Page 69 of Devoured By Peace

Miranda had left to call her sister, and she returned. “They would love to come over and should be here within the hour.” She turned to Manuel. “Ava’s excited. You can both go to the beach and play.”

His little face lit up, and my heart went out to him.

Living in such big houses separated by high walls meant that children didn’t get together unless arranged. At least I’d had Brent as a playmate when I was Manuel’s age.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” I said to Miranda, who was being led by the hand by Manuel. She was wonderful around him, and her face lit up at a drawing Manuel showed her. My spirit warmed to see her with him.

As I ascended the stairs, I could hear Tamara’s squealy giggles. I sprinted to her bedroom door—the room she’d shared with my father and where my mother had once slept.

Her endless cackling snuck through the cracks as I banged on the door.

“Go away!” she yelled.

“I need a word. Now!”

She opened the door an inch or so and peered through the crack. “What do you want?”

“Where’s Sherry?” I asked.

“I sent her home. She’s a flirt.”

“Oh, and you would know,” I said. “Listen, your son was here alone. That’s gross fucking negligence.”

“You’re here. He’s your little brother.” She wore a towel and let it slip so I could see her tits, which did nothing for me.

“I’m calling Sherry. Now. We’ll look after Mannie today. But tonight, he needs someone here. To cook for him.”

“You’re here.”

“You’re still married to my father, who’s dying in a hospital while you’re fucking another man in his room.”

“It’s none of your business,” she said.

“Oh, it’s my fucking business, all right. I live here. He’s my dad.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You forget. The hospital has reports of my cracked skull. Just watch yourself. If I decide to press charges, you’ll be fucked up the ass literally.” She chuckled.

“I’m calling Sherry. And she’s staying.”

“Go away.” She shut the door.

I leaned against the wall for a moment to steady the fury rushing through me.

Pushing aside her threats of having me convicted, I headed into my room to grab my swimming gear.

Losing Miranda frightened me much more than the idea of being in prison. I also had Manuel to think about. My mother would adopt him in a flash, as would I if I weren’t rotting in prison.

I regretted not reporting the shower incident. But it would have been Tamara’s word against mine. And when it came to bullshitting, she was the queen. My stepmother could have gotten a starring role in a soap opera.

The media had made a meal of Brent’s antics, and it had me by the balls, forcing me to make stupid decisions for the sake of the family name.

Manuel would end up a wreck if he stayed with Tamara. Something told me he could grow up doing great things. He reminded me of my mother, in that they shared the fire in their eyes.

I called Sherry and asked her to return that same night, instructing her to reach out if Tammy caused problems.

Harriet and Ava arrived just as I descended the stairs.

I joined Miranda and whispered, “Have you changed into that sexy bikini?”

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