Page 29 of Before the Storm

“It didn’t look like you were just drinking!”

Donnie twisted around to look at the bartender. Beer dripped off his nose. “Did you see what she did, Barney? Aren’t you going to call the cops?”

Barney rolled his eyes. “I don’t call the cops about domestic disputes.”

“She threw a beer in my face!”

Barney didn’t answer.

“I’m going to call her right now!” Josie blared. “I’m going to tell her what you did! And she’ll—”

Donnie blinked at her. “What is she going to do? Is she going to throw me out?”

He smiled because he didn’t think Tara would ever throw him out. He smiled because Tara looked away when he did anything wrong.

Josie had seen it over and over again.

Suddenly, Mike touched Josie’s shoulder gently. “Josie, I think we’d better get the bill and get going.”

Josie bit her tongue to keep from crying. She didn’t want Donnie to see how upset he made her.

“I never should have called you,” she rasped. “You don’t deserve Winnie!”

Donnie let out a laugh. “You don’t get to decide whether I parent my daughter or not.”

“You never would have known about her if it wasn’t for me!”

Mike tugged her away from Donnie, which outraged her. But she couldn’t find the words. Suddenly, she found herself in Mike’s truck, shaking with anger and cold. Snow had piled up on the front window, so Mike got out to clean it off. The radio was playing “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” and tears were burning hot and wet down her cheeks.

“I hate him!” Josie said as Mike drove her home.

She knew Mike wouldn’t ask her out again.

She knew she’d have to awkwardly run into him at school functions until Winnie graduated.

But right now, she didn’t care.

Mike drove Josie back home. Neither of them spoke until Mike pulled into the driveway. Josie wanted to leap out of the truck and run inside—like some kind of teenager—but she figured Mike deserved more than that. Josie’s lip quivered. Suddenly, she was thinking about her age and how she probably would never settle down and have children. She hated Donnie so much! Could she change the locks before he got back?

“Thanks for coming out with me,” Mike said to break the silence.

Josie hung her head. She felt foolish.

“I’m sorry about Donnie,” Mike offered.

“It isn’t your fault.”

Mike sighed and got out to open Josie’s door for her. Josie clambered out, feeling exhausted, and hugged Mike good night.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to date,” Mike said into her shoulder.

“Me either.”

Mike laughed gently and stepped back. “I’ll see you around?”

Josie’s eyes filled with tears. Her body was betraying her. “It’s a small island.”

Josie hurried up to the front door and let herself in. The house was silent. It was past Winnie’s bedtime, and maybe Tara had given up and gone to sleep as well. Josie got herself a glass of water and crept to her bedroom upstairs, passing by Tara and Donnie’s bedroom as she went. She decided to stand in the hallway for a second. The bedroom door was cracked. Maybe she could hear whether Tara was sleeping or not. Only a second later, she heard Tara say, “Why are you acting so creepy?”

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