Page 74 of American Hellhound
Denise appeared in the doorway, brows plucked together in their perpetual look of concerned disapproval. “I wasn’t expecting you until after dinner.”
“Maureen got sick,” she lied, slipping off her shoes and setting them on the rack. “I decided to just come back and do my homework.”
“Oh…”
Maggie slipped past her.
“Well, that’s too bad.
It was too bad, Maggie thought, thatshewas seen as the delinquent.
Seventeen
Then
She knew something was badly wrong the next day when she passed Stephanie in the hall between classes and the girl grinned at her. Smug. Laughing under her breath.
She didn’t understandwhatwas wrong until she got home.
She’d planned to change, do her homework, and head to her Wednesday meeting. She stumbled to a halt as she passed through the kitchen.
Denise sat at the table, stiff as a mannequin, hands pressed flat to the table, eyes glazed-over, jaw clenched.
“Mom?” Maggie inched closer, body tensed for flight. “Mom, are you having a stroke?”
Denise didn’t move.
Maggie moved even closer, though every instinct screamed for her to run. “Mom?”
“What were you thinking?” Denise slapped her palms down against the wooden tabletop with a sound like a gunshot.
Maggie jumped.
“Are youtryingto ruin your life?” her mother shouted. “Is that it? You respect me so little – youhate meso much – you want to throw away everything I’ve ever given you just to make a point?”
Maggie held out her hand in a placating gesture. “What are you talking about?”
“It was for my benefit, wasn’t it? You hoped to get caught. Because how could you be so stupid as to think I wouldn’t find out what you did?” She was shrieking now, high, panicked sounds building in her throat. “I will always find out!”
Maggie was aware of her father listening, a quiet shadow leaning in the doorway.
“Mom,” she tried again. “What in the world are you yelling about?”
Denise slapped the table again and stood, chair squealing back across the floor. “The drugs, Margaret! The drugs!”
“Oh.” All the air left Maggie’s lungs. She felt like she’d been punched.
“You dragged those poor, sweet girls,” Denise continued, “out to Hamilton House so you could buydrugsfromLean Dogs!”
Stephanie. That bitch.
“Mom, please. It’s not what you think. Stephanie–”
“Darlene Cleveland called me in tears this morning,” Denise ranted.
“You should have told herStephaniewanted to buy drugs. Not me. I wasn’t even driving – how could I drag them anywhere?”
“Iknewwe shouldn’t have let you keep that car, I justknewit. It’s probably stolen.” She buried her face in her hands and took a deep, shuddering breath. “I had no idea you’d turn out like this. After everything we’ve done for you, all the advantages you’ve had. And you’re nothing but a common slut.”
