Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail

When Viola swept through the front doors, I jumped from the ferocity of her rush. Then Josh jerked too and I jumped again.

"Holy, who is that?" Josh asked, frowning.

Viola strode towards the front desk and slapped a hand on the desk. "I want to speak to Bailor. Now."

The same gray haired Asian lady scurried away. She didn't frown. She didn't pause. She just moved. Behold the power. It wasn't long until she scanned the waiting room with narrowed eyes. She looked over me, back tracked, and zeroed in as the frown turned into a scowl.

Josh gulped.

My stomach fell to the bottom of my feet. She was dressed in a grey smock, red khaki pants, and yellow clogs on her feet. Her hair stuck up haphazardly with a few curlers that still hung on in desperation. I caught a smattering of blush on her cheeks and saw she'd applied some red lipstick.

I understood Josh's fear.

"Rayna Cassidy Janke. Do you have any idea what time it is?" She didn't wait for a response. "You call me, wake me up, and tell me that you don't know what Brady's bail is. What am I supposed to think? What am I supposed to think when my own granddaughter calls me and tells me that she's at the police station?"

I gulped this time, just as loudly.

Viola crossed the room, shoulders enraged, arms stiff, and bent forward until her nose was an inch from mine. Then she smiled.

I blinked.

Her smile grew wider as she whispered, "I love it! I was hoping that boy would burst some pizzazz in you. You need some nights like these. You're too good, too uptight at times."

"Wha—huh?" Josh gaped.

Viola glanced over and barked, "You. What's your name and relation?"

I pushed him away. "He—he—he's no one. He's leaving. He's going to sit over there." I pointed across the waiting room.

Josh stood up and sat down in the corner, but at a slow pace.

Viola took his seat. "I know I should be the uppity grandmother, but I just can't. You've never been involved when he's gotten in trouble and you're involved this time. You were there! I am basking in this moment because I know you'll punish yourself ten times over from what a normal guardian would do. That's why—" She indulged in a sweet smile and patted my head. "—I can't do anything except hug you. I'll make margaritas when we get home."

Her arms wrapped around me and I stiffened. My face was pushed into her smock and I mumbled to it, "You are completely abnormal."

Viola laughed and then sighed, replete. "God, child. I have been waiting for your rebellious streak to unearth itself. I've been worried that even Brady couldn't get some of that naughtiness out."

"Grandma!" I hissed.

She shook her head and her curlers whipped back and forth. "Rayna, it's not healthy to be as straight laced as you are. This is a good thing. If you get pregnant, that'd be bad." Her hand patted my shoulder. "I know you're too good to be that stupid. And thank god that Brady hasn't impregnated some girl too. Now, talking of Brady—let me at Bailor. Where is he?" She whipped around, fixed the clerk with a determined scowl, and stalked back across the lounge.

Pregnant. That was the only word I'd heard. There was no way I was pregnant…

"That's your grandma?" Josh slipped back into his seat.

I shook my head, lost in my own hazy hell. I could not be pregnant. No way.

"She's scary. I think you saved my life." Josh laughed and shook his head. "Now I get why Uncle Frank always growls when Kid talks about you. I wouldn't want to go up against that either."

I perked up. "Kid talks about me?"

"Constantly. I think he does it because it drives Uncle Frank crazy. Kid gets a kick out of that." He frowned. "I shouldn't have told you that."

I shrugged. "I get it. Brady likes to drive my grandma crazy too."

Josh grunted, annoyed.

Then a back door opened with a harsh bang. Deputy Doug led the way, followed by a stoic Frank Stephens. A bloodied and bruised Kid followed next and his shoulders were tense underneath his shirt. I caught a swooning look from the clerk when she saw the long tear in Kid's shirt, but she felt my gaze. Her eyes snapped to mine and I heard her "harrumph" before she turned back to the desk.

"Dude," Josh greeted as he stood beside me.

Kid grinned and bypassed his dad to thump his cousin on the shoulder. When Josh returned the favour, Kid suppressed a grimace, but Josh wrapped an arm around his shoulder to give him a one armed man-hug.

The clerk still watched him underneath her eyelashes. She reminded me of a hungry cat eyeing up a bowl of cream.

"Are you pressing charges?" Josh questioned just as Kid's eyes met mine.

I jerked in shock at the look of apology and regret. What would Kid would be apologetic for…and towards me? Then I remembered Brady.