Page 46 of Side Hustle
My father smirked, speaking lower now that a crowd of people had started gathering around. Nothing like a public family dispute to get the town gossips circling. “Nice to see you dressed appropriately today, Ms. Redding.”
I pushed him then. I wasn’t proud of lashing out physically, but he needed to back the fuck up right now or I couldn’t be held responsible for what I’d do to his sneering face.
My fist gripped his pressed shirt, crumpling it as I backed him a few steps away from Hazel. “I warned you once. Stay away from her. This is between you and me.”
His nostrils flared and there was rage in his eyes, but his gaze didn’t leave mine. “You’re making a fool of yourself,” he spat.
I shook my head. “There’s only one fool here.”
I made myself release my fist and turn to the crowd that stared at us with wide eyes. More people were joining by the second. “I’m sorry to hijack your morning, but there are a few facts you all need to know about your esteemed mayor.”
My father stood up tall next to me, yanking his shirt down like a starched button-down shirt could save his reputation after what I was about to say. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chief Waldo rush up to Hazel. She whispered in his ear and I knew now was the time to spill my guts, no matter how painful it might be. I found Yedda, of all people, elbowing her way to the front of the pack. She gave me a toothy grin and a thumbs-up. I kept my gaze on hers and launched into it.
“Ladies and gentlemen, your mayor is not who you think he is. He’s been stealing from the town for years and I have the proof to back it up.”
The crowd gasped and murmured. I spoke louder, wanting to get it all out before my father could jump in and try to refute the truth.
“He’s been taking monetary kickbacks from the builders of all the new businesses over the last few years. He and Ms. Megan Lizzarro have been in cahoots. Any money saved on these projects should have gone back to the town, not into my father’s personal bank account.”
The crowd was dead silent. My father sounded like a fish caught on a hook, starting and stopping, unclear as to what magical words would get him out of this predicament.
“Is that true, Rip?” Poppy pushed her way next to Yedda, her frown more severe than when Ace had dumped cold water over her and Bobby at the kissing booth.
I nodded. “Unfortunately, yes.”
In a rush of movement, my father was next to me, his arm cocked back as the crowd gasped. It was a sight I’d seen all my life. His fist, his look of fury, and the inevitable pain that would bloom wherever he struck. For the first time ever, I didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. Didn’t back down. He could hit me all he wanted. I was a man now and could take the pain.
Chief Waldo hustled to the front of the crowd and got in my father’s face, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. “I’ve seen the paperwork and feel we have enough proof to arrest Benjamin Bennett.” Then he grabbed my father’s fist, yanked it behind his back, and proceeded to arrest him, complete with handcuffs and the repeating of his Miranda rights.
My father, never one to back down, continued to glare at me like his gaze alone could take me down. Thing was, that glare would have taken me down years ago. I would have slunk away and let him do his thing. But not anymore.
The sight of my father being led away in handcuffs should have been satisfying—and I admit there was a part of me that rejoiced—but mostly I felt sad. Sad that it had come to this: a son turning in his own father.
Hazel rushed to my side and I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her in tight. Everyone started shouting questions at me and a headache formed behind my eyes. Hazel squeezed me tight as if to impart some of her natural enthusiasm. I’d have to fake it until I made it, answering questions the best I could.
I had to almost shout to be heard. “I don’t want to go into too much detail yet. Let’s let our law enforcement do their jobs, okay?”
Titus pushed his way through the crowd, a box of fresh donuts in his hands. “Hey, man, you all right?” he asked as soon as he got close enough to scan my face, his broad shoulders blocking out the crowd.
I nodded, but got distracted when I saw my mother inching her way along the sidewalk, coming in my direction with an expression on her face I couldn’t read. Her dress was impeccable, as usual, but her face was pinched, the color having drained out of her. My stomach clenched, and I stepped back to let Hazel and Titus deal with the rest of the town.
My mother and I walked toward each other as if in slow motion, neither of us knowing quite what to say. When she stood in front of me, she inhaled a deep breath through her nose and I realized how small she was even as she tried to straighten her spine. How the lines on her face had gotten deeper over the years without me noticing.
“Mom,” I greeted her.
“Son,” she said back, her voice thin and shaky. “I heard what you said. Is it true?”
I bowed my head, knowing that my actions today would shake up my mother’s world. I couldn’t bring myself to apologize for it. “Yes. It’s true. And I’m sure you know that’s not the half of it.”
She reached up to grab her necklace, biting her lip. I pinned her with my gaze, daring her to deny that she knew her husband was an asshole, only softening when I saw her eyes fill with tears. She nodded and sniffed once. She turned to walk away and then swung back to pull me into a firm hug, my arms pinned at my sides.
“I’m sorry, son,” she whispered.
She let go just as suddenly and walked toward Hazel and Titus, giving them a shaky smile and then facing the crowd, who simmered down when they realized the mayor’s wife had something to say.
“The town council will meet this morning to discuss what to do while the mayor is”—her mouth slammed shut and she seemed momentarily at a loss for words—“away. Allegations like these won’t be taken lightly. In the meantime, I ask that you give our town council and law enforcement time to sort through the facts. Thank you.”
Mother spun back around and marched back toward me, putting her arm through mine and tugging me down the sidewalk, away from the crowd. I thought I might always be mad at this woman. Too many sleepless nights spent in terror in my own house to give her a get-out-of-jail-free card now. But marching away from everyone she’d ever known with her arm hooked in mine and not rushing off to support my father would go a long way to bridging the gap between us.
