Page 56 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

He chuckles, a low rumble escaping him, as he gives himself one more glance in the mirror then walks toward the door and right by me. “Let’s go then.”

___

I drawa circle against the misty, rain-soaked window as our driver leads the way to the courthouse. Rainy days have always been one of my favorite things, so I can’t help but feel like this means we’ll be okay.

No matter what happens.

Daddy yawns, then leans his head back against the headrest. Nothing bothers him---a quality I admire and wish I had inherited. Unfortunately for me, I’m much more like Mom. Anything I can’t control bothers me, and this just so happens to be one of those things.

“Are you prepared for today, Julius?” Mom asks Daddy in an indifferent tone.

“Quite. I hope you are as well,” he replies evenly, and I glance between the two of them curiously. Mom tilts her chin and glances out of her window, while Daddy runs a hand over his hair and clears his throat.

What’s going on?

Daddy begins to drum his fingers against his knees, then perks up when our driver turns on the street that the courthouse is on.

“Would you like me to pull into the underground parking lot, Mr. Parker?” the driver asks him.

“That won’t be necessary, Malcolm. But thank you.”

Daddy gives me a big smile and I can’t help but feel proud of him. His eyes are bright, he doesn’t seem to have a care in the world, and it feels like he knew everything was going to be okay even before I told him.

Once the driver slows the car to a stop just outside of the courthouse, Daddy pushes his car door open without hesitation. He waits patiently on the sidewalk, buttoning up his suit jacket, then leading the way into the building after Mom and I step out shortly after.

“Do you remember what I want you to talk about today, Emily?” he asks, peering down at me as he reaches for the door and pulls it open.

“Yes.”

“Good. Remember to tell the story just how we rehearsed it, okay?”

“I promise, Daddy,” I say reassuringly as I walk through the open door and step up to the guard sitting next behind a small desk. The man gives me a small smile, nods at a gray, plastic bucket, and it takes everything inside of me not to shudder as I place my purse inside.

“Step through to the other side,” he instructs me as another guard appears and watches the top frame of the detector. He motions for me to collect my purse, then they repeat the procedure with Mom and Daddy.

“Have a nice day, gentleman,” Daddy says to them, placing a hand on my back and Mom’s. He guides us to a bank of elevators, then presses the call button, humming a cheerful tune. The bell dings a moment later and we step back to let some smartly dressed people out, then make our way in.

Daddy jabs the button markedfour,then leans his back against the elevator as it creaks, then slowly starts to climb.

I tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, then glance at Mom who’s inspecting her fingernails.

“This damn red never lasts. I’ll have to find a better brand,” she says with a heavy sigh.

I glance at Daddy and shake my head, and he rolls his eyes.

Ding!

I startle slightly as the doors start to slide open, then square my shoulders as I follow my parents out of the elevator.

Here goes nothing.

Chapter 23

Davina

Rock is throwing some things into pots and pans, trying to keep the conversation alive while I nibble on some apple slices. It’s so bizarre to taste something that hasn’t come from a dumpster behind a fast food place. It’s nice, too.I can’t wait for Angie to wake up so she can taste this,I think as I suck the juice quickly from my fingers and thumb, then reach for another one.

“… don’t you think?”

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