Donut Leave Me (One of the Boys) by Teresa Crumpton

Author:Teresa Crumpton [Crumpton, Teresa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Teresa Crumpton
Published: 2018-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Ella

Aunt Piper is driving me crazy. I swear, if she doesn't stop being a witch to Daddy, I’m going to scream. The routine she wants me to keep was Mom’s. It’s not Daddy's, and I need to be on Daddy's routine. I hope she goes home to Houston soon.

That is a thought I never thought I’d have. I hope that doesn't make me a bad person. Until this week, I hadn't realized the differences between Aunt Piper and her brother and sister. Sure she’d said they were very different, but I don't think I wanted to believe it. After the episode in the kitchen, and what she's been saying to Nonna and Gramps... yeah, I can see it. Thankfully, they’re trying to shut her up.

Keeping my head down, I shift in the booth, pretending to focus on my homework so the adults around me don't realize my attention is mostly on their conversation.

“He has no right to change the way Hallie and I raised her. She needs to stick to what she knows,” Aunt Piper whines between sips of her wine.

“You listen to me, young lady,” Nonna fusses at her. “You kept a huge secret from this family. I understand why Hallie wanted to spend all the time she had with Ella. But the fact remains that you didn't try to talk Hallie out of that crazy plan, so Ella would already know her other family when something happened to Hallie. And that was selfish.” Nonna’s expression is pained as she chastises Aunt Piper.

“Mom, she needs--”

“Enough, Piper!” Gramps cuts in. “You will not disrespect this family, nor will you keep up this bitchfest in front of Ella. She's been through enough this week. Act your age.”

At Gramps’ words, Aunt Piper finally shuts up, and I’m left in shock. Aunt Piper sulks from across the table, and I force my mouth to stay closed even though my jaw wants to drop open. I feel like the old cartoons Mom watched with me where the character’s mouth dropped open and their eyes bugged out. In all my seven years, I don’t think I’ve ever had this reaction to something someone has said. Have I ever had this reaction?

Movement at the booth next to us catches my attention. One of the voices sounds familiar. Wanting to see if I recognize the person it's attached to, I glance up just in time to see Jax’s profile as she takes her seat. For some reason, seeing Jax makes me antsy. I want to slide under the table and go over to her. Besides Daddy, Jax is the only other person I feel completely comfortable with. Even now with Aunt Piper, I’m not fully at ease like I used to be. Shouldn't I feel more comfortable with Aunt Piper than Daddy or Jax?

Aunt Nessa stops by our booth shortly, and after our outing with Aunt Calla this afternoon, I don't get why Aunt Piper doesn't get along with her. She’s funny and smart, and Aunt Nessa only wants to protect me and Daddy.

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