Thank you to everybody who read or left kudos for the last chapter. I really appreciate all of you.
Some of the text messages in this chapter were sent on Wednesday before the Mode fashion show and after. However, Marc responded the next morning. He was so busy with the fallout from the process server stunt that he didn't check his messages until it was a horrible time of the day in London.
Technically, NYC Fashion Week is still going on, but we are currently dealing with the more personal drama, so we now have different chapter names.
Chapter 75: It is too early in the morning for these conversations.
September 16, 2010, 7:45 AM EST (at least this is when Marc is reading these messages)
Mandy cakes: Hey, I thought I would check-in. Also, this is a reminder for you to eat lunch. I know that wasn't a concern in the Wilhelmina days, but baby Jade doesn't want her daddy to pass out in the middle of his first Fashion Week show.
Mandy cakes: Cliff sent me pictures from the backstage earlier. Everything looks so good. Anyway congratulations.
Mandy cakes: Betty confirmed that you ate when you texted her an hour ago. I feel like I texted you just after your window. So, I don't expect to hear from you until after the show is over. Break a stiletto.
Mandy cakes: I didn't mean that literally. At least you weren't the one who broke their shoe. DJ sent me the picture Justin sent him.
Mandy cakes: You're doing good. At least, that's what I can tell from the backstage pictures. I am following the Mode feed, but there are no images. I assume this is to keep fashion TV from stealing things?
Mandy cakes: Your outfit looks so good. Is that a Brianna outfit or one of the designers from the Mode showcase? Regardless, you look brilliant.
Mandy cakes: Betty picked out a good bouquet. Although I still think she should've sent balloons. I don't like flowers anymore since that's how the wicked bitch communicates with me. I told Daniel to get me balloons or diamonds when I go into labor.
Mandy cakes: Seriously, what's wrong with her? Matt and I are never getting back together. Not only am I pregnant with someone else's kids, but he's already moved on to somebody else.
Mandy cakes: I can't even hate Cory. He sent me baby presents, nice ones. It is a little weird, but Cory got me the same baby carrier you have, except it's the version for twins. So, I appreciate it primarily because the place you ordered yours from will not ship to me.
Mandy cakes: Wait, did that bitch use Betty's flowers to serve you papers? I've been sued enough times to recognize a process server when I see one.
Mandy cakes: Although, usually, they don't do something like that until you've skipped out on them a few times. I've done that more than once.
Mandy cakes: Oh, it looks like it was both bitches. I despise your egg donor.
Mandy cakes: I'm not even calling her a mom. Faye did more for me than that wicked witch. And then she has the audacity to cry on Fashion TV. Fuck her.
Mandy cakes: You shouldn't just be with someone for the baby's sake. Daniel and I are great friends, but we should never be a couple. You know, unless Betty turned out to be not that heterosexual. Then, I could be there third. Unfortunately, Daniel is the one with the flexible orientation in that relationship.
Mandy cakes: Daniel told me there's an emergency conference tonight, but it will be way past my bedtime. Daniel is staying up and will give me highlights.
Mandy cakes: I'm so sad you missed the Vogue party tonight. However, it's probably best to avoid the vultures for a little while.
Mandy cakes: Betty is super pissed and sorry that her flowers were misappropriated. She's redrafting her resignation letter. I don't think she will send it yet, but she's tempted.
Mandy cakes: Daniel is even angrier. Irrupting a fashion show with a subpoena is a last resort, not the first one, but well, it's Victoria Hartley. She's just so nasty.
Mandy cakes: Anyway, text me back when you're able to. I'm going to bed, or at least trying to. The twins keep dancing on my bladder.
Marc: Victoria is exceptionally nasty, and so is her accomplice. I am too mad to use the M-word. Neither one of them deserves that.
Marc: Sorry, I'm just responding now. I'm sure Daniel will tell you that the meeting went super late. Vivian got one of the lawyers to join. Daniel left early because he fell asleep at one point. I hope he doesn't have morning meetings.
