Page 94 of Rebound

“And we’ll get ice cream,” I concede.

After getting Jasmine dressed, we have breakfast and Seth walks us outside where we’re joined by Colt Chastain.

“Vickie said she’ll meet you at the park. Johnny dumped an entire cup of milk on his head, and she’s cleaning him up,” Colt says.

After a good laugh, my husband gives me a kiss that’s far too indecent for a Saturday morning before he slaps my ass and walks away. The slap is hard, and it jolts me, but I bite my bottom lip at the sensation that travels through my entire body.

I push the stroller to the end of the street and wait for the light to change. It’s unseasonably warm for the second week of October, and the streets are packed with people enjoying the last days of warmth.

An ambulance and a fire truck speed down the street, drowning us in noise. Several police cars follow, and regular traffic comes to a stop. The light changes, but due to the chaos, we’re not able to cross the street yet. I move the stroller further away from the curb.

More firetrucks come by, and due to the noise and the throng of people who are stopped at the intersection, I don’t notice the woman walking to us until she gets close and bumps into me. She bumps into me so hard I almost fall over. My hands let go of the stroller, but I manage to catch my balance.

“Hey!” I yell when I see her reaching for the stroller. No one hears me because of the noise, but I rush over, push her away and grab the handle. That’s when I see her face, and although I’m certain I’ve never seen her before today, she looks familiar. “Get away from my daughter,” I hiss while I look and try to place her.

I know I’ve never seen her before. I’m good with names and faces.

“Your what?” she says, outraged by my words.

“Mydaughter,” I say, enunciating the word.

“That’s not your daughter. She didn’t come out of your womb.” I eye her again and wonder if she’s a deranged Sethhead, but she’s too old to be a fanatic. This woman looks old enough to be Seth’s mother, and Sethheads are barely older than thirty.

“Back off,” is all I say, but she reaches for the stroller again.

“Help!” the woman yells. “She’s trying to kidnap my granddaughter! Somebody help me!” Stunned by this level of crazy, I put the brakes on the stroller, turn to the woman and push her as hard as I can. She falls on her ass, as I grab the handles of the stroller, release the brakes, and speed walk across the street.

“Why didn’t you call me?” Seth practically yells a few hours later when I tell him what happened.

“I called you,” I say as calmly as possible. “Your phone was off, and by that time, I was away from her. When I told Jeannie, she had her bodyguard make a call.” I rub my temples, but the events from earlier still have me on edge.

We didn’t stay at the park long. Once Vickie joined us, we left and went to Jeannie’s townhouse.

“I’m going to get a restraining order on her,” Seth says under his breath. He puts his hands on my shoulders and gently rubs. Jasmine is in the corner of the house playing with her dolls without a care in the world.

She got to spend time with her best friend, so all is right in her world. She has no idea that her deranged grandmother tried to take her stroller and go off to God knows where.

“And if she gets close to you ever again, I’m going to wrap my hand around her neck and squeeze until it snaps. And then—”

“Stop,” I say and put a hand on his chest. “You’re not going to get arrested and lose your job over her. Besides, I can fight,” I toss in. He eyes me up and down in disbelief.

“Really?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

“And how many fights have you ever been in before?”

“Well, none, but June Bug has been in a bunch, and I’ve seen some. I’d know what to do.” He rolls his eyes, huffs, and looks at the ceiling. Then to my shock, he starts to laugh. He laughs hard as he walks away and drops himself on the couch.

“You say the most ridiculous things. You probably fight as well as you play basketball.” He stands abruptly and faces me. I put my hands on my hips at his dismissal but all that does is make him laugh more. “Come on. Fight me.” He puts two fists up and starts to sway like a boxer.

I attempt to kick him, but he grabs my leg and holds it. He lifts me off my feet and tosses me on the couch. “You weigh negative five pounds,” he says. “You can’t fight a fly. I bet Jasmine could beat you up.”

“Whatever,” is all I say.

He lies on top of me and presses himself into me. He plants a soft kiss on my lips. “And if she so much as puts a scratch on you, I’m going to kill her and bury her under a house John Wayne Gacy style. I’m serious, but thanks for the laugh. You’re going to get a bodyguard and a driver like Coach suggests.”

I don’t argue. I’m still shaken up by today’s events. Besides, Jeannie has a bodyguard and driver, and she never complains about either. He grabs his phone to make a call but it starts to ring.

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