Page 26 of Restless
“My loyalties are where they belong, Aunt. If I thought CJ was in the wrong, I would defend Harley, but—”
“That’s enough, Matilda,” Mommie said. “I’ll allow you or no one else to malign Harley.”
Silence fell, until Matilda huffed and said, “I think the boys are going to be late because of whatever extracurricular activities they’re involved in. They may not be able to come to dinner.”
“Don’t you mean because they cut, too?” Harley said scathingly. She refused to be the only one in trouble.
“Oh?” Mattie asked innocently. “I wasn’t aware.”
“Liar!” Harley charged as the garage door opened, revealing Daddy and Pop.
“Get over yourself, Harley,” Mattie said, rushing out of the Escalade and slamming her door shut. “Hey Uncle Mort. Pop,” she acknowledged cheerfully.
Harley tuned out the hellos, although Mattie’s happy giggle annoyed her. Once she walked off and disappeared around the side of the house, Pop opened Harley’s door while Daddy did the same for Mommie.
“Hey, pretty girl,” Daddy greeted.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Pop said, drowning out Mommie’s response.
Harley glared at him, grabbed her knapsack from the floor and rushed out of the vehicle. She didn’t bother responding or closing the door. She wanted to get to her room and cry. Mostly, she wanted to call CJ and demand answers, so she stomped by her grandfather and headed into the garage.
“Baby girl,” Daddy called. “Roxanne finishing up dinner. Your momma said you had a bad day. Why don’t me and you take a walk so we can talk about it?”
“No, thank you,” Harley snapped, remembering Nardo’s revelations about her father. She reached the door that led into the house. “You’re as much a traitor as CJ.”
“Harley!” Daddy said.
Ignoring him, she stormed down the small service hallway, hoping to sneak past the kitchen so she wouldn’t have to see Lolly.
“Stop right now,” he said.
“She’s upset, Lucas,” Mommie hissed. “Leave her be.”
“I didn’t do her anything, Bailey.”
“Nor did I,” Pop added with displeasure. “And she refused to acknowledge me.”
“Stop! Both of you,” Mommie said. “You won’t gang up on my daughter.”
“Gang up?” Daddy’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’m not ganging up on my baby girl. I’m trying to make sense of shit, so I can help her.”
“Help me?” Harley cried. “All you ever do is fuss!”
“Harley, baby—”
“Shut up, Lucas! You’re not helping matters. You’re making it worse for my daughter.”
“Harley belong to me too, Bailey,” Daddy said, the irritation rising in his eyes creeping into his voice. “I got a right to try to help her and have her show me more respect than she doing. I haven’t done her anything.”
Indecision tore across Mommie’s face. Concerned that she’d lose her only support, Harley tugged her mother’s sleeve and recaptured her attention.
“CJ is so mean to me, Mommie.”
Daddy snorted. “You were mean to him, too, baby. You lied on the boy. No, fuck, Harley, youliedto get your fucking way.”
Harley wailed at her father’s harshness.
Mommie drew herself up. “You have a lot of nerve throwing that in her face when she’s so distraught. Leave Harley alone, Lucas! I mean it.”
