Magical Mayhem (8 page)

Holly was the only one who was rude, and Megan knew it was because she was worried about her parent. Caroline, however, wasn't about to let it pass. "Holly, Megan is our guest. You will either be polite or you will be grounded; is that clear?"

Holly nodded. Montague spoke, "I can't hear you, young lady."

"You are not my father, Six, so stop trying to act like him!" Holly was spoiling for a fight.

"Montague, it is alright. I understand how Holly feels. She doesn't know me, and this is a very personal time for your family. Perhaps I should go and sit in the lobby while you all talk...?"

"Absolutely not!" Carolyn declared. "You are most certainly welcome to be here with us, Megan. Why, I can't recall one other time that Six has brought his assistant home with him. You must be very special to him."

Megan felt herself blush. Did Montague really have feelings for her?

"Megan is special," Montague admitted, his voice soft. "I've never felt this way before, Mom."

"Oh dear, big brother has fallen hard!" Jennifer declared with a laugh. "We thought it would never happen."

"Dad will love this news," Kathy said with a smile. "Way to go, Six."

"Are you seriously in love, Six?" This was from Holly.

"I am," he answered with a certainty that amazed Megan. "Now, all of you leave Meggie alone. You're a bit much individually, but in a group, you are one big bulldozer."

"That isn't very nice, Montague!" Megan took the opportunity to say, clearly shocked that he would say such a thing.

"Wait until you know them all a bit better, Megan, and then you'll agree." He was teasing now, and she was pleased to see him smile. He kept up a playful banter with his sisters while they all waited for news, and for the opportunity to go in and visit for a few minutes.

When visiting time came, Carolyn took Montague with her, and Holly waited until they were out of earshot before saying, "Dad won't want to see any of us now that Six is here."

"Holly, that isn't true, and you know it," Jennifer scolded. "Six just got here and all of us have been in with Dad a few times already. I don't know why you are riding your broomstick right now, but you'd best knock it off. Six won't tolerate your behavior."

"Six is not my father!"

"No, but he is your brother, and I guarantee he will set your fanny on fire if you keep upsetting Mom."

"He wouldn't dare!" Holly angrily cried out.

"He would dare," Kathy agreed with Jennifer. "Just ask Cynthia if you don't believe me."

"Oh, thanks for embarrassing me in front of Megan!" Cynthia commented, and Megan could see that she was blushing. "Jennifer is right, Holly. You'd best settle down and fast."

"Oh, right! Like Six actually paddled you!"

"He caught me drinking... and behind the steering wheel of my car. He was playing close to my college and decided to drive up and surprise me. I was surprised, all right." She gave Holly a look and asked, "Didn't you ever wonder why Six mailed Dad my car keys, and Dad wouldn't give them back for a very long time...? That car sat in the parking lot at school for six months before Dad was convinced to give me a second chance. And, even worse, Six told Dad that he spanked the daylights out of me, too. He would dare settle you, too, if he thinks you need it."

"I'd like to watch!" sixteen year old Pepper spoke up. "I might even offer to pay Six."

"And you might be next!" Kathy told her, nodding.

"Megan, would you come with me, please. Five would like to meet you, dear."

Megan followed Carolyn and then entered the small room to stand beside Montague. "Dad, this is Megan. Meggie, my Dad, Preston Hadley Montague V."

"Just call me Five, Megan," he said. "It's a pleasure meeting you, and I hope you'll stay and let Carolyn make you comfortable in our home."

"I am sure I'll be fine. I think your sisters might like a chance to see your Dad, Montague, especially Holly. May I send her back?"

"That would be fine, Megan," Five spoke up. "I need to make peace with her." He smiled tiredly.

"I don't want you to wear yourself out, darling."

"Holly needs me, Caro."

Megan hurried to get Holly and sent her back after telling her that her Dad wanted to see her.

"Whew! That girl is in a bad mood. Anyone know why?" Cynthia asked, looking around the room.

When no one seemed inclined to speak up, Megan answered, "Your Dad said he needed to make peace with her."

