Page 5 of Liberty
Oh man, she wanted to talk to me now. Damnit, why did I let that big oaf get to me? I made a fool of myself by yelling athim and now I had to explain it to my mother. I pulled a chair out and sat down across from her.
“Eat first.” She gave me a nod of her head. “Then I have some questions about what just occurred in that dining room.”
I picked up my fork, but I had no appetite now. Who would? The man was so damned infuriating. I took a few bites then drank some tea. “I cannot stand him,” I finally spoke.
“You mean this Liberty guy?”
I nodded as I scoffed. “Yes, Mom. You know who I mean.”
“Yes, I can clearly see that. But what I don’t understand is why? I mean you hardly know the man.”
I paused and stared at her. “Believe me, the short time I’ve spent around him was enough.”
“Enough?” she asked. “He helped to rescue you, Belle.”
I leaned forward and stared at my mother. “Not really. Scar and I walked out of there on our own, Mom.”
Her eyes rounded. “What?”
I slowly shook my head as I picked up my tea glass. It was time to tell her the whole story. “It was never dad’s fault,” I stated.
“I understand that part,” she replied as she nodded. “But only you know the other part. The story of how this man fooled you.”
I felt angry all over again as she just had to remind me of how I had been ‘fooled.’ The same way that oaf reminded me a couple of times already. “He had a good case, Mom. He’s an FBI agent for real. Ask anyone here. He showed me a lot of evidence. Although later, they convinced me he had used what he and his mother had done and laid the blame on the Walkers. Well, Deacon himself is technically a Walker. I hope they told you that too. And his sister. Geez mom, she was the one that convincedme in the end. I did not scheme with the man, I was trying to help my sister. I mean it wouldn’t have been the first time she got involved with a bad man, would it?”
“No, it wouldn’t,” Scarlet said from behind me.
I lowered my head. Wow, I was just screwing myself over again and again tonight. And it was all his fault. That overgrown, muscle bound loud mouth.
“I can’t blame you for saying that. In fact, I don’t. My past is as it is,” Scarlet said as she came closer. “You need to just let go of these differences you and him have, sis.”
“I would if that big headed nuisance would let me.” I shook my head.
Scarlet laughed. “He isn’t that bad, Belle.”
“Oh? Well, he insulted me all over again. So Iagaintold him off.” I looked from her to our mom. “He needs to shut up about it already. I don’t get it. I don’t understand why he keeps throwing that into my face. He already knows why it all happened.” I looked back over at Belle. “Yet tonight, he insinuated that while you were tortured by the thought of me getting hurt by some drug dealer. I was living in luxury at a five star hotel, getting room service. I mean he believes that I did not care! That I schemed with Deacon.”
“Sis, I’m sorry he said that.” Scarlet shook her head.
“I’m sorry too.”
We all looked over at Liberty as his brother and father stood next to him.
Liberty let out a sigh. “I apologize for insulting you. I shouldn’t have said any of that.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and replied, “Is it because your dad and brother are making you apologize?”
He shrugged. “Does it matter? I am telling you that I am sorry for what I said.”
I slowly shook my head. “That doesn't mean that you didn’t believe what you said. You said it was the truth.”
Liberty stared at me then looked over at his father Jarret and his brother Justice. “See? Apologizing doesn’t work with this girl.”
“Then what will?” Jarret asked.
I looked from Liberty to his father. “What does that mean?”
“What can Liberty do to make this right?” Jarret asked.
