Page 41 of Beyond Reach

“No problem. Is everything okay?”

“Well, it’s Marcella. She’s told us that Garner has left her for you.”

“She what?” Chanda felt sick to her stomach. She knew this was coming.

“There was a lot more she said that I don’t want to repeat, but I’m calling because I’m sure we aren’t the only ones she has phoned. I believe she is working her way through each and every guest that was set to come to the wedding.”

Garner opened the front door and stepped outside. He slammed the door in her face when she tried to follow.

“I kind of expected her to act like that, but don’t worry. I’m pretty sure my cousin isn’t heartbroken, and I did not steal Garner from her. We—”

“You don’t have to explain it to us. The reason I’m calling is because I heard her dad in the background, shouting threats. I’m worried about your and Garner’s safety.”

Chanda dropped the phone and ran outside. She stopped cold. Garner stood beside his car, which he had left in the driveway rather than park it in the gara

ge. Someone had shattered the windshield.

“Garner!” She ran over to him. “I think my uncle did that. Did you see him? I’m so sorry.”

He spun to face her. “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault. It’s his. But no, I didn’t see who did it. We can’t assume.”

“Your mom said—oh shoot. I left her on the phone. She said he was spitting out threats. I’m guessing Marcella told him a sob story, and he bought it. Now he’s out for revenge. God, I don’t need this drama.”

She’d scarcely finished complaining about her uncle before he came around the side of Garner’s house. God only knew what he’d been up to in the back. Her uncle’s hair was all over his head. His shirt was on backwards and the wrong side. He spotted her and Garner and charged them while screaming bloody murder.

Garner pushed her behind him and faced Uncle Bill. “Stop right there, Bill. You don’t want to do something you’ll regret—or that I’ll make you regret.”

Chanda liked the determination and bravery Garner displayed in the face of danger, but she was starting to believe her uncle was crazy and always had been.

“Get out of my way, Garner,” her uncle shouted. “I’m going to teach that woman a lesson. I won’t call her a lady.”

Garner started for Uncle Bill. Chanda pulled on his shirt. “Whoa, Garner. Don’t. You’ll just be arrested if you hit him. I can take an insult. Uncle Bill, why don’t you go home? You don’t want to start anything with Garner.”

The older man pointed at her. “You’re done. Hear me? Done!”

Her throat dried.

“I should have done something about you back when Marcella first told me you came between her and Garner.”

“Say what?” His claim shocked her. “First of all, when I met Garner, Marcella was nowhere around. He didn’t even know her. If she told you different, she’s lying.”

“You’re the liar!”

“You don’t like listening to the truth, do you? Or maybe you can’t see that Marcella has been lying to you all her life? Whatever she says, you eat it up. Get a clue. Marcella is just as unhinged as you are.”

Her uncle charged again, screeching. Garner caught him and shoved him backward. He fell on his rear on the ground. Sirens blared nearby, and a car came along the drive. Chanda looked over to see who was coming. She recognized Garner’s parents’ car, her aunt’s car, and a police car pulled into the drive behind both of them.

Garner’s dad came to a smooth stop, but Aunt Hope’s car jerked as it stopped because Marcella jumped out and ran over to her dad. “Daddy! What are you doing?”

Marcella threw herself into her father’s arms, sobbing. He patted her head as if she were five. Aunt Hope pushed past Garner’s parents to join her husband and daughter. She took the time to toss a reproving look at Chanda.

How exactly does a person not feel embarrassed and ashamed at a time like this?

She tried to raise her chin and throw her shoulders back like she didn’t care what any of them thought, but it wasn’t true. Of all mornings for everyone to show up, they had to do it seconds after she woke up from sleeping with Garner.

“Son,” his dad called to Garner.

“Why are you guys here?” Garner wanted to know.

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