Page 45 of Refuge for Cherilyn

“Yeah. Aaron’s going to meet us there and then go to lunch with us, so it’ll be fine. Join us if you want.”

“I just might do that. I could use a good time out of the house and?”BANG-BANG-BANG!Someone pounded on the door. Shaw glanced around, but neither of the women said a word. “Was Aaron coming here?”

Maisey shook her head. “No. Meeting us at the office. I have no idea?”BANG-BANG-BANG!“Shaw…”

“It’s okay. Take a deep breath, both of you. I’m sure it’s?”BANG-BANG-BANG!“Jesus Christ,” Shaw muttered under his breath as he peered out the peephole, and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “What the hell?” With one quick yank, he threw the door open to almost have a fist in his face as the person knocking was ready to bang on the door again. “What are you doing here?”

She scowled and tipped her head. “Wow. Thanks. Nothing like a ‘hi, honey, glad to see you’ to make a girl feel welcome.” Before he had a chance to say anything, she pushed her way past him. “What’s going on here? A party and I’m not invited?”

The two women stood there and stared at the teenager before them, her long legs ending in stylish platform sandals at the bottom with a pop of bright pink polish shining from her toes, and stretching upward into a pair of obscenely-short cutoffs at the top. She had on a white crop top, and a jeweled stud glittered in her navel above the waist of the shorts, which dipped dangerously low. The makeup she was wearing was enough for four grown women, and yet she’d managed to get it all on her face, with some fake lashes to boot. Her hair was expertly balayaged, its ombre-style coloring a combination of medium brown like Shaw’s and a glittering blond, and from under it peeked a pair of hoop earrings that would’ve made great bangle bracelets. A little tattoo showed above the top of her ruffled neckline that dipped every bit as much as the waistband of her shorts. The bag she was carrying had to have cost more than three hundred dollars.

Both women stared at her and then at Shaw. “Uh, Maisey, Cherilyn, this is my daughter, Candace.” Then he turned back to the girl. “What are you doing here?”

“Can’t a girl come see her dad?”

“You haven’t wanted to see me in three years! Why the hell are you interested in me now?”

“God, that’s so rude! I wanted to see you!”

Shaw glared at her. “That’s so much bullshit. What do you want?”

“I don’t want anything!” He could see her trying hard to look forlorn, but it wasn’t working. She wasn’t nearly the actress she thought she was. “I just wanted to see my daddy!”

“Right.”

The girl pointed to the two women. “Two at once? Wow. That’s pretty impressive.”

“You’ll be respectful in my home, girl,” Shaw growled.

“What? That would be pretty cool! I mean, if they’re?”

He could feel heat creeping onto his face. “Candace…”

Cherilyn pointed down the hallway. “I’m just gonna?”

“No. You’re not. You’re staying right here. I’m not going to let her disrespect either of you that way.”

“Gah, Dad, I was just making a?”

“This is MaiseyFriedman, and her husband is a friend of mine. He’s adeputy sheriff,” Shaw emphasized.

“Oooo! Am I supposed to be scared of the po-po or something?”

“And this is my friend, Cherilyn.” Cherilyn’s face had gone pale and he felt terrible. She shouldn’t have to put up with that kind of behavior.

“Your friend? Do you meangirlfriend?” Candace asked with a grimace.

Every time her mouth opened, the words spewing from it made Shaw even angrier. “That’s really none of your concern, now is it?”

“Well, maybe it is. I mean, look at her. You could do a lot better than that.”

“You did NOT just say that. Girl, I should?”

“MOM! MAISEY! WE GO!” Lara bellowed as she wandered up the hallway and stood in the doorway. When she caught sight of Candace, she smiled a huge, toothy smile.

“Oh my god. You’ve got a retard here too,” Candace whispered loudly.

“THAT’S IT! OUT! GET OUTSIDE!” Shaw bellowed and saw Cherilyn and Maisey give a little jump.

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