Hanover Mill was awesome.
And it was owned by an older couple who started parties for teens as a way for them to have a good time, but be watched, and they made sure things were safe.
On the party nights, a few uniformed officers were also there to supervise.
My friends and I found ourselves there more times than not during high school.
“Tonight is family game night. I can’t. Sorry.”
I peeked my head into her room and winced when her gaze snapped to mine. Softly, I whispered, “Didn’t mean to eavesdrop. If you want to go, you should go. As long as you have fun and are safe.”
She spoke to Crys, “Hang on a sec, okay?”
Then she dropped her phone and said, “You know about Hanover Mill?”
I smiled and nodded, then I shared with her my thoughts from only a moment ago.
She was excited as she got dressed, and I smiled at her.
“Have a good time. Bax is there tonight to supervise. He will bring you home. Okay?”
While she had gotten dressed, I had called him for a favor.
He had been happy to do it.
***
“Where’s Madalyn?” Cole asked.
I looked at him, then at Bronson, who furrowed his brows.
“There’s a party at Hanover Mill tonight. I told her she should go.” I said with a smile.
Bronson and Cole were silent.
Silent in a way that had me shifting my feet.
And then in a low tone that seemed to come from the very depths of his soul, where his anger and rage resided, “Come again?”
“I told her she should go,” I told him in a soft tone.
And what happened next... it was something I never thought I would ever see from Bronson.
He grabbed the glass of water and threw it so hard into the wall that the glass shattered on impact.
I jumped.
Cole winced and gave me andI’m really sorrylook.
“Who in the hell do you think you are to tell my daughter what she can and cannot do?” he roared.
“I....” I tried to speak.
“It’s bad enough you taught her how to use tampons, without speaking to me about it first. Pads are safer formydaughter.” I winced when he emphasized the wordmy.
“If you’ll let me...” I again tried to speak.
But he brought up his hand to silence me, “A lot of the time, I don’t say shit because you're right. But this... where the fuck do you get off?”
