Page 66 of Burned

Just then, the phone rang which seemed to galvanize Sadie into action. She rolled off the bed and walked to her closet. She grabbed a thick terry cloth robe and threw it over her body as she walked to thephoneat her bedside.

“Hello?”

Whoever it was on the other end of the line, spoke and Sadie seemed to lose all color.

Rhys stiffened. Who was it?

Sadie nodded and said yes a few times and then the call was over.

“Who was that, Sadie?”

“D.C. General Hospital.”

He frowned. “Why are they calling you?”

“My mother…I mean Jackie. She’s dead.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Ding dong, the bitch is dead,” Daisy smirked as she watched the gravediggers shovel dirt over Jackie’s casket. Sadie flinched at the cold tone of her sister’s voice. She didn’t blame her for feeling the way she did, after all, Jackie had caused them all a great deal of emotional pain.

They’d learned that Jackie had been jumped by Terrell’s estranged wife and her friends because Jackie had been messing with Terrell. Apparently, they’d beaten her so bad that she needed to be hospitalized. Unbeknownst to Jackie’s oncologist, Jackie had an undiagnosed blood clot. The beating had caused it to travel to her heart which resulted in a massive heart attack. At the end of the day, it was Jackie’s life choices that had gotten killed and not the cancer.

The sad part was, instead of assault, Keisha and her girls were going down for murder. Malia would grow up without her mother. It was tragic. Sadie hoped Terrell stepped up to be a good father to his daughter.

Sadie figured the only reason her sisters had come for the funeral was the same reason she had: to make sure Jackie was really dead. To know that the monster who had called herself mother was finally defeated and not coming back. Sadie was sandwiched by her sisters. The only other people who had attended the ceremony was Aunt Joyce and Uncle Clinton. They had left shortly after the ceremony but the sisters had stuck around. They each wanted to see Jackie’s casket completely covered in Earth.

Her sisters had the money to afford the top of a line casket with all the bells and whistles, but they’d all agreed on the cheapest box available, the kind the worms would be able to eat through within a year. Where Jackie was going, it didn’t matter if she went out in style or not.

“I know how you feel, Daisy, but is this an appropriate venue for that?” Sadie asked unable to take her eyes off the coffin as it disappeared under the dirt.

Daisy rolled her eyes. “I don’t care whether if it’s appropriate or not. I wish I had a full bladder because I’d hike up my dress and piss on that bitch’s grave.”

“Amen.” Lily nodded in agreement.

Only Rose remained silent to their older sisters’ vehemence. Sadie couldn’t blame them though. Jackie had caused them all so much pain and misery, it was hard not to be bitter.

When the gravediggers were finished, the four of them stared at the freshly packed mound for several minutes before moving on. Rose wrapped her arm around Sadie’s shoulders. “Let’s go.”

When the sisters turned their backs to the grave they knew they’d never visit again. They didn’t even purchase a headstone. As her sisters headed to the car, Sadie halted to see Rhys standing several feet away, watching them. When she’d learned of Jackie’s death, he’d offered to come with her, but Sadie had told him that she’d be with her sisters and didn’t need him.

“What?” Rose asked.”

Sadie dipped her head in Rhys’s direction. Three sets of eyes looked in his direction.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Lily asked.

“I hope he didn’t bring the demon spawn with him.” Daisy pursed her lips.

“He appears to be alone. Obviously, the guy wants to talk to you,” Rose chimed in.

“So not cool of him to show up.” Daisy shook her head as Rhys approached.

Sadie could only stare as he got closer. Daisy and Lily stepped in front of her.

“What are you doing here? Didn’t Sadie already tell you, you’re not welcome here?” Lily demanded.

Rhys held up his hands. “Look, I don’t want any trouble, but if Sadie doesn’t want to speak to me, I believe she’s capable of telling me to go away herself.”

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