Marc: Yes, my outfit was from one of our new designers. Yes, both women are horrible. I can't tell you how awful Victoria is because it could send you into labor.
Mandy cakes: Why do I feel like that's not hyperbole? Yes, Daniel had a morning meeting, but he's good at showing up to things with two hours of sleep.
Marc: Not at all hyperbole. The lawyers are working on everything, as well as the PR team. I have a follow-up meeting with the lawyers tomorrow after they have time to go through everything. I am meeting with the PR team this morning. They are coming to the apartment.
Marc: Actually, it's more than one PR team. Vivian has brought in her own group. Monique wants to burn my mom down to the ground.
Mandy cakes: And you?
Marc: I don't know. I don't want all this negativity out for Jade to deal with. It's why I agreed to keep quiet about the circumstances of her conception. At the same time, I agreed to talk to the PR team.
Mandy cakes: Even though the rumor mill knows all.
Marc: Yes, but they respect me enough not to tell Jade or Fashion TV. I hope so, anyway.
Marc: I know Cliff is out for blood, but he will defer to me. We are discussing things this morning before the PR team shows up.
Mandy cakes: Discussing is good.
Mandy cakes: How are you holding up? This whole thing is messy.
Marc: I am not constantly crying in the corner or using my asthma inhaler.
Marc: Although I had to have another sleepover with Jade and Cliff. Otherwise, I wouldn't have slept last night.
Mandy cakes: Cuddle time is good. Also, it is always good when your asthma inhaler stays in your pocket.
Marc: Cliff helped me with breathing exercises this morning. It helped.
Mandy cakes: Adorable. Did you eat breakfast? I know you forget meals when you're stressed.
Marc: Yes, Wilhelmina brought food over. I think she just wanted more baby time before visiting Connor today.
Mandy cakes: Probably. I need multiple pictures of that. I'm still having trouble wrapping my mind around her being a warm and fuzzy grandmother.
Marc: She adores baby Jade. Wilhelmina also wants to take a scorched earth approach with my mother.
Marc: [three images attached.]
Mandy cakes: That was super sweet. Also, super weird that she's even eating food now.
Marc: Doctor's orders.
Marc: Wilhelmina now wants me to let her unleash hell on both women.
Mandy cakes: You should agree now because she will do it no matter what. This way, you can keep her out of prison.
Marc: You're right about that.
Marc: I don't want to talk about custody stuff right now. The lawyers are dealing with it. I'm just enjoying my unexpected morning off before getting ready for Brianna's show. I need to look extra good since cameras will be on me.
Marc: The Mode offices are surrounded by paparazzi. That's why I'm going straight to the show in addition to the PR team coming to me. Monique doesn't want me there right now, and I'm just going with it.
Mandy cakes: I feel like most of them are for Matt.
Marc: I forgot the article dropped today. Is it wrong that I hope he is the one getting mobbed?
Mandy cakes: Not at all. Although, one of the paparazzi assholes tried to get past the fence this afternoon. Our new guard dog took care of it. She was a gift from Monique's aunt. She showed up early this morning with our new puppy. We're still deciding on a name. I was told Holston II was in poor taste.
Mandy cakes: [image 4 attached.]
Marc: Maybe a little. I'm glad the new dog took care of it. No dog that big should ever be called a puppy. Sorry that they're trying to get into your property.
Mandy cakes: It's OK, and Monique's aunt is cool. Also, this madness gives me an excuse to stay in bed and watch trashy British TV all day. When I'm not constantly in the bathroom. The kids are right on my bladder.
Mandy cakes: Candy and her boyfriend promised to bring dinner tonight.
Mandy cakes: [one image attached]
Marc: You look pretty in your lounging outfit.
Mandy cakes: I always look brilliant despite being the size of a small elephant. Let me see your outfit for Brianna's show today.
Marc: I'm not in my show clothes yet because of the PR meeting in 30. Also, I didn't get a backup outfit, and Jade is a messy baby. I owe Austin a new outfit due to yesterday's diaper blowout. I'm waiting until right before I go when Skye comes to grab Jade.
