The Winter of Regrets (9 page)

Jo kept glaring at the bathroom door. Nailz might have thought he’d won this battle, but she wasn’t going to argue with him today. She’d warn Katri to stay away from him. Kima wasn’t winning this battle either. She felt a slight movement and wondered if the baby had moved. Maybe she’d have a girl and name her Jean, after her mother. That would fix Kima.

N
ailz woke up with a massive headache. Having the big bed to himself was a pleasure. The house was quiet and he could smell Jo’s cinnamon rolls baking. That smell alone was able to put him in a better mood.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he reached for his leather where his cigarettes were and saw the jacket without his colors. With a sigh, he grabbed the smokes and flicked open his lighter and lit one up. Fuck Jo’s rules. The boys slept upstairs anyway. The water glass beside the bed would serve as an ashtray. He inhaled and let the nicotine rush comfort him. Not seeing his colors hurt. It felt like a stab to the heart. He’d fucked up so badly—and over a bunch of petty bullshit, most of it due to his wife’s nagging and self-righteous attitude. He wondered how long it would take her to smell him smoking and rush in to bitch at him. He wished she would, because there was plenty more on his mind.

He smoked until he was almost down to the filter, then tossed the butt into the water glass where it sizzled.
Let her find it and bitch to Katri
, he thought darkly. He looked for his jeans, but Jo must have come in while he was sleeping and taken them to be washed. He opened a drawer, grabbed another pair, then foraged for a black t-shirt with the neck cut out. Jo hated those shirts. He had a huge neck and he hated anything tight around them, so she had better get used to seeing these tee shirts again. Grabbing socks, he sat down, pulled them on, then shoved his feet into his boots. The old Nailz was back and he was not changing anymore.

Change had gotten him into this fucking mess.

Coming downstairs, he heard voices in the kitchen and realized the Regan’s were visiting. He peered through the window. Katri was outside with the boys, pushing them around in their twin stroller. Walking into the kitchen, he saw his wife sitting there with reddened eyes. Jean glared at him while John stood up to shake his hand.

“Nailz, good to see you.” John was always straight to the point. “We stopped over to see if you and Jo wanted to go out to eat, but she said dinner was in the oven. Lucky man … chicken and stuffing. Our Jo sure can cook.”

“Why don’t you stay for dinner?” proposed Nailz, eyeing Jo with suspicion. “I’ve got plans to eat at Kima and Veiko’s house. Jo could use the company and fill your ears about how jealous she is over Kima and how horrible a husband I am. Bet she will leave out how she butts her nose where it isn’t welcome and how she brought that Katri into this house where I don’t want her. I’ve had about enough of this shit.” Nailz headed for the front door, but John laid his hand on his arm.

“A word, Nailz. Let’s sit in my car and have a smoke.” John’s voice was sincere and Nailz wasn’t going to disrespect him.

John picked up his jacket and Nailz grabbed a sweatshirt from the coat tree as they headed outside.

“Katri, take the boys inside,” John called out to the blonde pushing the carriage. “It’s too chilly!” He shook his head. “Damn girl has no sense. No wonder you don’t want her here.”

They got into John’s Cadillac and he started it, taking a moment to listen to the engine purr. The man sure loved his cars; Cadillacs were top on his list.

“We may as well take a short drive. You mind?” John looked at Nailz kindly. “I know Jean is trying to talk some sense into Jo. She says Jo has the baby blues. I don’t quite understand it, but it’s a damn woman thing.” John pulled away from the house and drove down the oiled road carefully.

Nailz leaned an elbow against the car window. “John, I like and respect you, but has it come to your attention that your wife is hurting Kima? I got into a fight with Veiko over Jo butting her nose into his new business. Kima is your daughter first. I caused her a world of pain once, and I’ll be damned if I let my wife do it again.” Nailz grabbed the pack of smokes the older man offered.

“Jean hasn’t said much about Kima, but Jo and her, they’ve always had this bond. I didn’t know Kima was being hurt. I’ll go see Kima and explain this baby blues thing to her. Seems Jo has too much to deal with and some hormone thing that my wife is pampering her over …” John was agitated.

“I wish your wife would mind her own business because it’s messing with mine. If Jo needs to see a doctor, she knows she can. Jo’s jealous that Aunt Anya didn’t give her anything. I don’t know why Jo expects she’s entitled to it, either. You adopted her, not the whole family. My family has enough money and Jo knows that. It’s got to stop before she rips our marriage apart. Maybe you can explain that to Jean?” Nailz tossed his cigarette out the window as they pulled up to his house.

John smiled grimly. “I think I’ll take a walk over to Kima’s with you, son.” They parked and began the walk to Kima and Veiko’s house.

V
eiko was trying to hold Josie and Kima at the same time. Kima had seen her parents go to Jo’s and she was crying. The one thing that ripped into Veiko’s heart was Kima crying because she rarely, if ever, did.

“It isn’t the first time my mother has gone to Jo’s and not stopped in,” said Kima through her tears. “If I call my parent’s house, all I hear about is how wonderful the twins are, how Jo is such a saint having another baby, and it makes me feel like a failure. Even Jack has had enough of hearing about Jo. He says Jo is snotty to Deidra, and poor Dee was so close to my parents.” Kima grabbed some tissues and wiped at her eyes.

“Nailz and your dad are walking over here,” said V. “Don’t be hard on Nailz, babe. He lost his colors and I told him he was welcome here, but Jo was not.” Veiko handed Josie to Kima so he could open the door.

