by S. M. Shade
“You sound like my therapist,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“You went to therapy?” He stares at me intently.
Shit. Why did I say that? “I’m not crazy.”
“Relax; I’ve been to therapy a time or two.”
I laugh with relief. “I went when I was pregnant and struggling with whether or not to have the baby.”
“Because Jon left you?”
“Because I was afraid it would be like me,” I confess quickly, spitting the words out like poison. “That’s enough for now, Airen. You know more than I ever intended to tell. We should get back.”
“All right.”
The look of pity on his face pisses me off. “Don’t look at me like that!”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m a starved puppy left out in the rain.” He snorts and grabs my hand as we walk back. “You know, I expect to hear your deepest, darkest secrets as well,” I warn.
“I don’t have a lot of dark secrets, but I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.” We walk in silence for a while. “Were you close to your brother?”
“Airen! We said we were done talking about this for now.”
“I’m sorry. I just thought being in that situation together may have made you closer.”
“No, I don’t blame him, though. He always tried to get me in trouble. He thought if he sided with her against me, she might hate me more and love him,” I explain.
“That’s really sad,” he whispers.
We’re quiet the rest of the walk back. When we get to the yard, he turns to me. “I’m sorry I let that happen with Amanda. I didn’t encourage her, but I should have thrown her ass out the second she stepped through the door.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I know how hurt you were, and I never want to see that look on your face again. It gutted me.” He pulls me into a warm hug and strokes the back of my head.
“I’m sorry I hurt your feelings,” I murmur. “I didn’t mean to. I trust you, but I let my jealousy get the best of me.”
“It happens to the best of us, darlin’.”
“I thought I lost you.” My voice wavers and I squeeze him tighter.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. I told you. You’re stuck with me.”
“I’m not crying.”
Chuckling, he pulls away and swipes a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “Okay.”
Joseph smiles as we step through the door. He has explained to the kids that Mandy is staying at her house to get it ready to move in. What would we do without him?
A few days after Mandy’s abrupt removal from our house, she approaches me in the garden. “Do y’all have some shampoo? I’m out.”
The nerve of this bitch! She has tried in every way possible to take Airen from me, and here she stands as if nothing ever happened.
The front door squeaks as Joseph leans out and calls to me, “Is everything all right, Abby?” I give him a brief smile before I turn and punch her as hard as I can. I didn’t exactly plan to knock her tooth out, but I’m pleased with the result. She’s so proud of that face she assumes makes her better than me.
“Abby!” Joseph is out the door and holding my arm before I can add a broken nose to her injuries. She doesn’t even try to fight back. She’s bawling and holding her mouth while blood drips down the back of her hand.
“Damn it, Abby!” Joseph curses as he tries to see how much damage I’ve done.
Airen and Sara must have heard the uproar because they come running.
“Abby! Are you all right? What happened?” Airen demands.
Joseph is still holding my arm, though I’m not resisting him. Apparently, he doesn’t trust me not to hit her again. He grabs me by the shoulders and pushes me toward Airen.
“Just get her in the house and keep her there!” he barks.
“She...” I begin.
“Abby, go!” he yells. “I can’t believe you did this!”
Why is he so pissed? He knows what she has done. I’m taken aback and frankly, I’m hurt. Joseph has never even given me a dirty look, much less yelled at me. I’ve never seen him so angry at anyone.
“Come on, your hand is bleeding,” Airen insists.
I shoot Joseph a thunderous look before allowing Airen to escort me inside. Traitor.
“What happened?” Jayla cries as I sit down in the kitchen, and Airen grabs an ice pack.
“I cut my hand.”
“On Mandy’s teeth! She popped her right in the mouth! Knocked a tooth out!” Carson hoots.
Damn, that boy is always watching.
“Oh Abby, we need to clean it out then. A human bite is full of bacteria, and there’s no telling what disease that skank is carrying.”
I challenge Airen. “Are you mad at me too?”
