Page 12 of Beyond Reach

“Who was he supposed to go to when you turned your back on him? After the two of you were talking about getting married.”

Chanda whirled around. “Sir, I would appreciate it if you’d keep your mouth shut about what you think went on between me and Garner. For that matter, it wasn’t like I ran off on a whim and had nothing more important to think about other than the change in weather. My parents died! I was twenty. Or did you forget that?”

He belched, and she got a strong whiff of alcohol that turned her stomach. “A woman should stick by her man, even in adversity.”

“I don’t know why you’re so worked up over what happened between me and Garner. It’s in the past, and Marcella is marrying him. Aren’t you happy about that, or would you prefer she didn’t marry a white guy? Maybe that’s it. If I had married him, she wouldn’t be tempted.”

He sneered. “I don’t like what you’re accusing me of. Young people don’t have any respect for their elders these days.”

“I have respect for you, but I’m not going to be talked to like you’re doing right now. I’m not that twenty-year-old kid you knew years ago.”

He sucked his teeth in derision. Something told her he knew she spoke the truth. He’d bullied her with his veiled meanness years ago, showing extreme favoritism for his daughter. Chanda had always ducked her head and took it to show respect. Well, not today. He could go ahead with that mess.

“What’s all the noise out here?” Aunt Hope appeared at the end of the hall. “Bill, are you picking on Chandelier again? You know she doesn’t like you playing that way.”

“Playing?” both Chanda and Bill echoed. For once, Chanda agreed with him.

“Aunt Hope, my name is Chanda, not Chandelier, and I would appreciate it if you would use the name my mom gave me. If not for me, at least respect your sister.”

Her aunt gasped, and her uncle rounded on her. His face crumpled in rage, and he pointed to the door. “You can get out of here right now! Go!”

Aunt Hope grabbed his arm. “Stop it, Bill. Don’t you listen to him, Chanda. I’m sorry, and you’re right. We got so used to calling you Chandelier, and you never liked it. I wonder where we even got such a nickname.”

From Marcella.

Her aunt elbowed her husband aside and hugged Chanda. “You’re always welcome here, sweetheart. Never doubt it. Always.”

“Thanks, Aunt Hope. I believe you mean that.”

“Of course I do. Why would you doubt it?”

“I have to get going. Thanks for the cake and the cry together. I’ll see you again soon.”

Chanda made her escape while keeping a mental countdown. Only a few days to go before she could leave town and never come back.

Chapter 6

“I can’t believe this,” Marcella complained for the millionth time. “I just can’t. Did someone curse me? Is that it?”

Chanda bit down hard on the inside of her cheek. She felt bad for her cousin. No one should have to deal with a sprained ankle days before their wedding. It was Marcella’s fault for drinking like a fish and thinking she could enact some scene from a movie by jumping up on top of a bar in high heels.

“You could have broken your neck, sweetheart,” Aunt Hope chided her daughter. “What were you thinking?”

“She wasn’t thinking.” Lanae laughed. “You should have seen her, Ms. Hope. I love my girl, but that was some funny stuff.”

“Lanae,” Marcella grumbled.

“What? It was funny. Plus, we almost got arrested. The only reason we didn’t was because—”

She cut herself off, but Chanda knew where she was going with the conversation. Chanda had been the one to talk the cop out of arresting them the night before.

Aunt Hope sighed. She bent down on one knee to check the bandage wrapped around Marcella’s ankle. Marcella tried to push her mother away. Aunt Hope refused to be put off.

“You have your cousin to thank for saving you, Marcella,” Aunt Hope told her. “Did you say thank you?”

Marcella rolled her eyes. “Mom, I’m not eight.”

“Don’t you tak

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