Voyage of the Defiance by S.E. Smith

Author:S.E. Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult
Publisher: S.E. Smith
Published: 2015-09-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

“No!” Henry growled, glaring at Makayla’s stubborn, bruised face. “You are not quitting. We’ll put you in another school.”

“No way, old man, I’m not going back, period,” she retorted, folding her arms across her chest. “Either I go back to Tampa or I drop out.”

“You can’t go back yet,” Henry snapped, running his hand through his hair. “Your mom isn’t ready. She needs more time.”

Makayla scowled at her grandfather. “You think I don’t know that?” She asked in a bitter voice. “When did you two start talking and agreeing with each other?”

Makayla was very much aware that her mom needed more time. Her conversation with her mom last night had been strained at best. Teresa had begged Makayla to try to understand, to try to be patient, to please give her a little more time. Makayla had finally lashed out at her mom, telling her that she had been more than patient! She was supposed to be the child, not her mom. Her mom was just being selfish and a rotten parent.

It was the first time that Makayla had ever talked to her mom that way. A part of her was horrified and yet another part just didn’t care anymore. She was tired of always trying to make their family work. She wanted…

Makayla turned her back to Henry and looked out the window. Breaker was out back barking at the squirrels running back and forth along the fence teasing him. She felt a little like the Akita right now, helpless and frustrated. In truth, she didn’t know what she wanted. She only knew she wanted to start running and never stop.

“You can’t be selfish now, Makayla,” Henry said. “This is your mom’s time.”

“It’s been her time since I was six,” Makayla retorted in a low voice filled with bitterness.

Her shoulders stiffened as a wave of hurt and denial swept through her. She knew her eyes reflected her anger. She had talked to Laura last night. She was going to go live with her and her mom for a little while, until she could get on her feet. She’d sleep on the couch. Laura said Tisha had quit her job at the Smoothie store, and she was pretty sure that she could get Makayla on, but she needed to be there within the next week, otherwise she couldn’t promise anything.

“Will you or won’t you take me back to Tampa?” Makayla asked in a husky voice, not turning around.

The silence in the room filled until she thought it would explode. She finally turned and stared at Henry, unaware of the hurt and betrayal reflected in her eyes. She swallowed when she saw the expression of resignation on his face.

“No, I won’t,” he said with a sigh. “And I won’t let you quit school. You can do this, Makayla. Just a few more months, that’s all I ask.”

Makayla shifted her eyes away from his. With a slight shake of her head, she walked past him out of the room. She glanced out the front window as she walked through the dining room.

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