Marc: Unlike yesterday, we're not taking them to Brianna's show. Instead, they are attending a small children's tea party at Brianna's house. Alexis Sr. is hosting.
Mandy cakes: Cliff can send me pictures of you changing later.
Marc: [six rolling eyes emojis]
Mandy cakes: Hey, you did sleep in his bed last night.
Marc: With our daughter.
Mandy cakes: [six exasperated emojis]
Marc: Our relationship is whatever it is. Contrary to what my egg donor believes, it is not fake.
Mandy cakes: You just may or may not be having sex. However, I am hoping for yes.
Marc: I am not answering that question yet.
Mandy cakes: Oh, I get a "yet."
Marc: [Eight Rolling eyes Emojis]
Mandy cakes: I know you're stressed about what happened with your mom, but everyone has been saying good things about the show. Although, I thought it was a top 10 showcase. When did that change?
Marc: About 8 AM yesterday when it became obvious that Victoria poached two of our designers for their showcase.
Marc: Tamika deserves a raise for getting all of that done before the show.
Marc: [Image one attached]
Mandy cakes: I thought there were backups?
Marc: You're aware we lost one designer last week. It turns out he tried to make a pass at Antonella.
Marc: We didn't have any more alternates when we started losing more designers yesterday.
Mandy cakes: And therefore, deserves to be fired.
Marc: I'm not arguing that. Victoria is doing a lot right now to mess with us, including sabotaging yesterday's show. Thankfully we've prevailed. I hope her showcase falls apart today.
Mandy cakes: They're doing a showcase? I didn't know about that.
Marc: It's today at the same time as Brianna's show. It's one reason I'm still going to Brianna's show.
Mandy cakes: Somebody's being extra petty.
Marc: She hired Cliff's ex-boyfriend to be her lead model. It's obvious she has declared war on Mode and her sister-in-law for making Austin untouchable. I don't even want to think about what she actually had planned for the teenager.
Mandy cakes: Why is she going after you? It can't just be about the job.
Marc: I am another cornerstone of Mode's success that they want to eliminate. That's Betty's theory, anyway. Although Mommy Wyndham West is starting to think I might be a distraction to keep them from other things going on.
Mandy cakes: I'm going with Betty's theory.
Mandy cakes: Kate C wanted to know more about you since she knows we're friends.
Marc: So, they're talking to you to get dirt? I guess they want something other than my mom.
Mandy cakes: Or they want Intel to give your mom's lawyer. They're doing the same to Betty. She said you are a super hard worker and know how to go after what you want.
Marc: Before it all blew up yesterday, Betty told me her boss was asking questions. I honestly told her to feed them info. What did you say?
Mandy cakes: If they keep fucking with my goddaughter, I will put one of my stilettos in Victoria Hartley's head.
Marc: I appreciate the sentiment, even if you want to do that to the woman for several reasons.
Mandy cakes: Her messing up my relationship with Matt is definitely on the list. Yesterday's stunt is too. I know she purposely snuck in the process server.
Marc: Not that security could prove it.
Marc: Also, I thought we agreed that your relationship with Matt would have fallen apart eventually.
Mandy cakes: Probably when the DNA test came back. But at least it would've been on our terms.
Marc: Unless you forged the DNA test.
Mandy cakes: A DNA test can be faked?
Marc: My lawyer thought so when I was going through the first round of custody issues with Jody. It's why we did our own test with baby Jade. Although I knew she was mine the moment I held her.
Mandy cakes: I should be ready to pop.
Marc: It looked that way in the picture you texted me. Where did you get that bathrobe? It's lovely.
Mandy cakes: My doctor thinks I will go past my due date by a couple of weeks. Actually, she wants me to. She is convinced the babies in the ultrasound are a few weeks behind in development.
Mandy cakes: What if that's because I got pregnant in January, not December?
Marc: Wait, you think Matt switched the test so he wouldn't have to be a dad? That's ridiculous.
