Chapter 55

Bunny was neglectedly put in charge of the kids for the night. Her idea of a "healthy meal" was nothing but junk food. Hannah tried asking for an actual meal, but Bunny flipped out and started yelling at her. Mikayla tried sitting there and ignored it. Hannah sat back on the couch and refused to eat anything. Brayden didn't pay any attention to Bunny and kept on playing with his toy cars. Instead of making the kids a decent meal, Bunny lit up a cigarette and leaned against the stove. Mikayla had had it, she stormed into the kitchen and pointed her finger at Bunny.

"I don't give a crap who the heck you think you are. You ruined my mother's life as a child and look what happened to her as a teenager. Yet you still wonder why she was taken away from you. For Christ sake get off your lazy, drug addicted ass and make us something! We're sitting here starving while you're lighting up and getting high!"

"You guys are useful, why don't you make something for yourselves?"

"You disgust me."

Brayden snuck the house phone and hid in the closet. He knew Kim's cell phone number by heart, so he dialed it.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Mommy, I'm scared."

"Brayden?"

"Yeah."

"What's wrong, buddy?"

"Bunny's being really mean to us. She yelled at Hannah, she yelled at me, she yelled at all of us."

"Why would she do that?"

"She won't feed us dinner either. We're all hungry."

"What do you guys want for dinner? Mommy will bring you guys home something."

"I'll ask them, hold on."

He asked them what they wanted and they all had the same response.

"We all want pizza. Can you get that mommy?"

"Of course, buddy."

He started crying over the phone.

"Don't be sad. You're going to make mommy cry. Her and daddy will be home as soon as we can, okay?"

"Please hurry, mommy. I'm scared."

Kim put her phone back in her pocket.

"What's up?" Erin asked.

"Your piece of shit mother has done it again."

"What has she done?"

"We left her in charge of the kids. She's done nothing but yell at them and she won't even feed them dinner."

"Are you serious right now?"

"Let's go."

"Should we tell Adam and Jay?"

"Go get them."

"You kids need to stop whining that you're hungry. There's plenty of food here, make something."

"My mommy says we're not allowed to use the stove. She said it's dangerous." Hannah said in a hushed voice.

"She said it's dangerous." Bunny said in a mocking tone. "If you're hungry, make something yourself. I'm not saying it again. I'm not your house maid." She shut the door so hard behind her that it shook the walls.

"Mikayla, your grandma is really mean." MacKenzie said, playing with her skirt.

"I'll make you guys something. How about sandwiches?"

"That sounds good."

Mikayla was in the middle of making them when Gabby, Erin and Kim came walking in. Brayden had fallen asleep, so Hannah ran over to Kim.

"She left mama."

"Who left?"

"Bunny did."

"What do you mean she left?"

"She slammed the door and took off."

"Did she say where she was going?" Kim asked, setting the bag of food on the kitchen counter.

"No, she just took off."

"I can't believe I thought we could trust her. I've had it with that woman."

"Where's daddy?"

"He's outside parking the car, he'll be in in a minute."

"Can you have Platt babysit us next time? At least she's nice."

"I'm sure she would love to do that for you guys. When I go to work tomorrow, I'll ask her."

Adam looked irritated when he came in the house. Hannah ran over to him and jumped into his arms. He hugged her tight as he could. "That's just what daddy needed right now."

"I asked mommy if Platt can babysit us next time."

He looked up at her. "Are you for real?"

"She adores those kids like grandchildren. She'd have no problem with it."

"Yeah true."

"Is auntie Shay okay?"

"Yes she is, and guess what?"

"What daddy?"

"You have a new baby cousin."

"What's her name?"

"Emberley Dawn."

"That is a long name. How will she ever learn to spell that?"

Everyone laughed.

"They call her Ember for short."

"That's a lot easier to spell."

***

The middle of the night, Hannah woke up screaming from a nightmare she had. Adam came running in. "What's wrong, princess?"

She started crying and turned away from him.

"Did you have a bad dream?"

"Yeah..."

"What happened?"

"She killed you and mommy. Then she took me away. Would she really do that?"

"No. No no no. Come here." He kissed her head.

"I don't want to ever be away from you or mommy. Tell Voight he needs to have a bring your kids to work day."

"I'm not so sure he'd agree to that, but I can try."

"Make him."

"I don't think he'd like that."

"We'll make Justin or Sienna do it. They're his kids, they can make him do anything."

"Sienna might be able to convince him."

"She has his temper, so duh!"

He laughed. "You are something else, you know that?"

"You still love me though."

"Yeah, I do." He covered her up.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to my room, I have to sleep too."

"Stay here. You can sleep next to me. I made a spot for you. Please?" She gave him the angel eyes and the pout face.

"I can't say no that face." He smiled at her. "You know, you look just like your mommy when you do that."

"I'm a mini version of mommy. She said so."

"Of course she did."

Once she was asleep, he snuck out and back into his room.

"Did you get her back to sleep?"

"Yeah, poor thing had a nightmare that Bunny shot us and took her away."

"I feel like it's my fault that that happened."

"It's not your fault, Kim. It's Bunny's. You're a great mother."

"Then why do I feel so badly?"

"I know what'll cheer you up." He smirked.

"Don't even think about it."

He ignored her command and removed his shirt. She pretended not to stare.

"You know you want to."

"NO."

"Liar."

"I am NOT."

"Yes you are."

"Shut up. I'm going back to bed." She laid down and covered herself up.

"So much for working out today." Adam turned the light off and went to sleep.