Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41351 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41351 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Riley froze. She remembered having brunch with Ethan a few days ago and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. Now she knew why and it occurred to her why Raine had brought the topic of Ethan up in the first place. There were times when she really thought Raine hated her and this one of those times. “Seriously Raine? This is what you wanted? To embarrass me?”
“Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” Sheila screamed.
“Something is wrong with Nana,” Riley heard Talia whisper to Karsyn.
Riley glared at Raine. “I suggest you take your kids out of the room because they don’t need to hear this.”
“I don’t have to do anything.”
“Unless you want them to see me kick your behind, you have ten seconds.”
“And when she’s finished, it’s my turn.” Rachel seconded. By now Eli returned to the dining room coat in hand. She took the car keys from her pocket, held them out in the direction of the door and pressed the unlock button. “Go wait out in the car for me. I won’t be long. You can play your handheld while you wait.”
“Okay Mom.” The little boy didn’t hesitate, obviously glad to get away from the melee that was about to ensue.
Raine ushered her children out of the living room. The next thing Riley heard was the television being turned up loud enough for it to be heard in the dining room, probably to drown out the arguing.
“I asked you a question, young lady.” Sheila’s crazed gaze was still trained on Riley.
She shook her head. “Mom, you’re not yourself tonight and I’m not going to talk to you when you’re like this.”
Without warning her mother was across the room and she heard the loud smack before she felt the painful sting on her cheek. Riley’s eyes welled with tears. Instinct told Riley to fight back, but this was her mother and in her twenty-eight years, her mother had never laid a hand on her.
Rachel physically restrained their mother to keep her from hitting Riley again. “Mom! Stop it. You’re not well.”
“Let me go dammit. After all I’ve done! I warned you about him. I made sure you two wouldn’t get back together because I knew he would hurt you again and this is how you repay me?” her mother screamed.
Riley was numb. She could barely process what her mother was saying because it was painful to watch the very heartbreaking meltdown of her mother who was intelligent, beautiful and most times very loving.
“I tore up that ticket. He expected you to go gallivanting across the country as if that would make up for it. You’re better off without him. You don’t need him. He’s poison. They’re all poison. Raine’s men…always coming to me afterwards crying…dirty dogs! All of them! I gave him the best years of my life. He took everything from me and now he’s leaving me for some bitch! He’ll leave her too because he’s no damn good!” Sheila wailed and slid to the floor. Her mother was completely unhinged as she sobbed uncontrollably. There were several thoughts mixed in that rant but something in there pertained to her and Ethan.
Riley would think about it later, but now she needed to make sure her mother was all right.
Raine returned to the room, her eyes tear-filled. “I never meant for this to happen.”
Rachel glared at her. “You never do. How about you help us get Mom to bed. I know she takes pills for anxiety so Riley, if you can get them for me and a glass of water. Raine you get Mom to bed. I need to go get Eli. Looks like I’ll have to stick around a bit longer. I’ll be back in to help you.”
For once Raine didn’t have anything negative to say instead she nodded her head and assisted in getting their still crying mother to her feet. Once Riley and Raine delivered their mother to her bedroom, Riley went in search of her mother’s medication.
By the time she’d returned with the pills and something to swallow them down with, her mother had calmed down a bit but tears still trailed freely down her cheeks. When Rachel joined them, they coaxed Sheila into taking the pills, undressed her and put her in a pair of pajama before tucking her in. All the while their mother mumbled about the evils of men.
Once Sheila had fallen asleep, the three sisters went downstairs to check on the children. Thankfully they all seemed engrossed in their television show. Rachel signaled for Riley and Raine to follow her in the kitchen and once they were inside, glared at Raine. “What the hell is your problem? Why did you feel the need to start a fight when you know Mom was already out of sorts?”
Raine crossed her arms across her chest defensively. “I didn’t know she would snap like that. Besides, it’s Riley’s fault for taking up with that jackass of an ex of hers.”