Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 92

Easton

As soon as the screaming began, I told Luci and the girls to stay with Cole and Barrett.

Banning was on the phone regarding his next job and I shook my head at him so he’d stay too. In case whatever is shrieking makes it here, he’ll protect the five of them.

I never expected to find my mother, Lorelei and Vivienne all screaming at each other about who should and shouldn’t be there.

“I came to show my family I want to be here. You are not welcome in my house.” Mother shouts.

“Then why did you invite my daughter? Thought you’d steal her from me like I tried to take your husband?” Vivienne fires back. Is she drunk?!

“I wanted to talk to Lorelei about helping Easton with Cole. You only want him for your film career.”

“And you only want him to get your cushy life back!” Vivi shouts. “Which, news flash, Imogen.

Lorelei also wants him for her film career”

“Do we break this up or let them kill each other?” Jackson mutters behind me.

“I vote we push them outside at least. Easier to hose off the blood.” Kingston adds.

I am keeping my eyes on Lorelei who glares at her mother. “You know you weren’t invited Mother. Why follow me?”

“Because why should you two get to benefit without me?” Vivienne snaps at Lorelei.

“We aren’t selfish like you. You’ve never done anything for Cole. I know he doesn’t want to see you.” My lovely mother pipes in.

“He’s my son. I’ll decide who he sees.” Lorelei informs her and I bristle. “He’ll be traveling with me to LA soon.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. He barely knows you Lorelei. Unless Easton is going too.”

Mother has a sliver of sense I guess.

“He barely knows you too Imogen.” Lorelei yells.

“I lived with him for four years! I know my grandson. I didn’t ask you to come here so you could try to take him away from us.”

I scoff lightly at that. From us…

“I’m his mother. I have a right to him.”

I shake my head. That’s enough of this. I catch Dad’s eye and he nods.

“I have as much right to him as you Lorelei!” Vivienne shrieks.

A sharp,loud whistle pierces the air, causing the three women to stop bickering and shouting. We turn as Luci steps in. Her hands are clenched into fists. She is enraged. “STOP THIS!

ENOUGH!”

Sydney and Stormi reach for Cole behind her, stopping him. Syd tugs him back toward her brother. Banning lifts Barrett and Cole up in his arms, but remains where he is. “Listen boys.”

He whispers loudly.

“Take them to the playroom.” Luci throws over her shoulder firmly. Banning backs up but doesn’t leave.

“Do you hear yourselves? Do any of you even care about him instead of what it means for you? What he’ll do for your life or your careers?” She steps closer to them. I start for her, but Dad puts a hand on my shoulder, shaking his head. Syd and Stormi move in closer to her, her wall of strength I note, as Syd squeezes her arm and Stormi puts a hand on her shoulder. She’s shaking in her fury, but her eyes don’t waver. She is always so strong for Cole and Barrett.

She looks at Mother first. “You have lived with that little boy since he came here, yet you never loved him the way you should have. Being a grandmother should be a gift. Not something you exploit and ignore to appease your revenge. You claim you want a relationship with your family again; want to prove you’ve changed. You’re not demonstrating it right now. You are locked in thinking you’re being noble, but all I hear out of your mouth is “I want,” I know“. I, I, I is all that is coming out of your mouth. Try the words “Jason needs“, “Cole needs“, “Jackson needs“…..those work better if you truly want to show them you care about THEM. Otherwise, how dare you suggest or demand they allow you back in. You know nothing about that little boy! NOTHING! How about you ask him what he wants? You need to make things right with yourself first. Repair your shortcomings before you revisit them upon your family. Learn to recognize your irreparable faults and admit them. Experience and demonstrate remorse for what you did, for the relationships you sacrificed. You hurt your own children and grandson to take petty revenge. Stuck them in the middle of a fight they didn’t even know was happening.”

Vivienne gives a little satisfied snort which draws attention away from Mother. Luci faces her down, and I’ve never seen her so angry. Her eyes are almost glittering with hatred. “You, I have absolutely no use for, nor does anyone else in this world it seems. Even your own daughter that you obviously have no maternal feelings for. You bring nothing to anyone’s life under this roof. I feel sorry that Lorelei grew up with you! Though she could have used you as a lesson for everything not to aspire to as a mother, woman or human being. Maybe one day you’ll do something useful with the oxygen you are stealing from people who truly deserve it. Cole should never even know you exist and I don’t say that lightly.”

“I wish I’d never brought her into our lives.” Imogen says with disgust.

“But you did and you need to own up to the fact you can’t differentiate a snake from a butterfly, your judgment is so damn poor. Do better with the people you surround yourself with.

Otherwise, I don’t see a reason for your family to ever forgive you.” Luci dresses her down firmly.

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