The Picture by Stephanie Taylor

Author:Stephanie Taylor [Taylor, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 2nd edition
Publisher: Astraea Press
Published: 2015-06-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

He stood about four feet tall with green olives for eyes, an orange Sharpie for a nose and buttons curved into a smile. Nicholas let the snowman borrow an extra scarf, and when we were done, we stood back and surveyed our handiwork.

“I think he looks like you." I stepped forward, smoothed the scarf, and giggled.

Nicholas pretended to look insulted and pointed at the snowman's smile. “My teeth are not black, thank you very much.”

I conceded with a nod. “And you're eyes certainly aren't red.”

“Nope,” he shook his head, pressed his lips together, and folded his arms across his chest.

I smiled. I felt like I had a new lease on life that morning. I'd slept well, and not only that, Nicholas had made me feel beautiful last night. Nothing progressed past a few kisses, but it was enough. It was certainly more than I was ever given in the past. His show of respect in the way he touched me gave me an unexpected warmth throughout my body.

His eyes grew tender. “I wish Emily was here to do this with us. She would have loved to build a snowman.”

Anger rushed through me like boiling water, white-hot and unexpected. I hadn't realized until that point how much resentment I harbored toward him. Without fully considering what I was doing, I took a step forward and slapped him hard across the cheek. He reeled back, the shock evident on his face by his raised eyebrows and parted lips.

“What the-”

“How dare you want her back just so you can leave her again!” The warning in his widened legs and his step forward gave me the shot of adrenaline I needed. For once, the feeling empowered me.

“What are you talking about?” A vein throbbed in his temple as he shouted at me.

I braced myself, refusing to give in to the intimidation. “You were hardly ever around, Nicholas! And she worshiped you! She wanted to live with you! Jessica was always too drunk or too stoned to spend any time with her. She didn't understand why the second she got sick, her mother abandoned her. And you did the same thing!”

Nicholas chest puffed as he inhaled. “Don't you dare pretend you know anything about my relationship with her.”

My eyes rounded and then narrowed. “She told me everything. Every time you visited, every time you called. And it was pathetic, Nicholas. It really was. You were a pathetic excuse for a father.” I took another step forward so that we were nose to nose.

His fists balled and if I had been in a calmer state, I might have the good sense to be afraid of a man like him.

“I loved Emily.” His gritted teeth and flashing eyes angered me enough that I shoved at his chest. He stumbled a few steps but didn’t fall.

“If you loved her so much why didn't you stop being selfish and be with her? She was dying and she asked for you! She wanted you there! And you didn't even have the decency to come to the funeral!” I shoved again as hard as I could.

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