Page 45 of Snow Going Back

Snatching up the steaming kettle, Aubrey moved closer to Kate with a manic look. Kate darted backwards, startled, and held up her hands defensively.

‘Hey!Whoa,what thehellare you doing?’ she demanded.

Aubrey brandished the boiling-hot stainless-steel kettle like a weapon and backed Kate into the corner of the room. Her teeth clenched, and her lips curled back.

‘I did not pander to that woman forthree whole yearsto walk away now with nothing,’ she growled.

‘Aubrey,stopthis. This iscrazy,’ Kate pleaded, genuinely afraid now. ‘I’ve never said you’d walk away with nothing. All I said was that I’m in the process of working things out. Nothing has been decided.’

Aubrey let out a sharp laugh. ‘Oh, but youdid, Kate, when you told me you’d be taking advice from Cora’s littlepaper pusher. That spiteful little thinghatesme, just because I was actuallyrelatedto Cora andshewasn’t. She’ll make sure to steer youanywherebut me, with allsortsof lies that are really just a cover for herjealousy. And I can’t have that. Ineedthis moneyand so does Gram. Soget to it, or I will burn that pretty little face of yours so bad you’ll never look the same again.’

Kate’s eyes flew fearfully to the kettle as she took in the threat. Was Aubrey really that crazy? How had things flipped so drastically? Kate was right in the corner now, with no way out, as Aubrey loomed over her.

‘Well?’ Aubrey suddenly roared. ‘What’ll it be, Kate? You gonna make up the papers, or am I going to burn your face off?’

‘She don’t bluff, child,’ Evelyn threw in with a nasty smile. ‘So I’d choose wisely.’

‘You’recrazy,’ Kate breathed.

‘You’re not the first to call me that,’ Aubrey replied. ‘And you’ll doubtful be the last. Now,make your damn choice!’ She leered in. ‘Let’s see if we can’t persuade you, huh? Test it out on your arm first.’

‘No! Aubrey,stopthis!’ Kate begged.

‘Gimmeyour arm.’ Aubrey lurched forward and grabbed her arm viciously. Kate yelped and tried to pull away, but there was nowhere left to go. ‘Let’s see this pale English skin of yoursburn.’

Kate squeezed her eyes closed, her heart thudding hard and the internal roar of blind panic filling her head until it was all she could hear.

A deep voice suddenly boomed through the room. ‘What the hell are you doing?’

Aubrey’s vicious grip suddenly ripped away from her arm, and she opened her eyes to see Sam flinging the woman across the room towards Evelyn with one hand as he cast the kettle across the floor with the other. Boiling water splashed out everywhere as Aubrey collided with her grandmother, and fear briefly flickered across her face. She quickly straightened, watching Sam warily as she smoothed her hair.

‘Sam—’ she began, but he cut her straight off.

‘Get out of my house!’ he bellowed. ‘Now!’

Evelyn backed away from Aubrey and was now feigning shock. ‘Thankgoodnessyou arrived, Sam,’ she simpered. ‘I was just?—’

‘Bothof you,’ he shouted at her. ‘Get outand don’t youevercome back here. I find you threatening Kate like that again,so help me God…’

‘OK, OK!’ Evelyn raised her hands in surrender and turned to join Aubrey, who was now waiting for her in the hall, shooting evils at Sam.

‘You don’t know what she’sdone,’ Aubrey hissed.

‘I don’tneedto,’ he shot back furiously. ‘If it’s pissedyouoff, that’s enough to know she’s on the right track. Nowget outbefore I throw you out myself!’

Sam marched a few paces towards them, and they quickly scuttled out of the house, slamming the door behind them. Sam’s torso sharply rose and fell a few times as he stared after them, then he stepped back and forced a couple of deep calming breaths before turning back towards Kate.

Kate stood frozen in the corner, her fists tight against her chest.

‘Are you OK?’ Sam asked, genuine worry in both his tone and eyes.

Kate wetted her lips and then tried to clear her throat. She nodded slightly, her gaze flickering past him to the hallway.

‘Yes,’ she said in not much more than a whisper. ‘Yes, I’m OK.’

She moved forward off the wall and lowered her arms shakily as Sam moved towards her, looking her over.

‘Here, let me see that.’ His voice was surprisingly gentle now, and she instinctively wanted to comply, but she frowned, not understanding. ‘Your arm,’ he clarified.

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