Bee nudged me and quickly stuck her finger up behind my mother’s back for all of a fraction of a second before she slapped it back down again, laughing her little head off. I couldn’t help but join in as she fell back against the seats, her chest heaving with her giggles.
It was infectious, catching me in its grasp as my shoulders started shaking with laughter, which made Dante shake his head as the laughter captured him, and before we knew it, all three of us were full on belly laughing, as my bewildered mother looked between us all, asking what on earth was going on.
“Nothing, Mother, nothing at all,” I breathed, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye.
“It’s lack of sleep, that’s what it is.”
“Must be,” I nodded. “Dante knows how to keep a girl awake.”
She pursed her lips and pulled out her phone, ending the conversation as she tapped away a message to someone.
“Iris says you’re welcome to come in,” she said around five minutes later when we rounded the corner to her sister’s house. “She’s put the kettle on.”
“She did?” I gasped, clapping my hands in mock delight. “Did she drop dead, too? If not, I’ll pass.”
“Rachel… She didn’t know. None of us knew.”
“Yup.”
“You can’t blame her for what—”
“Not the time, Mother. I can blame her, and I do.”
“She didn’t know.”
“I heard you the first time. Not now,” I said firmly, nodded my head towards Bee. “She doesn’t need to hear any of this.”
Dante pulled the car to a stop and my mother simply sighed her response. She pushed open her door, climbed out, andstraightened her skirt. “When will I see you again?” She asked, hesitating before pushing the door closed.
“Text me when Dad’s home and settled.”
She nodded and slammed the door, knowing full well I was in no mood to converse any further with her. I saw Iris come out of the house and alarm bells immediately started ringing.
The little fucking bitch!
My mother had planned this. I just knew it.
“Dante. Drive!” I snapped.
“What?”
“Drive. If she comes over to the car, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
“Who…? Oh,” he said, finally noticing Iris. “That’s her?”
“Yes, that’s her. And unless you want your daughter to understand what it means to see someone get curb stomped, you’ll start driving. Now.”
“Your wish is my command, m’lady,” he chuckled, pulling back onto the road. He pushed the button to lower his window and flipped Iris the bird as we drove away, making both her and my mother scowl at the car.
“Whatdoescurb stomped mean?” Bee asked, getting on her knees to look out of the back window.
“Sit down,” I said, tugging on her shirt. “And it just means I’d give her a little push. That’s all.”
“Is that really what it means?” She asked, sitting back in the seat properly and frowned at me in suspicion.
“No,” I grinned back down at her.
“Didn’t think so.”
