Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“I see,” she said lamely.
“Anyway, I don’t think Rodney likes me and Mya that much.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, he smiles at us a lot around you, but when you’re not around, he treats us different.”
“Like how, baby?”
“When you’re not there, he looks at us like he wished we weren’t around and he doesn’t really talk to us.”
“I never knew. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I was afraid you’d get mad and I didn’t want to spoil things for you.”
“What if I were to tell you that Rodney and I aren’t getting married, after all?”
“You’re breaking up with him because of me?” He had a hopeful look in his eyes. She didn’t want DJ to get it into his head that he could wield this much power in her decisions, although he certainly did.
“No. It wasn’t because of you or your sister. I think I have been having second thoughts for a while now. To tell the truth, I don’t know if I’ll find someone like your father again. Maybe I was meant to be by myself for the rest of my life.” She sighed.
After a few moments, she said, “So you liked Mr. Collins?”
“Yeah! I think he’s great. He played video games with us and he let us stay up really late while telling us ghost stories. He’s a lot of fun, just like Da… He’s a lot of fun,” he finished with a frown.
Brandi knew what DJ had been going to say and it struck a chord. From the moment she’d meet him, she’d been trying to figure out why he seemed so familiar, and now it suddenly struck her. He reminded her of Damon. It obviously wasn’t his appearance, but there was something in the way he looked at her and his mannerisms. It was almost eerie when she thought about it. Could that be why she was so attracted to him? Whatever it was, she figured the sooner she could get him out of her system, the sooner she would be able to move on with her life.
“Mom?”
“Yes, baby?”
“You said that you would be alone for the rest of your life. That’s not true. You have me.” DJ threw his arms around her neck.
“And me, too.” Mya said from the doorway before running into the room to wrap her arms around them. Brandi should have known that her daughter would eavesdrop.
Her heart swelled with joy and pride for her two treasures.
Rodney walked to the house with an armful of toys and rang the doorbell.
“Rodney! How good to see you. We were wondering when you would be around again.” Mrs. Thornton opened the door wide to let him in. “I’m sure Tina will be glad to see you.”
He looked at the woman with a big smile. What a stupid woman she is. He’d been visiting the Thornton home for two years now and they still had no idea of the real reason. They thought it was because he actually gave a shit about their foster daughter. If he had his way, the little brat would be dead, too. Then at least things wouldn’t be so complicated.
“Would you like something to drink? I just made a fresh pitcher of lemonade.”
“That sounds nice. I would love a glass.”
He watched in disgust as the rotund woman walked to the kitchen, her flabby ass jiggling with each step. He wanted to throw up. Mrs. Thornton was no Brandi Evans. No one was as perfect as Brandi.
Jeff Thornton came out into the hallway. “Hey, Rodney, it’s good of you to come. Tina’s been making a lot of progress lately. She’s been talking a little more each day. The doctors say with a little more therapy, she’ll be functioning like most seven-year-olds.”
That’s exactly what Rodney didn’t want. “How nice,” he lied. “Do you think she remembers that night?” He tried to sound casual.
“That’s one thing she won’t talk about. Whenever her therapist brings it up, she goes into hysterics. He thinks she might remember what happened that night but that she refuses to talk about it.”
Good. Rodney intended to keep it that way. “Where is she now?”
“She’s in her room. Probably reading. It’s something else really. She’s so smart. The kid likes to read better than watching TV. I’ll have her come downstairs.”
“Please. I’m very eager to see her.” And to see how she reacts to me now that she seems to be getting better.
Jeff walked halfway up the staircase before calling Tina down.
The little girl appeared seconds later, bounding down the stairs two at a time until she saw Rodney. She froze. Her eyes widened as she looked at him.
Rodney looked over the little brat. She was a pale child with a mop of unruly brown hair. Her hazel eyes nearly took up her entire face and she was small for her age.
“Come down, Tina. Officer Mitchell came to see you. Look at all the toys he brought you.” Jeff gestured to the child to come off the stairs.