Page 96 of The Rescue

“You talk about Crystal like that again, and I’ll make you wish that you never stood foot in Crossmackie. And you don’t get the privilege to call me son.” I spit.

Crystal places a hand on my back as she stands next to me, and puffs up her chest to my dad. God, she’s a little firecracker. I can feel my mum shaking behind me, and I hate how much he scares her.

He smirks, and there’s nothing more I want to do than to punch that smug look off his face, but if I sink down to his low level then he’s won.

“You’ve finally grown some balls I see, you were always such a little sissy. Always crying for you mummy, and where was she? She didn’t even want you.”

“That’s not true!” My mum shouts from behind me.

“Shut up bitch, no one asked you!” My dad shouts back.

The slow rage I was feeling before is now uncontrollable and I want to get away from him as quickly as possible. His presence makes me feel sick, and the way he talks to women is making me want to choose violence, but I’m bigger and better than that. If I resort to violence then I’m exactly like him. Usually hearing those words would make me clam up and retreat into myself, but ever since Crystal has walked into my life and shown me my worth, they no longer affect me. Crystal’s hand tenses around mine, and I know the bulldog in her is about to come and bite, but for once it’s me who’s snapping first.

“STOP!” I shout at him, my voice carried with volume making Crystal and my mum jump. I rarely raise my voice, and I hate to think I’m scaring them.

“Your words mean nothing to me. You’re nothing to me. Now, get lost.” I point my chin the direction away from us.

He steps closer, and I don’t move, he doesn’t scare me anymore. He’s similar height to me but I’ve got him by a couple of inches. I don’t think he has the nerve to hit me, but this man has a temper and I don’t want to push him further. I’ve said all that I needed to say to him.

His cold eyes bore into me. “You’re gonna regret this,” he spits on the ground. “Susie, I will get my money,” he tries to peer around me to see my mum but I side step him.

I’m not backing down, I’ll stand here for as long as it takes. He finally backs away from us, and turns on his heel and storms off down the lane and disappears around the corner.

We all collectively let out a breath, and I turn to scan Crystal. She looks just as pissed off at the encounter. I run my hands over her shoulders, and look her over.

“I’m okay, Rab,” she gives me a reassuring smile.

I finally turn to my mum who looks pale and a little shaken, and she has every right to feel that way. Being hunted down by the person who was abusive to you must be terrifying.

“Are you okay mum?” I pull her to me.

She sighs into me, and she stops shaking.

“Aye, I didn’t even see him coming as I had my back turned. Crystal grabbed me in a second and pushed me behind her.”

She breaks the hug, and turns to Crystal and embraces her. Crystal looks stunned at the sudden affection from my mum, but she hugs her back, and smiles over her shoulder at me.

“Thanks, hen. You gave him a good talking to,” she smiled at Crystal.

“He deserves it, the pig.”

I silently laugh at my little firecracker.

“Are you okay?” My mum asks me.

“Aye, I’ve pictured what I would say to him if I ever saw him again, and I meant every word.”

“Well said in my opinion. I hope you don’t believe him. I always wanted you, even if I didn’t show it. Dropping you off at nan’s that day was the most painful day of my life. I never wanted to leave you, I felt like I had no choice. I didn’t want you to be around him any longer,” my mum runs her hand over my cheek.

I smile at her because deep down I’ve always known this, but it’s nice to hear her say it. I’m about to tell her that I believe her, but the moment is interrupted by my phone ringing in my suit pocket, I pull it out to see a few missed calls and texts from the group. Cam is currently calling, I swipe and answer the call.

“Hey, I know it’s a thing to be fashionably late to your own party but everyone has been here for a while. Where are you?” Cam talks over people chatting in the background.

“Aye, sorry. We’re on our way now. I’ll explain when we get there. See you in a sec.”

I end the call, and put it back in my pocket.

“We should get there, it sounds like the party is well under way.”

---