Someone knocked on her door. Harley hunkered deeper under the covers, gripping the comforter. Her jaw was throbbing. Rebel didn’t have to punch herso hard.
“Harley?” Mommie called through the closed door.
Tension stiffened her body; she refused to answer.
Uninvited, Mommie opened the door and walked in. “Your dad got this from Val and Zoann’s…Harley?”
She clenched her jaw.
“I know you aren’t asleep.”
Harley’s nostrils flared.
“Get upnowor I’ll have Lucas carry you out of this room.”
Abandoning her pretense, Harley shot into a sitting position. “Mommie, please!”
“I’m not listening. The time for such regard was earlier. Instead, you turned against me.”
“I’m sorry—”
“You aren’t. Otherwise, you wouldn’t continually do it.”
“But—”
Turning, Mommie walked to the doorway where Harley’s wheeled Winnie the Pooh suitcase stood. She rolled it in front of the window seat.
“It’s empty so you can fill it with more clothes.”
“No, Mommie, please don’t make me go!”
Her mother stared at her bruised face. “Aren’t you tired of fighting?” she asked, ignoring the plea.
Leaning back, Harley closed her eyes. “No one understands me.”
“I try to, Harley. More than you know or appreciate. But you’re right. No one understands the reason you’ve turned into such a liar. Or so incredibly vicious.”
Aunt Meggie’s asinine threats gave Harley a way to refute Mommie’s words and draw her back to her side. Mommie hadn’t appreciated how Aunt Meggie pulled rank. Except, right now, Harley was tired and the argument in her head might come out wrong and push her mother away. So, she played dumb.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Rebel said you hit her first. You said Rebel instigated the fight by insulting you.”
Harley scrambled for an explanation.
Before she came up with anything, Daddy stuck his head in. He didn’t look at Harley. “I’m going to the club, Bailey. You’ll probably be asleep when I return, so I’ll see you in the morning.”
Panic crossed Mommie’s face. The same kind Harley felt each time she thought of losing CJ forever.
“Lucas—”
“What, Bailey?” Daddy opened the door wider. He kept his distance, not coming further into the room. “Make it quick. Digger waiting.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“I’m tired of the same old bullshit. I have nothing else to say.”
Tears glistened in Mommie’s eyes and swallowed the brown. Harley saw only a brilliant green.