Matt: I am not a fan of your ex-boyfriend, but even I knew he was looking forward to the babies. He didn't even drop out of the parenting classes after you left, which was handy during Monique's punishment assignment to the parenting magazine. He even passed some of the materials to Cliff, which has been helpful.
Marc: Please never tell him I said that.
Mandy cakes: I know that Matt was looking forward to being a dad, but Victoria Hartley was not looking forward to being a grandmother. If she can sneak a process server into a heavily secured Fashion Week event, I'm sure she can switch a DNA test. You can do anything with enough money.
Marc: I want to say you're being paranoid, but I don't trust Victoria Hartley at all. Mainly because she kept on harassing you even after you left. Victoria hasn't done anything lately, has she?
Mandy cakes: Not that I'm aware of.
Marc: And you would tell me if you were aware of something?
Mandy cakes: You mean like you didn't tell me that Victoria first threatened to stick your mom on you a week and a half ago? Yesterday it was just her making good on that threat.
Marc: How did you know about that?
Mandy cakes: Nobody told DJ not to tell me.
Marc: And DJ knows everything because Justin knows everything, and they're teenage boys.
Mandy cakes: That love gossiping.
Marc: Don't overreact. Just talk to Daniel and your doctor. Just think, calm baby farts.
Marc: The dictation software on this phone hates me.
Mandy cakes: Daniel will be here this weekend with Christina and Betty. I'll try to mention something then. Afterward, we can talk to our doctor about it next week during my check up. Am I just being paranoid?
Marc: As you mentioned, the woman snuck a process server into my fashion show and then put out those ridiculous articles. Matt has like six burn phones and moved without telling his mom his new address. It's not paranoia if the person really is out to get you.
Marc: Do you want me to ask Monique?
Mandy cakes: No, not until I have something. Just concentrate on the rest of Fashion Week and keeping my goddaughter safe from evil witches.
Marc: I will do my best.
Mandy cakes: Good. Make sure your boy toy sends me pictures. I want to see all the outfits, especially what you're wearing for the ball tomorrow.
Marc: He will. He got a new camera for this week.
Mandy cakes: That's so cute.
Mandy cakes: You two are adorable, and mommy Weiner is messing with the wrong couple.
Marc: That's what Cliff said last night.
Mandy cakes: He's not wrong.
Xxxxx
Brianna West Hartley has always had a complicated relationship with her brother. Not all of it is related to the fact that she was in diapers when he left for college. Or that she was the daughter of a servant that his father decided to marry or even that she had to live with her brother and his horrible wife during the divorce years. She loves her brother, but they shouldn't spend much time with one another.
Brianna was almost glad Cal didn't bother to come to Vivian's house last night for the emergency meeting. One meeting with her brother during this trip is all she can handle. She wished Jordan was sitting beside her this morning. Last night it was decided that she should meet with her uncle to see if he had any relevant information. Unfortunately, breakfast this morning was the only option.
Brianna is not surprised that Cal was led into the private dining room at Ross 10 minutes late. She's just happy he came alone. Brianna was worried he was going to introduce her to his new girlfriend this morning. Brianna would like to avoid that until the next charity ball they end up at together. She's very grateful he's not going to the black-and-white ball. Even though his absence almost guarantees Victoria's presence.
"I'm glad you're here. Cleveland's been good to you." Cal said, taking the seat next to Brianna.
"I got a lot of work done, surprisingly. I think beach houses are my creative happy zone, even if that Beach house is on Lake Erie."
"That's good. I was expecting to see my niece here. Is Alexis joining us?" She knew her brother was talking about her daughter and not her daughter's mother.
"She is in the kitchen watching how they make the bread for the ultra-stacked French toast. That gives us about 15 minutes to talk before mother and daughter get back here." Brianna explained. She knew her server Tatiana would let Alexis know that her brother was here and to keep their daughter occupied for at least that long.
"We could do this afterward. I was looking forward to spending time with her. I didn't get to see her when you were up here for the wedding because I was out of town." by choice, but Brianna will not mention that.
"Well, we wouldn't have to have this conversation at all this morning if you had gone to Vivian's house last night. You were invited."