He smirks. “No darlin’.” That sexy southern accent creeps into his voice. “I think you showed amazing restraint. If the situation was reversed and some man was trying to get between us, I would’ve beaten his ass a long time ago.”
“Did you really knock her tooth out?” Jayla asks, pouring peroxide over my knuckles.
“Yes.”
“A front one?” Carson asks excitedly.
“All right, that’s enough for now. Don’t you two have something to do?” Airen suggests, trying to mask his amusement.
“Not better than this.”
“Don’t tell Walker,” Airen warns and shoos them from the room.
“What the hell is Joseph’s problem?” I demand as soon as they’re out of earshot.
“I don’t believe he shares our proclivity for violence.” He smiles at me.
“I’m not violent! I haven’t hit anyone since high school. She had it coming!”
“You’re preaching to the choir, sweetheart. Don’t worry. Joseph will get over it. I think you shocked him. He just didn’t expect it from you.”
“He shouldn’t have taken her side!”
“Just let it blow over,” he says, dropping a soft kiss on my temple.
Joseph doesn’t come back until after dark. The kids are in bed, and I’m curled up in the recliner with a book while Airen lounges on the sofa. Joseph looks tired as he plops onto the love seat.
“Well, she lost the tooth. There’s no way to fix it.” He gives me a stern, sobering look.
“So make the bitch a get well card!” I snap.
“Abby!”
I march to my room, fighting the urge to slam the door. He’s still taking her side! He feels sorry for her. I fume while I take a shower and get ready for bed. I’m never going to fall asleep tonight.
Airen eyes me warily as he gets into bed. I suppose he’s wondering how much of my bad mood I’m going to take out on him. I sigh and rest my head on his chest.
“Don’t worry, darlin’. You two can’t stay mad at each other forever,” he assures me, running his long fingers through my hair.
I don’t want to put him in the middle of me and Joseph. It’s not fair. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Okay. Do you want me to knock his teeth out?”
I chuckle and kiss his cheek. “You always make me feel better.”
“I’m just getting started. I’ve got the perfect stress reliever for you right here.”
* * * *
“Good morning,” Joseph says, joining me in the kitchen while I crack eggs for breakfast.
“Morning,” I mumble. I’m still pissed. He watched Mandy antagonize me and try her damndest to screw up my relationship with Airen. He should be on my side. Instead, he shouts at me and runs to take care of her.
Jayla and Carson eat quickly and flee the room while Airen heads outside to work on the mower. The tension between Joseph and I is palpable. I know he wants to talk, and he’s only waiting until we’re alone. He turns to me as soon as the room empties.
“Abby,” he begins.
I don’t want to hear it right now. I stalk deliberately past him and out to the porch. I realize I’m being petulant. Okay, I’m pouting like a scold
ed four year old.
He follows me. “I’m not Airen, and we aren’t going to play the ignore and avoid game,” he says sternly, sitting beside me. “Tell me why you’re so angry.”
What? Why I’m so—he can’t be this obtuse! I study him incredulously. “You took her side.”
“Abby, someone had to help her,” he argues, exasperated. “Airen wasn’t going to be any help, and Sara didn’t know what to do.”
“You know all of the shit she’s done! She deserved exactly what she got,” I hiss.
He sighs and studies me a moment. The morning sun is making his blond curls shine. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat and finally speaks calmly. “Abby, this isn’t you. Don’t let her do this to you.”
“Apparently, she has the right to do anything she wants to me, and I’m expected to roll over and take it. I’m supposed to let her shovel shit on me while I just beg for more.”
“No. Honey, how can you say that to me? You aren’t like this, and you know it. Don’t let her get to you and make you do things you’ll regret later.”
“Maybe I’m not the person you think I am, Joseph. I don’t regret it.”
