A fart that had all of our eyes watering and burying our noses in our shirts.
“You were saying?” Dad asked dryly.
Mom pulled out her cellphone, hit some buttons, and then smiled as a ringing tone filled the room.
Three rings in, “Hey, Mama G. What’s up?”
As Harlee’s voice filled the room, I felt it roll over me, cocooning me in a warm embrace.
I was fucked. Straight up the creek and without a paddle.
“I wanted to get your opinion on something my children did. Do you have a few minutes?”
I heard Harlee’s sharp inhale, “Oh lord. Yes, of course.”
Then our mother proceeded to explain what Karen Ratcliff had said about our mother, and then she proceeded to tell her what we had done and what was on the flyer.
Harlee was silent.
That was until her tinkling laughter spilled out, which caused us to recall what had happened to start laughing again, even Garrick.
“I cannot believe this,” Mom snapped.
Harlee, getting control over her laughter before any of us could, said, “Mama G, I get it. Okay. I do. But... put yourself in their shoes. Then think about why they really did it. They were defending you. You raised some amazing individuals, Mama G. I’m honored, truly. But I do have to ask if Alec really is your child?”
Talia tossed me a wink.
Yep. Harlee Belle, my Darling, had just saved all our asses and put mom’s anger in a different direction.
Mom narrowed her eyes at Alec, and then to Harlee she asked, “What did he do?”
Harlee growled, fucking cute, “He thought it would be a good idea to walk into my place of business, my company, mind you, and yell,” whatever Harlee was going to say was cut off by Alec’s shout.
“No! Harlee, don’t you dare. You promised.” Alec said.
Harlee snapped, “Yeah. I did. That was before Mr. and Mrs. Thomas walked into my business and asked if I wanted to join them and make it a throuple.”
Alec’s face went beet red.
Every single eye in the room was on Alec.
I was slowly standing up, narrowing my eyes on my younger brother, my hands clenched into fists, when I heard Harlee ask, “Are Talia and Carter with you, Mama G?”
“They are,” she answered.
“Carter, Talia, don’t you worry your pretty little heads about hitting him, I’ve got my own payback planned.”
I grinned, stopped my movements, and then sat back down.
Mom gasped, and then she looked at the phone. “Did you say that Mr. and Mrs. Thomas wanted you to join them and have a threesome?”
Harlee sighed, “Yep.”
Then mom asked, “What did Alec walk in and yell, Harlee?”
Harlee let out a little growl again, fuck, but it was cute, “With the front door opened, mind you. He yelled, Harlee. I got my Jacob’s ladder removed. Now I want that special you promised me. I think I’ll take the special package number four. I hope you can cure my erectile dysfunction.”
Dad smiled, “I got bail money, honeybee.”