"Unfortunately, I had several meetings I couldn't get out of." Breanna just shook her head at the excuse. She heard it many times growing up.
"Of course, you couldn't." There was a hint of anger in Breanna's voice. "The mother of your child is missing, and you couldn't get out of work to help us figure out what the hell is going on. I am pretty sure the stunt with the process server yesterday was to keep us distracted so we wouldn't investigate Tiffany being missing."
"You weren't even going to tell me I had another kid. I figured it out because baby Alexis sent me a text that you weren't planning to send me." Her brother shot back.
"And one of Victoria's former assistants decided to flag the Tiffany situation for you." Breanna took a drink as she responded.
"Did she know what Victoria did to Tiffany?" Cal asked.
"No. At least Victoria covered her tracks that way, but she did make the mistake of saying that she got the mom of Vivian's latest charity case out of the way. Also, she overheard some crude remark about you fucking Tiffany. Although she's going to look through her notes to see if there's anything else to tell the PIs." They had an entire team of investigators currently. They want to descend upon the Chicago properties in question, but she will have to secure permission from her brother.
"So, she knew what to say to me to make me curious."
"Yes," They found out yesterday that's exactly what happened. "Especially if the ex was monitoring her phones." That's when Breanna grabbed a phone with the keyboard out of her purse and slid it over to her brother.
"What's this?" Cal asked.
"Your burn phone. We don't talk about Matt, Austin, Tyler, or Amanda without burn phones. Especially after Victoria hired someone to break into Mode's email system a couple of weeks ago, thankfully they didn't get very far." Her brother groaned.
"Please tell me somebody is pressing corporate espionage charges."
"I'm sure Monique's team is working on it."
"Why didn't you tell me about Austin?" Cal asked her.
"Because you completely flaked on Claire regarding Tyler." Not to mention he didn't have the best reaction to Tiffany getting pregnant.
"I explained this to you already. The situation with Austin is not the same as with Tyler."
"I don't care that my daughter has a cousin uncle."
"Everyone else will." Cal shot back.
"Everyone else can go fuck themselves. I don't care." Breanna replied.
"Someone has to."
"Do you care because you actually care about us or the company? Because if the biggest scandal my company has is me having a child by my brother's mistress's transgender daughter, then I have nothing to worry about. It's not the worst thing. It's out there, and it blew over in a couple of weeks."
"They don't know that Tyler is also your nephew."
"Because I am really discreet at spending time with my family. We're having breakfast Friday." Austin will be too busy with the ball to join. "I would invite you, but I don't want to stress Alexis's heart too much. Her being here for breakfast is enough for the month."
"I thought Jordan was coming with you?" Cal asked.
"Jordan's having breakfast with her piece of shit uncle right now to try to figure out what their game was by disrupting the Mode showcase with custody papers," Breanna explained.
"I think it might be a distraction to keep us from looking into Tiffany's disappearance. I'm already mad it took us this long to realize something was wrong."
"You thought a woman who disappeared to keep her child safe would have just abandoned him?" Cal asked.
"I blame my own shitty family experiences for so easily believing that," Breanna replied, bitterly.
"I did my best. Raising your sister is not easy."
"I know. However, your wife hated me. You weren't exactly happy with daddy marrying the help and making me a co-heir to the fortune. This might be another reason you were so upset about the Tyler situation. You gave Wilhelmina and Daniel their company back when Claire threatened to involve paternity attorneys."
"I should've left Victoria sooner. I am sorry," her brother apologized.
"Are you?" Breanna asked angrily. "Because you've been letting me fix everything since I was a teenager. You even had me deliver the suitcase of money to Tiffany. Sorry means nothing without actions."
"Austin really doesn't want to meet me?" Cal almost sounded sad.
"Yes. Do you blame him?" Breanna asked pointedly. "We're not even 100% sure it wasn't you that pushed Tiffany down the stairs."
"It wasn't. I promise it wasn't me. I really was looking forward to another child by that point." Cal almost sounded sincere.
