Cache a Predator by Michelle Weidenbenner

Author:Michelle Weidenbenner [Weidenbenner, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Random Publishing, LLC
Published: 2014-01-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Brett and Clay turned to leave the chapel but stopped short when a small voice called out from the back of the church. “Are you happy now?” Ali’s mother, Mrs. Mable Greer, stood in the doorway, glaring at Brett.

Give me a break, crazy woman. What was she talking about? His temper soared at the sight of her—big dirty T-shirt, polyester pants spread too thin across her dimpled pear-like bottom, and curlers dangling from her thinning hair.

Despite her short frame, Mable’s love for control could dominate the largest room. Her presence suffocated him. She loved making him feel inferior, questioning his motives, telling him how worthless he was. But what was she saying now? No, he wasn’t happy. Especially seeing her. She was the last person he wanted to talk to.

She shuffled double-time up to the front of the church, tears streaming down her face, her nose bulbous and red. Her voice sounded higher pitched than usual, as if she was on the verge of hysteria. “Ali could die! This is all your fault. She’s really out of your life now, isn’t she?”

Brett kept his voice low. “What are you talking about? I didn’t do this to her. I never wanted her out of my life this way.”

She slammed her fist into his chest. “This never would have happened if you hadn’t divorced her. She’d still be at home, safe.”

Brett crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you insane? Ali’s self-destruction started way before I divorced her.” Brett started to turn away, but stopped, years of pent-up anger spilling over. “I gave Ali every chance to get it together. Did she tell you that she’s the reason Quinn is in foster care right now?”

Mrs. Greer’s mouth dropped open.

Brett had turned to go, Clay at his side, but stopped and turned to the lady. “Yeah, that’s right. CPS took her away because Quinn was found wandering the streets in her pajamas a block from home. Guess where Ali was? At home hungover, asleep on the sofa.”

The old lady put her hand across her heart melodramatically and reached for a pew. She sat down, fanning herself.

“She didn’t tell you that, did she?” Brett asked.

Clay touched Brett’s arm, but Brett flung it off. He was tired of taking the blame for Ali’s behavior, and he didn’t care about Mrs. Greer’s theatrics. He’d seen her antics before, and tonight he was too tired to care about her loss. His voice boomed off the walls of the small chapel. “Since when do you give a care anyway? If you want to go throwing stones, maybe you should pitch one at yourself. If you hadn’t left your boyfriends home alone with Ali to abuse her, maybe she wouldn’t have been so messed up!”

Mrs. Greer shriveled against the pew, throwing the back of her hand up to her forehead.

Clay pressed his arm against Brett’s chest. “Maybe you two should take a deep breath. Obviously you both care for Ali.”

Brett threw his arms up in the air. “I’m done.

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