“She attacked me. I was telling her that I was sorry about what happened.”
“That’s not what you fucking said you fucking bitch!” Gabrielle yells as someone puts her hands behind her back, holding her away from me.
“I didn’t do anything to you. All I asked you was how do you like waiting tables. Because it looks really stressful, and then you went berserk on me.”
I watch with glee as Gabrielle’s eyes go so wide they almost drop out of her skull. She turns to look at Lincoln, who looks at her.
Trying to struggle out of the guy’s grasp that’s holding her, Gabrielle screams like a maniac:
“Get off me! You liar you fucking liar!”
“Even if I did say something to offend you, why would you attack me like this? I didn’t touch you, I didn't doanythingto you,” I start bawling.
There’s so much talking going on, and then there are cop lights, and then it’s a big deal, and oh the glory of it. I just bask in it.
Because I know what will follow once they find out who Gabrielle is.
Once they find out she’s the bitter ex-wife of Lincoln…
and since everyone wants Lincoln and me together…
They’re all going to have a feedingfrenzywith Gabrielle.
Bitch should have left well enough alone.
-??-
Chapter 30
Gabrielle's POV
14 years ago
“Mommy, you're going to work again? You barely broke your fever this morning.”
“Gabina. Do you forget that I'm the parent? You're the child.”
“That doesn't mean that I shouldn't take care of you as well.” My voice is small.
My mom kneels, hugging me with tenderness before rising to her shaky legs and assuring me. Her face looks haggard and tired. Daddy moves toward her, putting his arm around her.
They hold each other for a long while, whispering something in each other's ears.
“Baby please…” Daddy whispers, but his shaky words trail off into the vocal veil beyond what my ears can access.
…
…
(…Current day…)
People always talk about losing someone as if it happens all at once, like there’s a before and an after.
But for me, it didn’t happen in one moment. It happened piece by piece.
Every shift she dragged herself into. Every time I watched her cough so hard that she had to hold onto the counter. Every time she told me she was “fine” when I could see the red veins in her eyes bursting from the strain. It was like the universe took her from me slowly, so that by the time she actually died, I was already half grieving her.
Kim Washington.