"A little girl, which might be why you like to spoil Alexis Junior so much."
"Lexus is the closest I will get to a grandchild, especially if Cory is the one." Surprisingly Cal doesn't seem that upset about the possibility. Better than Victoria. She's already gotten several angry messages from the witch.
"There's always adoption. And Tyler is hetero." There's also a Marc situation, but Breanna will not wish that on anybody, especially her nephews.
"I genuinely doubt he wants me to spend quality time with his future hypothetical children." Oh good, her brother realizes how much he screwed up.
"Well, if you're on your best behavior, I will invite you to family Christmases. It's on you to miss enough meetings to actually show up." Maybe by that point Matt will be able to acknowledge Amanda's twins as his children.
"I'll be there. Will the family be in Paris this year?" Cal asked.
"London. We'll have to stay in Cleveland a little longer, but it's fine. I've got a great tutor and some play groups lined up for Alexis junior."
"You could enroll her in school in Cleveland for the semester. You live in one of the good suburbs. I know you're against private school."
"I'm against boarding school because your wife sent me there to make sure none of her friends realized there was an actual Black person in the family. I hated it. I want Alexis Junior to spend as much time with her mom as possible. The tutors are the better option for right now. Especially because I want her to still have a bilingual education."
"Alexis Senior is not responding to treatment, is she?" At Cal's question, Breanna realizes she said too much.
"She is responding, just not as well as Jordan's Mom would like, but at least we have more time. Then maybe Alexis senior will be around long enough to get her heart transplant."
"Who do I need to give money to?" That was her brother's way of asking how he could fix this. In their world, money fixes a multitude of things.
"I don't know. Although if I was certain your ex was a potential donor…" Breanna doesn't save more because she's not going to incriminate herself.
"I don't even think she has a heart." Her brother joked.
"Probably not. We're waiting until after Christmas to tell DJ what's happening. So, please don't say anything. I'm hoping that things will get better in the next couple of months." Okay, she was hoping for a miracle.
"I understand. Are you planning to tell Austin what's going on with Tiffany?" Cal asked.
"Not today. This morning Vivian will at least tell Austin that we're having a PI check on Tiffany."
"Not that we already know that she's not in Chicago?"
"But she could be somewhere else, possibly alive and not buried in cement in your Chicago apartment complex. Vivian wants at least two days to look before we tell Austin we think his mom is missing."
"I understand. I sent a message to Vivian through our assistance to let her know that I'm bringing in a team to search."
"I hope for all our sakes that your phones are not tapped." Breanna sighed. "Use the new phone next time. And don't use your assistant as an intermediary. For all we know, Victoria could be working with Corbin."
"Corbin absolutely despises her." Her brother reassured Brianna.
"I hope you're right. I also hope Tiffany is somewhere in the Caribbean drinking Mojito's." Breanna hoped that was what was happening, but she didn't think that Tiffany would do that. At least not without bringing Austin with her.
"Or at least something alcoholic. Which I desperately need right now."
"Chef Carlo is bringing up drinks with breakfast. I let him determine the menu, but I insisted on a cocktail. You can't have breakfast with Alexis Senior without one of you having alcohol in your system, and she can't drink on her medication." Breanna explained.
"I'll be nice to your girlfriend. At least she's better than that idiot who dated you to get a role."
"She also did it to get back at her ex-husband and get a reality show. At least Alexis has apologized for what she did. The other person has not. I'm not back with Alexis, by the way. I'm just trying to give her a chance to co-parent and spend time with her daughter." Cal gives her his signature are-you-kidding-me look.
"I know you think I'm lying to you and myself. However, the last thing Alexis needs right now is a romantic
relationship. My priority is getting her healthy and helping her build a relationship with Alexis Junior. Nothing else matters."
"A romantic relationship with Alexis is the last thing you need. You're already dealing with too much."
"Including your crazy ex-wife, who keeps trying to kill your babies' mamas," and grandbabies' mamas, but she's not telling Cal about that. At least not until the twins are safely born in England. She'll break the news to him if he comes for Christmas.
