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Mia surprised me by smiling unsurely at Cia. “That’s not true. I always wanted a big sister. I would like to get to know you.”
“Me too,” Melody said. “I think it’s great that…” She was cut off by Steve, who pounded his fist down on the table. “How do you even know she’s not an impostor? Anyone can make such a claim. Was there a paternity test done?”
“No,” Brent said through clenched teeth.
“Don’t even go there, Brent,” I protested. “You’ve know about Cia since the beginning and it’s time for you to own up to your responsibility. You abandoned your own daughter and let her live in abuse and poverty all these years.”
Brent snorted in rage but it was Steve who spoke. “My son would never do such a thing. This girl might have tricked you.” He pinned Cia with his glare and spoke in an accusatory tone. “How can you be sure my son is your father?”
“Because my mom was a virgin when Brent took her at a high school dance,” Cia said matter of factly.
“A virgin… ha… for all we know that’s just what she told you.”
“Steve, please,” my mom said and held out her hand.
“No, I won’t have anyone make accusations at my son, in my house, without solid proof to back it up.” He raised his voice and pointed a finger at Cia. “We’re a good Christian family, and as it says in the Bible, you should never throw stones when you live in a glass house. Don’t think I can’t sniff a gold digger when I see one.”
I grabbed Cia’s hand and opened my mouth to speak, but she beat me to it when she abruptly stood up.
“I don’t have to listen to this shit. Now I see where Brent got his lack of courage from. You’re just as big a coward as he is.” She pushed her chair out. “Oh, and by the way, read your Bible one more time, because misquoting the book you say you live by makes you look ignorant.”
Steve flew up from his chair and his facial color was changing from red into purple real fast. “I can assure you I know my Bible inside out – how dare you say otherwise?”
Cia snorted at him and it made me love her even more. There was no fear in her eyes when she crossed her arms. “I think you’re confusing the metaphor of stones and glass houses with the story from John 8:7 when Jesus approached the men about to stone a woman to death.He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
Steve gaped like a fish on dry land and I wanted to stand up and salute her. Cia had just owned the biggest, meanest bully I knew, and that says a lot coming from someone who’s been nine years in the army.
Nobody spoke. No one. Not even the kids.
Until Granny said in a clear voice. “Are there any more bagels?”
I wanted to stay and sort this out. I wanted them to accept Cia into our family, and I’m sure everyone except Brent and Steve would have, but Cia turned around and left, so I followed.
When we got into my car and took off I realized that I had known this outcome was a possibility all along. Why else would I have parked on the street instead of the driveway like I usually did? Had I unconsciously known I might need to leave in a hurry?
I looked over at Cia, who sat pale and quiet beside me.
“Hey, are you all right?” I asked.
“Can we just not talk until we get back to the apartment?” she said, and I respected that.
About the time we had crossed the bridge to the Seattle side, my phone started ringing. I ignored the first calls but when I parked the car it rang again.
“Hey, Mom,” I said when I answered.
Cia looked like she didn’t know whether to stay in the car or leave me to talk in privacy, so I stopped her with a hand on her arm and mimed the word “Stay.”
“Mom, I’m putting you on speaker. I want Cia to hear it too.”
“Oh, hey ,Cia,” my mom said and gave a nervous chuckle.
“Hey.”
“I’m so sorry things got out of hand. I’ve talked to Steve and he’s calmed down. We think you should come back and we could all try and talk about this calmly.”
Cia shook her head vehemently.
“Maybe another time, Mom. I think Cia needs a little time to digest what just happened. I mean, she already knew Brent is an ass, but Steve just topped that.”
