Page 17 of A Dead Girl's Guide to Living
Bill’s eyes darkened, and he tapped the table once. "You know nothing of it, Dove."
"I know all of it, you moron," I snarled, curling my hands into fists. "She told me everything! We had no secrets. She wasn’t even married to that asshole for the last twenty years of her life! It was her, Diana and Ida, and she wanted to be scattered in the Pacific, just like Diana was.”
My voice had risen in octaves, and a satisfied smirk spread across Uncle Bill’s face as he got the reaction he wanted. A cruelness settled over him, souring the air between us.
"Yet here we are," he mused. "Guess she and Dad get to spend eternity together after all."
Uncle Bill shook his head in disgust. "My mother could live in perversion all she wanted, but now I make things right. She spent all those years frolicking around with those two women. Itwas unnatural. Disgusting. My fool of a sister stupidly allowed you to spend time in that world, and now look atyou.”
My pulse pounded in my ears as I took a staggering step forward, ready to launch myself at him.
"You are a disgusting, miserable excuse for a human being!" My voice came out louder than I expected, bouncing off the walls.
He rolled his neck lazily. "Listen, you may have fallen for the Mystique of my mother and whatever little stories she twisted and weaved, whatever perversion you also succumbed to, this dating women business, but let it be known that from this day on, Dove Marley, you are no longer welcome in this house. You will not visit her ashes here. I will not see you here. Go rot in that shop with those cards and stones and whatever junk is there. The reign of Margaret Porter is over."
His words struck like a slap, burning into my soul. I stumbled back a step, gaping at him in horror, feeling the roundness in my eyes.
No.
Now wasn’t the time for impulsiveness.
I couldn’t make a stupid decision right now.
I had to—
I had to leave.
I couldn’t give him what he wanted.
I swallowed hard, shook my head, and turned to leave.
"That’s it," he called after me. "Run along, you weak little witch."
I halted, gritting my teeth. My eyes caught on the pearly white vase beside me. Without thinking, I grabbed it, turned, and hurled it straight at him.
He let out a bellowing sound as he dodged, and the vase went flying.
Right into the brown cabinet.
The one where my beautiful grandmother would eventually be locked away.
No.
Not if I had anything to do with it.
"You little bitch!" he roared.
Without another word, I stormed out of the house.
ELLIS
Tip #3: Awkward moments are just cardio for the soul. Keep breathing.
Ilet out a frustrated breath as I tapped my fingers against the white keyboard, staring at the computer screen with mild distaste. Chewing the inside of my lip, I eyed the open Google Doc and ran my eyes over one of the many assignments Dr. Mason had given me this week.
1. Spend time researching heart transplant patients who lived long and healthy lives.
The words stared back at me, smug and unhelpful.