"You don't need to be dealing with this."
"Someone has to." Breanna told her brother, echoing his words from earlier. "Even if you don't want to be their dad, they are my nephews. I take being an aunt very seriously."
"I know that."
"And if your crew finds Tiffany in the cement, Austin will need as much family as possible." Breanna knows all too well what losing a parent is like, especially that young.
"I understand."
"I don't know if you do. If you treat Austin like Tyler, I think he shouldn't know that you know about him. Tyler is an adult, and this whole mess has already triggered a relapse. I have to protect my nephews."
"Even from me?"
"Especially from you. They don't want the money. They just want to know Matt and me. Matt needs that. Especially with the way Victoria treats him."
"What do they think of me?" Cal asked.
"Tyler thinks you're a dick. Although, at least you're a stable dick compared to your ex-wife. He is really sad that his older half-brother ended up with two horrible parents. At least he has three good ones."
"Tyler's adopted parents were good to him?" Cal asked.
"Yes. They were here while he was in rehab. They also adore Alexis Junior and send toys all the time. You might not run into Tyler at a very London Christmas because he'll be back in South Dakota with them. It depends on how well Alexis is."
"I understand. What about Austin?" Cal asked.
"Austin also thinks you're a dick but feels you won't be mad about him being gay like his stepdad. That situation was toxic. Tiffany agreed to let Austin stay here to get him away from George." Breanna explained.
"I assume that he's a lot like Victoria. She called and yelled at me this morning. She is displeased with Matt coming out publicly. She blames me." Cal added bitterly.
"She must be angry if she's not going through the attorneys. She also blames me. The queer comes on our side of the family." The sarcasm was dripping from Breonna's voice.
"She said similar but with more expletives. I'm increasing security." Her brother sounded exhausted.
"I don't think it's possible to put more expletives in my conversation with her. The only reason why I didn't hang up immediately was that I was recording." Breanna explained.
"Were you hoping she would slip up?" Cal asked.
"Always. But I also wanted to get evidence for a restraining order. I think we've come to that place." Breanna remarked as her phone pinged.
"That might be necessary for Matt, at least. I'm concerned," her brother took a drink of water.
"That was Alexis senior. They will return here in about three minutes with the pancakes and French toast. She's having Alexis junior wash her hands."
"She was warning you to stop talking."
"And giving me time to remind you to stay on your best behavior. Alexis Junior still likes you, and I would like to keep it that way until she at least starts junior high."
"I'll try my best," Cal told her just as the food arrived. Carlo outdid himself with the selections. Especially with the large container of something tasty and highly alcoholic. Both she and Cal poured themselves a large glass. They would need it because they already had two missed calls each from Victoria. She might need her own restraining order after this.
"Uncle Cal, I missed you." Alexis Junior ran to her uncle and hugged him when she arrived.
"I missed you too, little girl." Cal kissed baby Alexis on the forehead.
"Because I am your favorite."
"Of course you are. What's been going on in Cleveland?" Cal asked the little girl.
"We go to the hospital a lot, and then sometimes we go to the museums nearby and the zoo. They have an indoor rainforest. I like it." Well, at least her daughter liked all the other trips they were doing.
"I am sure you do."
"I have a brother and cousins now. Mommy, can I show Uncle Cal the pictures of DJ, Justin, and Cousin Austin?"
OK, maybe it's good that he already knows because her child has no filter.
"Oh, wait, I'm not supposed to call Austin my cousin. He wants it to be a secret, right?" Her daughter asked innocently.
"It's OK in front of Cal. Just don't do it in front of Aunt Victoria," Not that she's planning to leave Alexis Junior with that woman ever again. "Also, don't tell Austin you did that." Because he will go into a panic, and the child has enough right now. "We can show your uncle pictures after breakfast."
"OK, mommy. Come see the pancakes I made with mommy Lexi." Her child then dragged her to the table to show her the slightly stretched Mickey face on the plate. It was adorable. Maybe she can get through this breakfast. She hopes so anyway.
To be continued