"Ohhhhh, well that makes sense, doesn't it, girls?" She looked at Megan. "That is what Dad always says when he makes nice after a punishment. Holly must have done something to get herself into pretty serious trouble."

It wasn't too long before she returned to the waiting room, and it was obvious she'd been crying. "It's my fault that Dad is in here," she confessed.

"Your fault?" Jennifer exclaimed in surprise. "How is it your fault, honey?"

"I made him angry... I used my emergency charge card... and it wasn't an emergency... it was to throw a party at Sawyer's parents' lake house. He was furious, took away my charge card, and he paddled me. He had the heart attack about an hour later." Holly was crying so hard she was difficult to understand.

"Don't be silly, Holly. You didn't cause that blockage. You heard what Dr. McCullough said. Dad would have had the heart attack no matter what he was doing... sitting at home, golfing, or sitting at his desk at work. You did not cause this to happen... Well, no more than all of your older siblings," she said with a smile and a comforting hug.

"Are you sure of that, Jenn?" It was easy for Megan to see that Holly wanted to believe her oldest sister, but she wasn't sure she should.

"I am positive, honey."

"Jennifer is right, sweetie," Kathy said. "If it was that easy to give Dad a heart attack, Six would have got him first. He was a troublemaker from the beginning."

"You weren't here in the beginning."

"Well, I just know these things!" Kathy said with a perfectly straight face and to Megan's surprise the sisters convulsed in laughter.

"Thanks, everyone," Holly said quietly. "Dad said the same thing, but I just didn't know what to think. I love him so much."

"We all do," Pepper told her, tossing her the box of tissues that looked like it had been thrown around the room all day.

"Dad is doing better," Carolyn told her children as she and Montague entered the room. "If he continues to improve through the night, they will move him to a step down unit tomorrow. I want all of you to go on home now; especially Jennifer, Kathy, and Becky. Your children need their Mommies; your husbands need their wives. You college and high school girls can take tomorrow morning off from classes to come and see Dad, and then it is off to school with all five of you, Dad's orders."

"Are you planning to stay here tonight, Mom?" Abigail asked quietly.

"Yes. I want to be close so your Dad feels our presence."

"Then I am staying with you. I don't have classes tomorrow, so I won't be missing anything, and I don't want you to stay here alone."

"I agree with Abs. Should we vote?" Cynthia asked quickly. The vote went in favor of Abigail staying with their Mom. "That is settled. Who needs a ride?" She looked around and then giggled. "The parking lot is full of Montague vehicles."

"We'll come early so you and Abs can go home and shower and take a nap, Mom," Holly said, giving her mother a big hug, which seemed to prompt hugs all around. Megan wondered if the family was always like this, and had a feeling that they were.

Montague came out then, looking tired as could be. The drive had taken several long hours, and they'd been here for a few more. Megan was tired, but he looked weary, although very handsome with his five o'clock shadow. His sisters all hugged him and said goodnight, and they all spoke to her, too, telling her it was nice to meet her. Cynthia leaned close to whisper that she would get used to all of them in time, and Megan had to smile at that. They were all acting like she and Montague were an item when nothing of the sort had been decided.

"Megan, we are going back to the house and get some sleep," he said, taking her hand in his once again.

"Megan, I can't tell you how much it means to all of us that you came here with Six today. I know this is not the ideal way to meet the family, but you have been an angel today." Carolyn gave her a hug, and then said, "If you need something, just ask Gracie. She's the best."

Megan saw Montague speaking to Abigail, and then he took out his billfold and slipped her some cash before hugging her and giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Come on, Meggie. If you are half as tired as me you need a shower and a bed. I will feed you first, though. I promise."

He led her from the hospital at a much slower pace than they entered. The visitors' parking lot was almost empty except for two other vehicles. "That one is Mom's car; the other is Abigail's." Once they were settled in his car he said, "Thank you for being here with me today, Meggie. I needed you."

"You are welcome, of course. I didn't do much but listen..."

"You listened, took care of my sisters and Mom... I'm glad Dad got to meet you. He told me that I would be a fool if I let you get away."

"He actually said that...?"

"He did, and he wanted to know if you had a temper to go with the red hair. I had to tell him the truth, of course."

