Page 9 of Iona's Christmas

“I don’t think that’s any of your concern. You’ve burned your bridges with me, and my business isn’t yours,” I stated. Inside, I was shaking.

Pearl had been a huge part of my life and had replaced my parents as a mother. But I looked at her now and realised how manipulative and cruel she was. According to Pearl, everything in the world revolved around her. I recognised the kindness she had shown me hadn’t been that at all.

It had been about having another person adore Pearl and boost her fragile ego. The years of Pearl guiding me had been about Pearl getting one over on Warden and Berserker. She’d used me to hurt Berserker and Warden. I’d never meant anything to her other than being a weapon to hurt good men.

As for Rosalea, I’d no idea if Pearl really loved her child or not. But Rosalea and I had been badly damaged by Pearl’s actions, and we weren’t the only ones. Berserker had gone to his grave thinking Rosalea was McKay’s daughter, and Warden had believed it for ten years. Instead, Rosalea had been Berserker’s child all along. It was time Rosalea could never get back with her father or Warden. And all because Pearl was a total bitch.

“Don’t back chat me!” Pearl exclaimed.

“You mean nothing. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a family Christmas to plan,” I said and stepped past her.

She reached out a hand, and Pipe knocked it away.

“Do not touch her. As far as you are concerned, Iona does not exist,” he warned, and he and Fists took my sides as we walked off.

“Iona!” Pearl called. I didn’t stop and kept walking.

“Are you okay?” Pipe asked as we approached the shop I wanted.

“Yup.”

“Girl, you’re shaking,” Fists said.

“I hate confrontations. But it doesn’t mean I can’t hold my own. But that woman, for most of my life, I idolised her, and she was a lying, manipulative bitch. She shook me. That was the first time I’ve seen her since the truth came out. To be honest, justwant to go home and hide away. But that would be letting her win, I didn’t lie and cheat. I was stupid enough to be gullible and believe her, but I wasn’t out to destroy anyone. I won’t let her shame me,” I replied.

Fists reached out and caught my arm. Without a word, he pulled me in close and hugged me tightly.

“You look like you needed that,” Fists said as he released me.

I offered a tremulous smile and held back tears.

“Let’s offer my cheese,” I whispered.

???

Pipe was winking at a waitress as we sat in the diner to order food. Despite it being late afternoon, the Old Timers had decided they wanted lunch.

“Did you see that?” I asked as the woman walked away with our drink orders.

“What?” Fists asked.

“The diner is up for sale,” I pointed out. There was a small sign in the window.

“Huh,” Pipe replied.

“Weird. Because it’s always so busy in here,” I mused as I looked around. All but one table was taken, which seemed strange the business was being sold. It was a gold mine.

“You come here often?” Pipe inquired.

“I used to come at least three times a week with Rosalea for lunch, and we’d have dinner here on a Thursday,” I said. “It doesn’t make sense that the owner is selling because this is a nice little money maker.”

The waitress returned at that moment and snorted.

“What do you know?” Pipe asked, and she looked around.

“The owner has a gambling habit, horses, and it does not matter how successful this place is. He gambles the profits before they even hit the bank,” she murmured and placed our drinks down in front of us.

We ordered our dinner, and I could see how impressed they were by the quality of it.