Mom watches me like a hawk. It makes the bacon I’d consumed twist violently in my stomach.
“It’s new,” I blurt out. “I’ll tell you if something comes of it.”
Not a lie. She’ll know if I start publicly dating her father.
Guilt threatens to swallow me whole. Addison opens her mouth like she might demand more details, but Owen curses at his phone screen. Then, he tears out of the kitchen.
“That motherfucker is outside taking pictures!”
It takes a second for my mind to catch up to his words. The silver sedan guy knows where we live? With panic clawing at my insides, I scramble out of my chair and rush after Owen. Mom and Rhett are by my side. By the time we reach the front door that’s been left open, Owen is halfway across the yard, bellowing at the stalker guy.
“Stay inside,” Rhett commands to us as he bolts after his dad.
Mom’s fingers fly over her phone as she calls someone. As soon as they answer, she starts hissing things to them. I’m too focused, frozen in fear, on the man parked at the curb out front, who I now know owns a gun.
“Cops are on the way,” Mom barks out to me before disappearing to finish her discussion.
The silver sedan slowly drives off, leaving a pissed-off Owen pacing the snow-covered sidewalk. Rhett says something to him and then grabs hold of his arm, urging him to go back inside so they don’t freeze their asses off with no coats.
“Christopher is sending someone,” Mom says as she reenters the living room, no longer on the phone. “I’ve gotta run, though.” Then, she walks over to my sister. “Let’s go, Penny.”
Owen and Rhett disappear down the hall, likely to his office. Mom already has Penny out and heading upstairs to grab her things. I follow after them. Once in her room, I lean against the doorframe as I watch Mom pack Penny’s backpack.
“Where are you going?”
Mom closes her eyes and her nostrils flare as if my question agitates her. “Must you question everything I do, Mei?”
Hurt prickles at my chest but I swallow down the emotion. “We’re a family. Normal families communicate.”
She snaps her head my way and scowls. “No need to throw a tantrum. I swear, sometimes it’s as if I have two toddlers instead of one.”
I cross my arms over my chest and huff. “Just because you don’t like or want to answer the questions doesn’t mean I’m childish for asking them.”
Penny whines at our raised voices, hugging her stuffed elephant to her chest.
“You have no idea of how hard I work to keep your life as unaffected as possible,” Mom hisses, flinging her hand up in frustration. “It’s called protecting the both of you and it requires sacrificingsomuch on my part.”
I gape at her, shaking my head. “What are you sacrificing? So far, it’s just me.”
Mom storms over to me and pops my cheek with her palm. Not hard enough to leave a mark, but like she used to when I was being a brat when younger and she needed to get my attention. This upsets Penny and she starts to cry.
“Do not ever doubt my love for you. It may not look cutesy and flamboyant like other families, but it’s there.” She then brings her palm to my face, gently stroking her thumb over my cheek. The unusual action hurts worse than the smack. “Let me be the mother, Mei.”
Penny cries out for me. I use the excuse to escape my mom’s closeness. After I scoop up my sister, and hug her to me, I notice Mom’s phone sitting on the bed. There’s a text notification from Christopher.
Christopher: We need to tell the truth before someone else does. It’s going to get messy and you know it.
Tell the truth about what?
Does he know why the silver sedan is following me?
This may not be the time, but I will find out what’s going on with Mom. She’s harboring secrets and I’m tired of being left in the dark. My safety is at risk. If she won’t protect me with her truth, I’ll uncover it and protect myself.
Now who’s the stalker?
I creep behind my mother’s vehicle, a few car-lengths back, curious as to where she’s going. I’m a little surprised, though, when she takes the route to Carol’s. It’s a Saturday, so Penny doesn’t need to be babysat. The only reason Mom could be wanting to go there is to see Christopher.
We need to tell the truth before someone else does. It’s going to get messy and you know it.
