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I think she’s keying Sadie’s car!

“You have got to be kidding me,” Sadie mumbles under her breath. “Do you really think keying my car is going to convince me to give you money?”

Popping up on the other side, her mother purses her lips before an evil sneer takes over her face. “Stop being such a little bitch, Sadie, and give me the money. Look at this shiny new car and house. It’s obvious you can afford it.”

Sadie’s face turns red as she turns to look at her mother across the other side of the car. “I’ve worked my ass off for everything that I have. I put myself through college and worked sixty hours weeks for years. All my hard work gave me this house and car, with no help from you!” Sadie yells and puffs out her cheeks before turning toward me. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, her gaze scanning the houses that line the street.

Hanging her head, she speaks softly not meeting my gaze. “Let’s get the rest of your things.”

“You can’t dismiss me like that,” her mother squawks, peering over the roof of the car. “This isn’t the end.”

“It’s over. You can either leave on your own accord and never come back, or I’m calling the cops. This is your last warning.”

Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I pull Sadie to me and kiss the top of her head. “Go back inside. I’ll get the rest while you take a nice relaxing bath.”

A lone tear escapes when she tips her head back to look up at me. “I want to help.”

“I know you do, sweet girl, and the way for you to help me is for you to go inside where I know you can’t hear what she’s saying.”

“If she…” she starts, but I interrupt her. Her sad eyes blinking up at me.

“If she doesn’t leave, I’ll call the cops myself. I promise.” I hug her closer to my side and she wraps her arm around my waist.

Getting up on her tippy-toes, Sadie places a soft kiss to my jaw and then my lips. Whispering, “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” I answer, turning her back toward the house.

I stand facing off Sadie’s mother from across the car until Sadie’s inside the house and I know she won’t be able to hear what I say.

“I’m not going to let you break her. I don’t know how you convinced her ex-husband to give you her address, but you need to lose it. If you don’t, you’ll regret it.”

“Who do you think you are to threaten me?” she growls out, her voice rough.

“I’m not threatening you. It’s a promise. Never again are you going to hurt your daughter.” I grit my teeth thinking about the sadness I saw in Sadie’s eyes only moments ago.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she grounds out.

“Sadie told me enough about what her life was like with you, but that’s over now.”

She rolls her eyes, “You’ll be gone next week. You might as well leave your shit in your truck because you’ll be packing it up again.”

Not if I have any say in the matter.

“Too bad for you, I’m never leaving.”

“Oh,” her gray eyebrows pop up in surprise. “Did you get her pregnant? Way to go. It’s more than that husband of hers ever accomplished.”

My heart sinks into my stomach at the thought that I’ll never be able to get Sadie pregnant. Never round with my child.

It doesn’t matter though. If she wants a child, we can adopt or find a sperm donor. Whatever it takes if she decides that’s what she wants.

“Oh, by the look on your face, I guess you’re just as incompetent,” she cackles, her old face wrinkling even more with her laughter. “Well, keep trying if you want to keep her in your life because it won’t take her long to see the light and realize that you’re much too good for her.”

Even though I was taught to respect my elders, it’s nearly impossible to do at the moment. It’s taking everything in me to remain in control, but I won’t let her win.

Instead I start to walk away, turning to look over my shoulder at her. “By the time I get back with my boxes, you better be off the property.”

Her face scrunches up in disgust or protest, I don’t know what, but she doesn’t say a word. After a few minutes of trying to stare me down, Sadie’s mother finally gets the hint that no one will be giving her what she wants at this house, and stalks off across the yard and down the street.

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