Webste

body," I said, looking Brody dead in the eye. "Even a dog knows not

rned the color

nee, and scrawled his name at the bottom of the divorce peti

"You want to die alone? You want to be a miserable, barren old

d been pressing on my chest for fi

clothes soaked through - but I br

oodstained towel to her lip, the corner o

"The moment you walk out that door, Brody will never spare you anothe

r," Brody bugged his eyes out and screamed, "I swear I wo

gnify it wi

tcase I'd packed long ago, slung my laptop bag over my sh

lder woman in a heavy wool coat stood on

ty

ict instructions to rest, and she was holding an insulate

p gash at my temple, the dried blood o

ent wide w

box crashed onto the doormat. "Oh my God! Wha

st my shoulder in

robe, leisurely sipping wine - and

to the house, the shock on her fa

n?" she whisper

whirled

woman doing in your house? Why

ep, looking exactly like a guilty child

one crazy! She attacked Destiny! She's been fooling around with some man at her des

dn't take in

ast him, looked at De

owed deeply to the woman who had alw

that day, "thank you for five years of kindness. But Brody h

perate to save face in front o

estiny and I are going to live like royalty! I'll b

AC

like a gunshot unde

back and delivered a full-f

it knocked him side

rint bloomed insta

ty Jean shrieked, her voice hoarse with rag

ing cheek, tears of sho

me in front

!" Betty Jean thundered, stepping forward and sla

AC

ho cleaned up after you, bedpan and all, when you couldn't move? Who paid off the city prosecutors when your drunk driving nearly la

and tears of humiliati

eria. "I was grateful to her, all right? But gratitude isn't love! Destiny i

were a complete stranger - a monster

est, breathing hard, and sho

en that woman destroys you again - and she will - don't call me. Don't knock on

took my trembling hand, and gently pressed

heek. "Go. Get far away from this family. You deserve a rea

weathered hand a gentle squeeze, and walked o