Page 26 of Christmas With the Convict

Many things happen at once.

Wendy throws herself in front of me and at the same time, her father’s finger moves over the trigger. Somewhere in the trees, a group of birds fly from their hiding place.

The shot echoes like ghosts in the woods.

I’ve got the gun by the front grip, pointed straight up in the air. Richard is on his back looking up at me as if the only logical thing that happens next is I turn on the gun on him.

I throw it into the snow and help Wendy up.

“Are you alright?”

“You see!?” Richard wails, pointing his finger at me. “He attacked me! He’sviolent!”

Wendy growls like a wild animal and turns on him. “You tried to fucking shoot him!”

I hold her by the waist as she tries to claw at her father.

The others have stepped in now. Her cousin has the gun, stepping back and keeping it pointed away from everyone. Rick and Wendy’s brother-in-law help Richard up, pressing him toward the house.

“Leave!” Richard roars. “I’ll have the sheriff here in ten fucking minutes if you don’t leave. NOW! I’ve got your keys, Wendy! You’re not going anywhere! You hear me!? You’re staying right fucking here!” His hoarse, cracking voice fades as they get him inside.

Wendy is weeping, screaming, desperately trying to lunge forward and rip her father’s head off. I pull her into a hug, holding her tightly and soaking up her tears.

“He’s crazy,” she sobs. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re not leaving.”

“Wendy—“

“No. No. It’s not fair!”

“Wendy.” I grab her face and hold her gaze. “He’ll call his friends. They’ll come, and there’s nothing I can do or say to get them on my side.”

“I’ll vouch for you…”

“It won’t matter.”

“The others will vouch for you!”

I shake my head. “They won’t. And it wouldn’t matter.”

Uncle Rick steps up behind Wendy. He shrugs as if to sayI’m sorrybefore nodding at me.

I close my eyes and press my head against hers. “I have to go.”

“I’m coming with you.”

Rick takes her by the shoulders.

“No,” I say. “You have to stay, Wendy.”

“I can’t. I can’t,” she pleads and holds onto me. “I want to be with you.”

I pull her in for one last hug and whisper in her ear. “We’ll be together, I promise. Read my journal. Read it, please. Give things time to cool down. Read it…”

She kisses my lips.

It lasts so long that I can’t breathe. I don’t want to breathe…

Finally, she wrenches herself away, storming off into the house.

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