“My daddy’s here?” She put Josie in her little seat hurriedly. “Maybe he can explain why my mother is being such a bitch to me. At least he’ll make a fuss over Josie too.”

She made her way to the bathroom to make herself look better, but didn’t make it all the way. Just as she passed through the living room, her dad grabbed her and swung her up into his arms.

“How’s my favorite wild child?” John asked. “Still the most beautiful of my daughters, and Josie is going to be even prettier than her mama. Kima, Nailz has been filling me in on this crap with Jo and your mother. I had no idea, sweetheart. None at all. I’ll be speaking to your mother about it.” John turned Kima’s face and looked into her eyes. “I had no idea your feelings were being hurt. I’ve been wrapped up in the business with Veiko. Jo will never ever take your place in my heart. I love all of my girls, but Kima … you are my heart.”

Kima’s smile lit up her face. “Daddy, mom has been so mean about things. She came to watch Josie and made it sound like I was not taking care of her and that my house was dirty. I don’t know why she would believe Jo and not just come over. I don’t know what I did to Jo, but I don’t want her as a sister anymore. I’ve always forgiven Jo for not being there when I needed her the most. I shared my family with her, but now that isn’t enough. Mom was acting like I’m crazy when it isn’t me, it’s Jo. Sorry Nailz, but I’ve had it, and I don’t blame you if you’ve had enough too!”

“I’m sorry for what happened,” said Nailz, “and I’d never hit Elena if I wasn’t drunk. Jo has been pushing me, and I tried to make her happy, but I’ve had enough too. I invited myself to dinner, by the way. I can’t stand being in my own house. I’m removing myself from Hunter’s will tomorrow too.” Nailz watched Kima’s face and she smiled at him.

“I just hope you can make things right with Tears and Elena,” she said. “As for Jo, screw her. You’re welcome to dinner every night if need be.” Kima sounded like her old self again. Nailz gave her a smile back.

“Would you put a pot of coffee on, Kima? I think we need to sit down and talk about what we can do to help Jo and get this mess fixed.” Veiko was ever the practical man and talking things out was his forte.

“Of course I can, and I made some cookies. Chocolate chip mint. It will be a few minutes, I just got a new Mr. Coffee maker and it is fast.” Kima headed to the kitchen and got the coffee going. She grabbed the wall phone with the extra-long cord and dialed the Lodge. She went to the far end of the kitchen where she wouldn’t be overheard.

Tearney answered. “Can’t talk long,” she whispered to Tears. “Nailz is off the will. I’ll call you later. Call Elena and tell her my dad’s here.”

She hung up and got a tray ready with sugar, cream, and cookies. Taking that to the table, she saw her dad holding Josie and making baby noises at her. She looked at Nailz and Veiko talking, and she felt hope rise in her heart. Somehow, someway, everything would be alright again. It had to be; the people she loved all had to come together.

Kima laid Josie in her crib and smiled down at her pretty baby. She looked so much like both of her parents and had her daddy wound around her finger. She stroked her blonde wispy hair for a moment and thought about Jo’s boys. One day, all of the children would play together once they solved their issues.

Veiko had the coffee on the table and Nailz was contentedly munching on her cookies when Kima came over to her father. “Does mom know you’re here?” Kima had visions of her mother storming over to yell at them. Her dad would blow up at her mother and things would be worse.

“I left the car at Jo’s so I guess she does.” He looked at his daughter uncomfortably. “Now, this thing your mother says Jo has … the baby blues. Do you … have it too?”

Kima scoffed at that. “Of course not! I’m not meaning to call Jo weak or anything, but I don’t have time to be depressed. I enjoy Josie and I was down over Hunter, but I never let it get so bad that I couldn’t deal with taking care of my family. If Jo has that, she should see a doctor, not lean on mom. Jack isn’t happy about all of this either.”

Nailz spoke up. “Jo’s ripping all of us apart with this shit. Kima’s right; she needs to see a doctor. I’ll go with her. Hell, I’ll drag her there.”

“I think it’s more than just blues with Jo,” said V, sipping his coffee. “She’s changed so much. Maybe my sister helping her will give her a break but … damn, she’s changed. Unless she gets help and Jean stops babying her, neither are welcome in this house. Hey, how’s Jack going to feel with his wedding coming up and Jo acting as she is?” 

John leaned back in his chair. “Jack won’t want Jo at the wedding. We’ve got Dee all upset about her stepmother coming, and if Jo’s going to be a problem, Jack will tell your mother Jo and Nailz can’t come.” He took out his lighter and played with it. “I need to drag your mother away from Jo and see if we can get Jo to the doctor. Kima, your mother has no idea she’s hurting you. She sees Jo hurting, and you’ve never needed your mother much as you grew older. She loves you and Josie. She talks about her to me all the time. I’ll make sure that you get invited to dinner this week. I love you kitten.” He got up and reached for his jacket, looking at Nailz. “You coming back to the house for dinner? You know avoiding Jo gives her more ammunition. I was thinking maybe you’d ask us to stay and we could all try to see how Jo acts.”

Nailz grabbed another cookie. “If she starts her shit, I’ll be back.” His voice sounded tired and old.

Kima hugged her father and gave Nailz a hug, but whispered, “You ever hit Elena or any woman again, remember I know how to shoot. I don’t want to see you hit V again either.”

“I know you can shoot, and I promise to slow down on the drinking. I might be back to sleep on your couch, okay?” he whispered back.