Shadows of Home by Deborah Epperson

Author:Deborah Epperson [Epperson, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Write Montana Publishing
Published: 2017-04-13T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Royce pushed open his front door, flipped on the light, and stepped aside to let Elita enter first. She plopped down on the sofa and pulled off her shoes. On the trip home, Royce apologized repeatedly for his mother’s actions. Elita stared out the Jeep window, nodded her head now and then to indicate she was listening, but never said a word.

He closed the door. “Elita, honey, I really am—”

A jade-colored high-heel sailed through the air toward him. Royce ducked. The shoe bounced off the door and hit him in the middle of his back. “Damn, Elita, what was that for?”

She held up her other high heel. “If you don’t stop apologizing for your mother, I’m going to throw this one at you too.”

“I was just trying to say—”

Elita pulled back her arm.

“Okay, I get the message.” Royce rubbed his spine. “Want something to drink?”

“All I want right now is a shower.” Still holding one shoe, Elita headed for the bathroom.

Royce stepped in front of her. “Why aren’t you mad? I thought you’d be foaming at the mouth mad.”

“When they first locked me up, I was so angry I could’ve pulled Dorothea’s hair out.”

“So what happened?”

She placed her hand on his chest. “I realized it wasn’t all her fault.”

“The hell it wasn’t.” He grabbed her hand. “She knew you were driving the Mercedes.”

“Yes, and you knew she’d be upset if I drove the car she’d given you for your birthday”

Royce pulled back. “So you’re saying it’s my fault?”

“Not entirely.” Elita scrubbed a hand over her face. “When I got in the car, I saw Dorothea at the window of the hotel. I saw the angry look on her face and knew I should get out of the car and go get the keys to the Jeep. Instead, I gave her a huge, sarcastic smile and a big wave.” She leaned against the doorframe. “Basically, I threw down the gauntlet and your mother picked it up and slapped me silly with it.”

“This is all her doing, all her fault. Another one of the stupid games she likes to play with my life.” His hands balled into fist. “She had you arrested because she knew it’d hurt me.”

“Dorothea had me arrested because she hates my being with you.” Elita pushed her hair behind her ears. “She’s your mother and she thinks you deserve someone better than me.”

“There’s no one better than you.” He lowered his mouth near hers. “I love you, Elita.”

“I know.”

“Let’s get married tonight.” The words tumbled out of him.

“Get married tonight? You’re not serious.”

“You bet I’m serious. We could fly to Las Vegas and be married in a day or two at the most.”

She took a step back. “Why the rush?”

“What better way to get back at Mother? We could get married, take a few days off for a honeymoon, and then come back and announce to the world that we’re married.” He laughed. “Can you picture my mother’s face when she hears we’re man and wife?”

Elita grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at her.

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