Love Ignited (Heels, Rhymes & Nursery Crimes Book 11) by C.A. King

Author:C.A. King [King, C.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Ember heaved a sigh of relief as hundreds of tiny droplets hit her hair, soaking it thoroughly. Perhaps the elements equally held the power of purification. A hot shower made her stronger, washing away worries and doubts. Maybe, that was what Karma was seeking in her visits to the church.

Steam filled the room, heat seeping into every pore of her skin. Her eyes rolled back, body relishing in the feel. Hundreds of cascading droplets were a million times better than being caught in a torrential downpour, albeit, both were equally enjoyable.

She delighted in every second, her body begging for a few minutes more in the warm massage. Those urges were denied, though. The dial turned easily in her hand, the water flow ceasing to a few lingering drips. If she loitered too long, the warmth would begin to chill. Icy showers weren’t as enjoyable. Goosebumps and shivers were things she never wanted to feel again. Even if such a feat was impossible, she could still keep their instances to a minimum.

Water pooled around her feet as she stood in front of the mirror, her own hazy image blurring behind a layer of fog. A towel wiped it away in a single streak, leaving behind a clear view of her true self in its wake. There was no escaping a reflection. It revealed all, including memories, and when faced with oneself, they were a hundred times more difficult to keep concealed.

Her eyes watered at the sight of her mother, head shaking in disapproval. Countless times she had been subjected to that same look.

‘Don’t let men walk all over you.’

‘Women aren’t stepping stones for a man’s greatness. They are the tools by which we survive.’

‘Be strong. Never let a man steal away your dignity.’

‘We do what we have to in order to survive.’

Ember grabbed the hair on the sides of her head. Her mother’s voice spewed out useless bits of advice, refusing to be silenced. Any moisture left on her sizzled. It wasn't the first instance in which a lifetime of suppressed rage was served up on a silver platter. The dish was bittersweet, but delicious just the same. Each swallow calmed the beast growling within.

Her hand lashed out, wiping the glossy surface one more time, but still unable to completely remove the parental face from her sight. Karma remained.

She hated her.

She loved her.

Doing both at the same time made her headache. Theoretically, grown children were unconditionally fond of their mothers. The two unreservedly doted on one another. At least, in most families, that was. Such a connection was absent from her life. Where the blame lay for it being missing, she wasn’t sure. After Phil was gone, the relationship with her mother steadily grew colder, more estranged. They lived together. They covered the other’s needs. But when it came down to it, their bond was merely an arrangement of convenience.

Guilt was the least useful emotion there was and yet as unavoidable as any other, maybe even more so. It was

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