“What if she had fallen and hit her head, or the cut in her mouth became infected? What if, by some fluke your next punch permanently injured her or even killed her? You can’t tell me you wouldn’t care. I know you. You’re a good, compassionate person, and I don’t want her to take that from you.”
Damn. It’s hard to stay mad at him when he says such sweet things.
“Although, I didn’t suspect you have such a temper,” he says with a smirk.
“There’s always a line you can’t cross, and she stomped on it.”
“She did. You’re right.” His fingers close over mine. “Are we good now?” He gazes at me with that open, honest face, and I suddenly find my feet interesting.
“You yelled at me,” I mutter.
“Oh, honey.” His arm slides around me and I’m pulled into his warm embrace. “I’m sorry. I wanted to stop you and separate you from her before things got worse. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”
I tighten my arms around him. I can’t stay mad at Joseph. He’s the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. There isn’t a drop of hostility in him. “I’m sorry I was hateful to you. You didn’t deserve it. You’re always so good to me, to all of us.”
Airen materializes, grinning at us. “Good, now that’s settled, what are we going to do about her house?”
“One problem at a time, buddy.”
“There’s my sexy little brawler.” Airen pulls me into his lap, kissing me.
“Don’t encourage her, you savage.”
* * * *
Airen hasn’t been working on Mandy’s house since our fight. I know he doesn’t want to be around her, but Joseph needs his help. The only two people who are speaking to her at all are Sara and Joseph. Jayla despises her as bad as I do, and Carson has never really given her the time of day. I’m extremely proud of my son’s instincts.
“She’s asking to take a shower here,” Joseph casually remarks at lunch.
“Did you tell her to go fuck herself?” Airen asks, equally calm.
“Airen!” I exclaim, trying to suppress a grin even though Jayla and Carson are grinning at each other. I’m certainly not ready to forgive her for the shit she pulled at the trailer, especially since she hasn’t even apologized.
Still, I don’t want Mandy to think she has affected me to the point that being in her presence is too distressing. Besides, she knows I won’t hesitate to widen the gap in her teeth if she tries anything. I also want Sara to be comfortable staying here, and I know she feels caught in the middle.
“Just let her come back and stay until her house is done,” I suggest. They all look at me as if I’ve sprouted mushrooms from my forehead.
“Excuse me?” Airen asks.
“Just make it clear to her if she tries anything with you, she’ll be out for good.”
Joseph asks the kids to help load the truck so Airen and I are left alone.
“Are you planning on doing something to her?” he asks.
Christ, punch someone once and they never let you live it down. “Of course not.”
“Why would you want her back here?”
“I don’t, but this animosity between us is causing problems. Joseph is running messages back and forth, poor Sara doesn’t know where she fits in, and...” I trail off, and he gazes at me expectantly. “I feel like she got the best of me. She thinks I’m worried about you being near her, and I’m not. I want to make it clear she can’t get between us. Besides, Joseph needs your help to finish the house, and it’s not fair to stick him with all the work.” His stare makes me feel self conscious. “If you don’t want her back here, believe me, I understand.”
He shakes his head in amazement. “If you can be the better person, so can I, but what makes you think she won’t try something again?”
“She might, but I trust you to deal with her and to be honest with me about it.”
He gazes at me intently before giving me one of his long, slow kisses that always make me tingle from top to bottom.
“And then I’ll smash her face in,” I finish, smiling sweetly at him.
“I’ll hold her still for you, darlin’.”
I answer the same questions from Joseph, and he nearly crushes me in a bear hug. “This is the Abby I know and love. If she says or does anything to upset you, please come to me.”
“Before or after I increase her resemblance to a jack o lantern?”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “I’m sure she’ll behave now that she’s terrified of you.”
“I can’t tell.”
“Trust me, honey. I promise I’ll get her house finished as quickly as possible.”
Mandy returns that evening with Joseph, laughing and chatting as though nothing out of the ordinary occurred. After she showers and we all have dinner, Airen demands she meet them outside to “discuss a few things”.
