Free Magical Mayhem by Amity Maree Page A

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