie said, those results aren’t my fucking fault.”

“You were the messenger!”

“Fuck you and the message,” she snapped. “It doesn’t fucking change your fucking standing in the family.”

“It does!” she wailed. “I’m not a Donovan.”

“Aunt Patricia was a Donovan,” Johnnie pointed out, not as aggressive as he had been. He actually sounded sympathetic. “That hasn’t changed.”

“It feels as if the essence of me has, though. I thought only Christopher had a different father and I was like Zoann and our other sisters. We shared the same mother and father.”

Fucking bitch! She wasn’t upset about who the fuck her father was. She was upset at what she saw as a moral edge over her brother. “You felt superior to Outlaw,” Kendall guessed.

Shame crossed Ophelia’s face and she shrugged. “Sometimes. I didn’t mean to, ” she said tearfully. “There were just all kinds of whispers and rumors about him that never affected me.” Wiping her cheeks, she gave a mournful look to Johnnie. “You understand, don’t you?”