Between Five and Six: A Green Bayou Extra by Rhonda Dennis

Author:Rhonda Dennis [Dennis, Rhonda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Green Bayou
Amazon: B00DZZGMI6
Published: 2013-07-16T05:00:00+00:00

Four

“Mom! You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago!” Beth said, pulling the door closed once she got into the car. “Are you okay? You’ve been crying. You never cry. Is it Dad? Did he find us?”

“Sort of, but not in the way you’re thinking. Let’s go home, and I’ll fill you in.” I pulled the car into traffic.

“Mom, you’re scaring me. Tell me now.”

“There’s nothing to be scared of. It’s just been a really long, emotional day for me. I ran into an old friend of mine whom I never expected to see again.”

“Male or female?” Beth asked curiously.

“Male,” I answered. Her eyes grew wide.

“You’ve never talked about life before Dad! Did you have a boyfriend? Was it him?”

“Beth.”

“Mom.”

I sighed. “Yes, he was my boyfriend at one time.”

“Is he nice? Is he cute? Is he available so you can date again? Can I meet him?”

“Slow down. What’s with the interrogation?”

“You never talk to me about those kinds of things. I want you to be happy mom, and His Royal Dryness wasn’t the man. Dad hurt you so many times; you need someone who will be nice to you.”

“You shouldn’t be worrying about such things,” I assured her. Damn, I’d subjected her to that horrible life. Here’s my fourteen year old worried about me finding a man who won’t beat me. Why didn’t I leave years ago? Why did I marry him in the first place? “I promise you, this man is nothing like Kyle.”

“Can I call him Kyle, too? I don’t like calling him Dad.”

I let out a nervous snort, and she looked at me curiously. “You don’t have to call him Dad.” She looked a little relieved and sank back into her seat. “Okay, we’re home. Tell me.”

“Let me change out of these clothes, and I’ll meet you on the swing around back.” Beth handed off her backpack to me and cheerfully went on her way, but my nerves got more and more frayed with each step I took. I changed into a pair of white shorts and a peacock blue top that made my tanned skin look even darker. After I pulled my long, brown hair into a knot on the top of my head, I slid into a pair of beaded sandals and finally made my way outside to join Beth. My heart nearly stopped when I opened the screen door to find her sitting on the swing with Bert.

“Mom! Chief Deputy Hebert came over to check on us. That’s nice, isn’t it?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows at me. She had no clue how much they looked alike sitting side by side.

“Yes, it’s very nice of him, I suppose. I wasn’t expecting you, Bert.”

“Bert?” Beth piped in. “You know him! He’s your friend, isn’t he? You know my mom from way back! I can’t believe I finally get to meet someone who knew her from the old days.”

“Old days!” I fussed.

“You know what I mean,” Beth said with a smile I hadn’t seen in ages.

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