Quantum Leap - Random Measures by Ashley McConnell

Author:Ashley McConnell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-01T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Sitting at the dining room table, moving the silverware randomly back and forth and down and up, Bethica heard the crunch of gravel, saw beams of light stab through the front windows and probe the gauze curtains as Rimae’s station wagon pulled into the driveway. She sat unmoving, staring at the patterns in the grain of the maple table, listening to the sound of the engine being killed, the car door being opened. After a measurable pause the door slammed, and footsteps came up the walkway.

“Hey there, sweetie. Where’s Davey? Is that dinner?” Rimae dropped a large purse beside the sofa in the front room, went to the liquor cabinet, and fixed herself a drink. She took a long swallow, looked at the glass, and made a face. “You’d think this stuff would taste better, wouldn’t you?”

Bethica didn’t look up. “Davey ate already. He’s back in his room, looking at his Superman pictures.”

Rimae gave her an odd look at her tone and sauntered into the kitchen. She glanced into the frying pan. “Looks good.”

“It’s all gunked up together,” Bethica said. “I have to throw it out.”

Rimae sighed and sipped. “I’m just batting a thousand today, aren’t I?” she asked the ceiling. “Mother of the Year, that’s me. Late again.”

“It’s okay, Rimae.” Bethica got up and started rummaging in the cabinets for something to put the spaghetti sauce in.

“Well, did you eat, anyway?” Rimae asked.

She hesitated, glanced at the table with its betrayingly clean utensils. “Uh, I’m not really hungry.”

Rimae took a last swallow of her drink and looked at her through narrowed eyes. “You sure about that, honey? You look a little peaked.”

Bethica nodded, busying herself with the dishes.

Rimae sighed theatrically. “Well, okay. I’m too tired to argue about it. Besides, you’re putting on some weight. I don’t guess it’s going to hurt you to miss one meal.”

Bethica shook her head, agreeing, and went on scraping out the stainless steel frying pan. She’d gotten sick twice from the smell of frying meat. She was feeling nauseated again at the sight of the cooling sauce.

She couldn’t get sick now. Rimae would figure it out in a second, and then all hell would break loose.

She couldn’t keep it a secret forever. She needed to talk to Kevin, and she’d better do it soon. Maybe at the party tomorrow night; she could get him away from the guys, from Rita, long enough to talk to him. Tell him. Figure out what to do. He was a jerk, but he was smart. Besides, it was all his fault, really.

“Honey, I think I’m just going to go to bed, okay? I’m really beat.”

“Sure. G’night.”

Her foster mother’s hand brushed her hair, and she gave her a quick peck on the cheek and left her there, staring at the table.

It was always this way. Rimae worked ’til late, and then came home. If she didn’t go straight to bed she stayed up and did paperwork for the bar. She’d do the same thing tomorrow night, and Bethica would wait a half hour or so, go into Rimae’s purse and get the car keys.

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