"Of course," she mimicked him. And then felt her face turning red. "You did NOT tell him that you spanked me? You did NOT do that?"

Chapter Six

Megan felt her face flame a fire engine red at the mere thought of Montague telling his father that he spanked her! It was just too much to bear, and if they weren't in a moving car she would jump out, start running, and never look back! But, they were in a moving car and Montague wasn't about to stop long enough for her to undo the seatbelt and throw herself into the black of night to escape him!

"Megan," he said softly, reaching over to take her hand in his, "You have no idea how happy it made my Father. Montague men are a bit unique," he told her, doing a bit of blushing himself. "We fall hard when we fall in love, and we pick women with spirit; feisty women who have a healthy temper. Montague men are not easy to live with. It takes a special woman, and Dad was only finding joy in my answer because of all my family, he is the only one who gets me, and how I feel, and how special you are to me. As whacked as it sounds, Montague men are all born with the spanking gene."

"Are you serious?" Megan whispered as he stopped at a red light.

"Afraid so, honey. Dad took one look at you and knew I was telling him the truth about finding my lady. Now, please don't be scared, Megan. I don't intend to rush you into anything. I know you aren't ready for that. We have the rest of our lives for you to be comfortable with me and learn to love me in return. I know it is overwhelming to meet my family under these circumstances, before I had time to warn you that we are rather crazy." His teeth flashed white in the car as he smiled. "Before I could warn you that I come from an extremely wealthy family that makes enough money each year none of us would need to work another day in our lives, or our children or their children. Megan, my Dad raised every one of us kids to know he expected us to be productive citizens. He doesn't believe that children born into wealth have a right to feel a sense of entitlement. He doesn't care what career we choose as long as we choose one and live within our means. My car doesn't come from family money; neither do my magic props. I worked hard for each and every one and I worked for my car, too. Dad treats the girls the same way. College or trade school, then a job; even marriage doesn't bring instant wealth. When we reach thirty-five, our trust funds are available... provided Dad signs off on them. In short, screw up and you are in big trouble. Work hard, learn to survive in the real world, and only then are you wealthy in terms of money. Do you recall when all girls had to do gain access to money was to marry?" He waited until she nodded before continuing. "Marriage to one of my sisters will net a man zero. So, he'd damn well better love her. I believe it was Three who saw to that bit of advice within the family, and when I have daughters I will protect them, too. Dad has to decide whether or not to release my sisters' trust funds... and he won't do it if one of them is being mistreated in any way. It isn't a foolproof system, but when some guy who thinks to make a fast buck off one of my sisters, he is soon appraised of the fact that he will have to work, show he isn't a shiftless, worthless piece of scum. Most guys of that sort won't last out a year... much less ten to fifteen years. My sisters Jenn and Kathy have great husbands. I don't know Becky's husband well, mostly because the guy is on call ninety percent of the time. They just had a baby, though, and Becky loves him and seems very happy. We are all holding out on Abs' fiance; he's only spent a short time with us at Christmas. Dad wants her to get her Master's before she marries, and she said that was her plan all along." He pulled into the driveway and then chuckled. "I can't believe I have talked your ear off all the way here from the hospital!"

"I loved hearing about your family, Montague," Megan told him, meaning every word. "I really like your Mom and your sisters."

"But, it embarrasses you to know that I told my Dad I spanked you...?" He confronted the issue that he knew was bothering her.

"Yes! How do I face him after that?" She was perfectly serious.

"Dad will put you at ease, Meggie. He's going to want to hear all about your parents and brothers. He'll probably want to kick some butt at them for making you feel like a failure when you are absolutely adorable and unspoiled."

"Really?"

"Dad was impressed that you came with me. I know I told you that you were coming, but most women would have insisted on going home, or staying in a hotel while I saw to my family. You held my hand and... That is who you are, Megan. Special."

"I think you are special, Montague."

"I'm going to have to come up with something else for you to call me, Megan. My friends and family call me Six, but that just doesn't feel right coming from you... I'll think on it," he told her, and then got out of the car, rounded it, and opened the door for her to get out. "Let's go inside and see what Grace put out for us to eat."