Christmas Outburst

CHAPTER SEVEN

– NIXIE –

“Those are awesome,” Leon gushes when he points at the mugs on the counter.

I made those mugs in the shape of a skull roughly three weeks ago. “Thanks. I could show you how to make one if you like.”

Leon eagerly bobs his head. “Yes, please. I’d like to make one for my dad and give it to him later today.”

“Sorry,” I tell him with a smile. “We could make one today, but it’s a slow process and you won’t be able to take it with you.”

His shoulders slightly drop. “Well, that sucks.”

“Maybe it could be a Christmas gift instead?” I suggest. “It would be finished by then.”

The excitement is back in his eyes. Man, this kid still has emotions bouncing around inside him. He’s still young, but when Meave was his age, she had such a backpack filled with issues. Each kid is different, and where some struggle with their emotions, lack of self-esteem, or outer influences that knocks them on their ass, others grow up without a care in the world.

Then there are the ones who suffer trauma and bounce back, with the help of therapy, support from those around them, or are simply strong enough to overcome mental or physical injuries all on their own. Life lessons are hard for each person, age doesn’t have shit to do with it. I sure admire seeing strength in anyone, even more since I’ve experienced Meave’s issues firsthand.

Sadness hits me when I think about Maeve. I should ignore her plea for me to stay put and not hop on a plane to go to her. Over time I’ve learned to step back and respect her boundaries and trust her enough to handle anything she’s facing.

Though, being pregnant, catching the father of your unborn child cheating, him kicking her to the curb, demanding she’d get rid of it, even when she’s close to hitting the second trimester? Yeah, I don’t think she needs to go through this by herself. Hell, if anything? I want her to come here and live with me. A fresh start where I can help her with anything she needs.

I’ve told her as much and she said she’d think about it. A few times I’ve had my phone in hand, ready to call her and check to hear how she’s doing, but I’ve managed to hold off and not become the overbearing, meddling mom. She knows I’m here if she needs me.

“That’s a great idea, Nixie.” Leon bobs his head. “Maybe we could make a few more and take them to the clubhouse?”

“Why don’t we work on them tomorrow afternoon when you get home from school?” I suggest. “Then we’d have more time to make a few more.”

“Deal,” Leon quips.

“Done with your homework?” I ask when I just reminded both of us he has school tomorrow.

He only had a few classes this morning. Zale dropped him off at my pottery shop so I could keep an eye on him. Otherwise, he’d be alone at the house because Zale and the others have their job to handle.

Normally it wouldn’t be an issue for Leon to be alone. Except, with his mother escaping from prison, and entering their home the last time, Zale doesn’t want to leave him alone. Since the pottery shop isn’t connected to them, they thought it would be safe enough for him to be here. I hate they haven’t been able to find and arrest his mother yet. It’s a stressful situation for both Leon and Zale.

“Yep.” Leon grins.

My phone rings and I pull it from my pocket. When I check the screen, I notice it’s Meave.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I quip.

“Hey, Mom.” Her voice sounds stronger and lacks the sadness she had in our previous call. “Does the offer still stand?”

“Always,” I tell her without thinking twice.

“Okay. I’m going to take a few days to wrap things up here. I’ve already start packing, and I’ve found a new tenant for the landlord so there won’t be a penalty for ending the lease.”

“Good. Do you need me to come up there and help with packing? You shouldn’t be lifting any heavy stuff.” I inwardly cringe and hope I don’t sound as worried and overbearing as I feel.

Meave chuckles. “Don’t worry, the new tenant is Lucy, the one who works at the cocktail bar.”

“Oh, the sweet girl who stepped up when that asshole tried to demand–”

“Yes, Mom, the sweet girl. The asshole in question, however, is out of the picture. He had the nerve to show up at my doorstep to shove legal papers in my hand which states he’s signing away his parental rights.”

“What the hell?” I growl. “I don’t think that’s legal, Meave. It can’t be done until the child is born, but hold on to that piece of paper, okay?”

“Lucy said the exact same thing. I’ve already safely boxed away with my other stuff. It will probably be a week until I get to you since I’m driving.”

I bite my tongue so I don’t tell her I could fly up there so we could drive back together since I don’t like the idea of her driving by herself.

“Make sure to book a hotel or two,” I tell her instead. “To pamper yourself and enjoy some new towns. Just send me the link, you know how happy I am to have you in the same town. Though, I do hate the circumstances. By this I mean the asshole, not you being pregnant. I’ve processed the shocker of becoming a grandma at my young age.”

Meave snorts. “Smooth, Mom. Real smooth. How about we split the costs? I’ll check what route I’ll take and see what’s a fun town to spend a day in.”

“Sounds good. Send me the links,” I eagerly ask.

“Will do. Thanks, Mom,” she says with a load of gratitude in her voice.

