Page 59 of Refuge for Cherilyn

“Driving what? You don’t have anything to drive.”

Candace sat there, her face a mask of anger. “I don’t know why he has to be such a hard-ass.”

“He’s not. He’s trying to give you what you need.”

“I need a credit card and a car.”

“No. You need to behave like a fifteen-year-old girl, not a twenty-year-old college student.”

“You don’t even know me. How can you say that? That’s pretty judgmental of you,” Candace countered, and it was no more than Cherilyn had expected.

But the adult in the room had been anticipating that kind of answer. “Let me ask you something. You had a car and a credit card. What happened?”

“Uh, my mom and stepdad started being dicks.”

“No. You took advantage of their generosity by overusing your stepdad’s credit card and taking his car.”

“Those are things they should’ve given me! I should have those things.”

“Why? Did you earn them? Why should you have them?”

“Because Iwantthem.”

“Do you hear how you sound right now? You sound like a four-year-old in a toy store instead of a young woman who knows the value of money and work.”

“I’m not going to work. I don’t have to.”

“You’re right. You don’t. And you can also stay here for the rest of your life, mooching off your dad because you think you’re so entitled to things that you won’t even help yourself.”

“Lady, you’ve got a lotta nerve saying?”

“Do I? I’m not the one in trouble because I used a credit card that wasn’t mine to pay for detailing I didn’t need on a car that didn’t belong to me. That, my dear, took a lot of nerve, and not the right kind.”

Candace sat there, scowling, and Cherilyn hoped she was thinking about what had been said. Finally, she asked, “So how do you think I can get Dad to give me those things?”

“You won’t. Because a fifteen-year-old shouldn’t have them. You’re not an adult, no matter how much you think you are. You’re definitely not old enough to use good judgment or you wouldn’t be here right now.”

“I fucking hate you. I fucking hate this place. And I hate my dad for this. And my mom and Austin too. Fuck all of you.” She threw the remote at the TV and stormed off to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

“Oh, boy. I bet I just screwed up royally.” Cherilyn moved to the sofa, sat down, and pulled a throw over her legs. She’d be glad when Shaw got home, and she hoped he wouldn’t kick her out for what she’d said to Candace. After all, not one bit of it was a lie.

* * *

“And then yousaid what to her?” She could tell Shaw was trying hard not to laugh too loudly as she recounted the conversation she’d had with Candace.

“I told her she didn’t have the ability to use good judgment or she wouldn’t be here now. And it’s true.”

“I have a feeling she’s angry at you because that’s basically what my mother said to her too. I mean, I haven’t talked to Mom, but I can hear her saying something like that to somebody. And Candace has earned it.”

“I’ll say. That girl really feels entitled. God love her, she needs a reality check.”

“Oh, trust me, she’s getting one. I’m enrolling her in school next week.”

“Oooo, that’s gonna go over great.”

Shaw chuckled. “Ya think? I’m expecting an all-out insurrection.”

“I’d say that’s probably an accurate expectation.” The answer might hurt, but she had to know. “Are you mad at me for saying those things to her?”

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