“And what is that?” Delilah asked.
Her mother-in-law smiled.
“I’m convinced Noah is Charles’s child. Make no mistake about it. No question. He’s a Montgomery. It’s you that was always the problem,” said Mother Abigail.
“Me?” Delilah frowned.
“Charles told me.”
“Okay, you win!” Delilah threw her hands upward in frustration. “What did Charles say about me?”
“You couldn’t conceive,” Mother Abigail informed her.
“That’s no secret. We had to do IVF,” Delilah replied.
“And then after the first time you did IVF, you’re pregnant? After years of trying?” Mother Abigail said.
“You have no idea what I went through,” Delilah said.
“I have some idea. You used someone else’s egg to trick my family into believing you actually could give my boy a son.”
“Charles never said that, and you’re crazy!” Delilah laughed.
“When this is over, you’ll see how crazy I am,” Mother Abigail gave a snort.
“Why are you here?” Delilah asked.
“I beg you pardon?” Mother Abigail replied.
“You heard me. Why come here with your wild conspiracy theories and nasty accusations? Charles needs a mother, not some bitter shrew who hates anyone she thinks is not her kind.”
“My kind? And that is what exactly?” Mother Abigail's eyes narrowed on her daughter-in-law.
“I don’t know why I even bother with you,” Delilah sighed.
“I have every right to be here! We had an arrangement. Or have you forgotten? I get the evenings. You get the mornings.” Mother Abigail reminded her.
“You’re wrong, about me, about Noah, and most of all about Charles,” Delilah said. “He never questioned his sons’ paternity or our marriage. He just fought for you to let him be his own man.”
Mother Abigail gave another snort of disgust. Delilah wasn’t done. It was time to give her husband peace and finally free herself of a family that never accepted her. It was time for it all to end.
“You were welcome here until you declared war on me and my child with the press. You had Tyson use his connections with the courts to enforce the do not resuscitate order that mysteriously appeared in your family’s safe. Today I’m putting an end to this feud. Today we focus on what’s best for Charles.”
“You think that ring on your finger gives you power. It doesn’t. I am here to protect my Charles and bring my family back together. With his son and with you if you can learn to behave. Where is all this Miss Independent coming from? You think you can take Noah’s legacy and make a new one for yourself?”
“Excuse me?” Delilah frowned.
“You heard me. My grandchild needs to be raised by the family. By me. It’s not a rumor. Is it? You used a donor egg to get pregnant. Admit it. Noah isn’t yours!”
Delilah smiled. “That’s the best you got?”
“The courts will force the paternity test when we contest the will. Then the world will know how much of a fraud you are.” Mother Abigail said in triumph.
“So you’re planning your son’s funeral, and he’s still alive? You really are something.”
“Watch your tone. I’m still in charge here,” Mother Abigail snipped.
“Charles loves me. He wants to be here for us both. I’m his wife. I have more rights by law and under God than you. And I intend to use them,” said Delilah.
“What does any of that mean?” Mother Abigail frowned. “Under God?”
Delilah rechecked her watch again. Queen should have arrived. It made her concerned that her best friend would not make it in time. Mother Abigail continued to rant about her conspiracy of egg donors and fraud theory. The door to Charles’ room opened, and Tyson returned. He was accompanied by hospital security and the Chief Medical Doctor on staff.
“Mother,” Tyson said in a firm tone that silenced her little tirade.
“Why is security with you?” Mother Abigail quipped.
“Ms. Montgomery, we have a court-enforced restraining order against you and your sons. I’m afraid you’ll have to leave.”
“A what!” Mother Abigail laughed. “Restraining order? Are you insane, Kenny? I know your father; I used to give you peppermints for doing a good job tending to my horses with your brothers on my ranch. What were you then, six or five?”
Security officer Kenneth Green blushed. Delilah rolled her eyes over their familiarity. There wasn’t a family in town that didn’t have some kind of connection to Mother Abigail.
“It’s not a joke,” Delilah spoke up. “The last time you were here, Albert and Derrick got into a fight. Charles nearly went into distress when they knocked over the ventilator breathing from him. I have to protect him,” she informed her.
“They’re boys, my boys, and they were upset because their brother is dying. That was a non-event in this family of men, and you damn well know it! You can’t keep me from my son! What judge signed it!” Mother Abigail snatched the court summons from the deputy.
“There’s something else you should know,” Delilah said. “I’m appealing the ‘do not resuscitate order.’ I’ve already got the higher courts to hear it in an emergency session.”
“You can’t do that!” Mother Abigail scoffed.
“I can if it’s fraudulent. Should I tell her, or should you?” Delilah said to Tyson.
“What is she talking about? Fraud?” Mother Abigail demanded from her son.
“We believe that Derrick may have forged the document. That Charles never signed it,” Tyson told his mother.
“He wouldn’t do that. That’s not true?” Mother Abigail said to the doctor and security officer.
“It’s why he and Albert were fighting that day, Ma. They got it on the security cameras. Albert shouted the accusation as they dragged them both out of the room. I’m sorry, I was going to tell you. I was trying to find a way to—”
Mother Abigail slapped the oldest Montgomery son across the face. “He’s your brother. How could you even think of letting this happen?”
“I see I’m late,” Queen walked into the room.
Everyone’s head turned when Queen spoke.
“What’s happening now?” Queen asked.
“I informed Mother Abigail she should stay away. Along with the rest of the family,” Delilah said.
“The hell I will!” Mother Abigail took a step forward, but her son pulled her back.
“I’m afraid it’s true. The hospital will enforce the court order, Mrs. Montgomery. You have to leave the hospital,” the doctor chimed in.
“This has nothing to do with protecting him. This is revenge. Her revenge!” Mother Abigail pointed a finger at Delilah.
“Mother Abigail,” Queen said in a low and calm voice. “Sort it out with your sons. Sort it out with the judge. You’re going to have to leave.”
“Oh, I get it. You’re here to protect her.” Mother Abigail recoiled. She walked over to the chair in the room and picked up her purse. “Yes. I’ll sort it out. You can count on it. You won’t be able to protect her from me much longer, Detective Douglas. None of you will.”