She regards him suspiciously before forcing a smile. “Sure.”
Joseph follows them out, and I peek out the window to see where they’re headed. They sit on the porch outside Joseph’s room, which means I can see them from my room through the open window, an opportunity I can’t resist.
Airen begins, “You should know the only reason we invited you back here is because Abby suggested it.” Joseph nods in agreement.
Mandy crosses her arms. “Y’all always do everythin’ Abby wants? She’s got ya wrapped around her little finger. I don’t understand it.”
“I believe the phrase you’re looking for is thank you,” Joseph snaps.
“Abby may be able to let bygones be bygones, but I’m not that charitable. If you try any more shit like you did in the trailer…” Airen threatens.
“I won’t,” she interjects. “Ya just looked so sexy standing there I got carried away.” She beams at him. Suddenly, I’m picturing her at the bottom of the dry well, begging for rescue.
“Stop it! I don’t know how to make this any clearer. I don’t want you. I love Abby, and if you keep flirting with me and antagonizing her, you’re gone. You’ll be on your own.”
Listening to them, I’m grinning from ear to ear.
“No matter what Abby wants,” adds Joseph. “She’s too soft-hearted sometimes and right now she’s concerned about Sara’s welfare. That’s the main reason you’re here.”
She looks mutinous. “I won’t bother you or Abby,” she promises petulantly.
“Good, I’m going to unload the truck,” Airen announces, and his footsteps fade as he walks away.
“I really don’t understand what you two see in her. She’s not even pretty,” Mandy mumbles.
“Abby is a beautiful human being. She’s a joy to be around, compassionate, and she puts others ahead of herself. You could learn a lot from her,” he snaps.
Oh! I’m so caught up in Joseph’s words I don’t notice he’s
walking toward my room until it’s too late.
“But apparently she has a sneaky side,” he scolds, when he catches me listening. He tries to look disapproving, but can’t quite manage it.
I give him a sheepish smile and shrug before throwing my arms around him. “I’m not half the person you are, Joseph. I don’t know what we’d do without you. You’re so kind, good-hearted, and smart. You don’t get enough credit for everything you do for us.”
“Hey, you saved my life and rescued my son. I’ll never forget that,” he replies, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Don’t cry! You’ll get me going. I’ve never cried as much in my life as I have since I met you guys.”
Mandy is sickeningly sweet to me the rest of the day, but I can see the look of resentment beneath her phony smile. A look of scorn darkens her face whenever Sara talks to me. She must be berating her once they’re alone, and I feel sorry for her. However, it gives me an idea.
Walker spent two weeks driving us crazy with his last birthday present, a handheld karaoke machine that also works as a recorder. He recorded us constantly, interviewed us, and pleaded until we gave in and sang. He left it with me when the batteries died and eventually forgot about it. I replace the batteries and flip the switch to voice activate. Now it’ll only kick on when someone is talking or making noise.
I double check to be sure everyone is out of the house before creeping into Mandy and Sara’s room. Sara shouldn’t have to live with this bitch. Sara’s side of the room is neat and clean, her bed is made with light blue sheets, and a stuffed cow rests on her pillow. The walls surrounding her bed are pasted with pictures of her with her parents, a pretty red headed lady and a tall blond man, both smiling. Another shows Airen, Carson, and Walker coming back from the lake with fishing poles propped on their shoulders. Beside it is a shot of Jayla and me rolling out dough to make noodles, covered in flour.
I’ve decided she’s staying with us. I’ll dig my heels in on this one. I hide the recorder under Mandy’s bed, back against the wall where it won’t be seen. It’s buried behind all the clothes and junk covering her side of the room. My plan is to leave it record overnight and retrieve it when they leave for Mandy’s house tomorrow. After Airen and Joseph’s conversation with her today, I have a feeling she’ll have plenty to say after we all go to bed. Feeling lighter, I head to the kitchen to grab a snack.