“Always,” I simply tell her, and she ends the call.

“Is your daughter coming home?” Leon asks.

I shove my phone back into my pocket. “Not so much coming home, more like leaving the way I did and relocating here with me.”

“You’re going to be a great grandma,” Leon says with determination.

I chuckle and lean over the counter. “Thanks, Leon. I’m not sure I was ready to become one, but I guess life always springs you with surprises when you least expect it.”

He nods thoughtfully when I hear the bell above the door ring. A jolt of shock hits me when I notice Vera stepping inside the shop along with a man.

Neither of them has spotted us, and it’s why I whisper, “Leon, your mother. Duck and hide in the back. Call your father, I’ll call the cops.”

He ducks and not a moment too soon slips out of sight around the counter to get to the back of the pottery shop. I take out my phone and dial the alarm number.

“Hang up the phone, bitch, or I’ll kill you,” Vera growls at the same time the call goes through.

I try to act like I have no clue who she is and keep the ear to my phone. “Why are you here at Violet’s pottery shop acting aggressive, and threatening my life?”

Vera lunges forward and smacks my phone out of my hand. “Fucking cunt, I know what you just did.”

I want to make a run for it through the back, but that would risk exposing Leon. There’s no way I can put him at risk, knowing she’s here for him.

“Vera, come on, we gotta go,” the man she came in with says.

She grabs a fistful of my shirt and pulls me toward her. “Here’s your one and only warning, cunt. Stay away from my man and kid or I will kill you.”

I’m gripping her wrist and dig my nails in to get rid of her when she smacks me across the face. The flaming and stinging pain flares through my cheek when she shoves me back. I barely manage to catch myself instead of falling on my ass.

Vera and the guy rush out of the store, but not before she swings an arm out to a shelf filled with pottery items my mother made, making all of it crash onto the floor. Curses rip from my mouth and I move around the counter to quickly lock the door.

Turning, I lean my back against it and close my eyes in an effort to calm down. My heart is racing at full speed. Dammit, the whole thing was over in a few minutes and yet it felt like those minutes were hours.

“Motherfucker,” I bellow when someone knocks on the door behind me, scaring the shit out of me.

Whirling around, I check the window and see Zale, Reef, and the cop, Sebastian Dent, standing in front of the shop. I quickly open the door to let them in.

“Leon is in the back, I haven’t checked on him yet,” I tell Zale.

I expect him to rush past me but instead he releases a few curses, orders Reef to check on Leon, and then he gently pinches my chin. “She do this to you?”

“Yes,” I grumble, and hear footsteps coming from the back.

I rip my chin from Zale’s grip and watch Leon rush in my direction.

“Are you okay?” I ask, and barely manage to open my arm in time to catch him when he launches himself at me.

Zale’s hands go to my shoulders to keep me rooted while Leon bursts into tears. “I thought she was going to hurt you.”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. We’re all here, still in one piece. Look, even the police are here, it’s all good, Leon,” I muse and hug him tighter.

Zale slides his arms around the both of us and tightens his hold before he says, “Okay, kiddo, let’s have the EMTs check out Nixie.”

Leon instantly steps back and winces when he sees my face. Out of instinct I bring my hand up to check.

Zale catches my wrist right before impact. “Don’t, darlin’. Come on, let’s go outside.”

I glance around and wince when I see the items Vera ruined. “I should clean up.”

“We’ll handle everything later.” Zale places his hand at the small of my back. “Reef, make sure the shop is locked up.”

“I will need to–” Sebastian starts.

Zale cuts him off, “Not now, cop. Later, when her injury is taken care of, maybe even tomorrow. Yeah, I’ll make sure she swings by the station tomorrow to give her statement.”

“It doesn’t work that way,” Sebastian growls and tries to get in Zale’s face.

I place my hand on Zale’s chest and ask, “Walk with me to the EMTs?” Turning my attention to the cop, I tell him, “You can ask your questions while they check out my face.”

Both men glare at one another, and I ignore both to wander in the direction of the ambulance. Nice to know they took my call seriously, even if I didn’t say much. Maybe it was Leon or Zale who called them. Whatever, I’m glad someone can check my cheek. Especially when I now notice the blood dripping from my cheek and onto my shirt.

“The bitch scratched me? What is she, part cat?” I grumble.

Leon chokes out a laugh and it makes me grin and shoot him a wink.

I hold out my hand and ask, “Mind keeping me company?”

He bobs his head and whispers with a broken voice, “I’m sorry she hurt you because of me.”

“Hey now,” I murmur and gently take his face in my hands. “Don’t ever think anyone else’s actions are your responsibility, your fault, or in any way connected to you, okay? She chose violence, not you, not me, her, understand?”

“Okay,” Leon croaks.

I pull him into a hug and murmur, “It’s not okay, but it’s going to be once she’s back behind bars.”