Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Mom, you heard me screaming,” I plead. “Why would I have been screaming if I wanted this?”
My mom pauses for a second and then the hard look on her face softens.
“You’re a pretty girl, Amelia, and you like to show yourself off. It would be a strange man that didn’t find you attractive. Maybe you’re just naïve and didn’t know this would happen. This is my fault. I should have warned you what you were doing. You need to be more considerate of Dan’s feelings.”
“It’s not your fault, Vi,” Dan says quickly. “It’s hers. She’s been flirting with me ever since you two moved in here. I should have said something, but I didn’t want to hurt you.”
My mom shakes her head and sighs. “I know it’s been hard for you.”
“I love you, babe,” he says pathetically.
Mom nods. “I love you too, hon. Let’s just put this behind us, ok? Amelia, apologize to Dan, then you can go and start peeling the potatoes.”
I just stare at her, my jaw hanging open. This betrayal is too much. I almost can’t recognize my mom. Does she really want me to apologize to him knowing what he just tried to do to me? Well, maybe it’s ok with her, but I know I’m sure as hell NOT going to apologize to Dan.
“Amelia?” Mom prompts.
I stare at her defiantly.
“It’s ok, Vi,” Dan says sweetly. He puts his meaty hand on her shoulder, and she looks at him. “Give her some time to think about this. She’ll come around. Right, Amelia?”
I’m too shocked and distressed to say anything. I can’t bring myself to even look at Mom, but I shrug my shoulders. I want them out of my room, and I think this might be the only way to do it.
“Fine,” Mom says in a hard voice. “Stay in your room and take a moment to think about how you could have broken our little family up. And don’t come out until you’re ready to take responsibility for your actions and apologize to Dan.”
“And to your mom,” Dan adds. “You’ve caused her a lot of stress over these last few months, but you really outdid yourself this time.”
Mom leaves the room, and Dan follows her. On his best behavior now. He closes my door quietly behind him. I stare at the old wooden door.
I want nothing more than to lay on my bed face down and sob my heart out. How could my mom take his side? Turning a blind eye to his drinking and his temper is one thing, but this? He was going to rape me. Does she really think so little of me that she believes I tried to steal Dan from her? Even if I did flirt with him, which I would never do. Not just because he disgusts me, but also out of principle, how could she accept him back after this? She obviously doesn’t think much of Dan either. She obviously thinks he’s too weak to say no to anyone who flashes him a come-on.
I take a deep breath. No, I won’t give myself the luxury of wallowing in self-pity.
I have to get out of here. Right now. I don’t know where I’ll go or what I’ll do, but nothing can be as bad as this. I stand up and go to my tiny closet. I pull out a duffle bag and throw in some clothes and my makeup bag. Then I slide in my laptop and my cell phone charger. I move to the bedroom door and stand listening. I can hear Mom and Dan talking in the living room. If I’m quiet, I can get to the bathroom and back without them noticing.
I sneak to the bathroom and grab my toothbrush, half a tube of toothpaste, my deodorant, a razor and a bottle of shampoo. It’ll have to do. I sneak back to my bedroom and pull a brush through my hair. I toss it into the bag with some underwear and a couple sets of light clothing and zip it up.
Then I open the tiny secret drawer in my trinket box and fish out the small amount of money I’ve managed to save. I count it. I have a grand total of one hundred and twenty-two dollars and fifty-three cents. It’s not going to do much for me, but I’m going to have to make this work. I put the money in my pocket and straighten up. I pick up the duffle bag, take a deep breath and leave my bedroom for the last time. I make my way down the hallway to the kitchen. My mom hears me and looks up. She nudges Dan and they both sit looking at me. Dan is now bleary eyed and holding a bottle of rum. He takes a swig as he looks at me.