“Gisele is just over stressed from work,” Mom defends.
“She won’t be for long,” Billy mutters.
Mom turns to him and glares. I’ve never seen that look before. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means, JoJo is getting a restraining order against her later today, and I’ve already notified the senior partners about her actions over the past few days.”
“How. Dare. You?” Mom yells as she stands up. “How dare you hurt Gisele?”
“Pam—” My dad doesn’t get to finish.
“My daughter has worked her tail off to get where she is. She’s won every case—”
“About that,” Billy interrupts. “She’s lost all but one of her cases.”
“Lies.” Mom slaps her hand down on the table. She’s now a shade of red I thought only possible in a box of crayons.
“Pamela.” My dad shouts. “Enough.”
“Fuck you, Stephen.”
I gasp. My dad gasps. And I think maybe Billy did too. Mom doesn’t cuss. Especially not at Dad. When Dad’s done glaring at Mom, he turns to me. “You do what you need to do. If I need to go with you to help get the restraining order, I will.” He turns to face Mom. “As for you”—he points at her—“we’re done.”
Mom’s mouth is opening and closing like a fish. “We’re done? What does that mean?”
“I’ve spent the better part of this marriage going along with you about Gisele. But no more. She needs help, Pam.”
Mom is beyond angry. I can tell by her steely eyes and gritted teeth. “Gisele is perfect.”
“Ha!” I shouldn’t have said it, but I did.
“Get out!” Mom screams at me. “Get the hell out of my house!”
Shocked but not surprised, I quickly stand up from the table, making my chair fall back onto the floor. Looking at my dad, I give him a small smile. Then, I turn to Billy. “Let’s go.”
As soon as we pass the threshold of the dining room, I hear my dad.
“For the record, this ismyhouse. I think you should go stay with your sister for a while.”
“What?” Mom’s voice has changed. It’s no longer merry and sweet. It’s demonic now. “Youneed to go.”
Dad chuckles. “Go stay with Gisele. I’m sure the two of you will have a grand ole time together.”
“You know what, asshole? I think I will.”
“Good. Go.” Dad isn’t letting up. I’m surprised. He’s never talked back to her. Ever.
My visit to my parents’ place was short, but not sweet. At least we got back to the city by three, which gave Billy and me enough time to see if the no-contact order had gotten approved. It had. “They’ll serve her as soon as today. This will be a temporary no-contact order. We’ll have to appear in court for a hearing for the permanent order.”
* * *
At four,I tell Billy, “Welp, I should probably hit the road.”
“What?” Billy says, startled. “Hit the road?”
I nod. “I’m having a girls’ night with Julie tonight.”
“You are?”
