Page 27 of Wood Riddance
She nodded. “You gonna tell me what’s wrong?”
I leaned back in the chair and cocked a brow. “Do you care? Or do you derive power from my pain?”
She pressed her lips together and rolled her eyes. “That’s exactly it. Tell me all about how miserable and shitty your life is. It’ll charge me up for the week.”
I didn’t want to smile, but the excitement that flashed in her eyes as she insulted me was captivating. Adele was a live current. She practically shot off dangerous sparks any time I came near, but that wasn’t much of a deterrent. I wanted to get closer, despite knowing that I would get burned.
I tilted forward, putting my forearms on her desk and lowering my voice. “It’s Merry.”
Her eyes widened, and she sat a little straighter. “She okay?”
“She’s having a hard time.” I watched as her expression changed. The fire in her eyes banked and was replaced by true compassion. The rapid switch threw me, but I kept going. “We moved back here to give her stability. So she’d have the love of her extended family. Alicia and I grew up here, and our families are here. It seemed like the best choice. But it’s been unbearable since my dad’s arrest. For a second this spring, it felt like things were dying down, but now that the trial is coming up, it’s all come back with a vengeance.”
“Are kids teasing her?”
I nodded. “Living here feels impossible most days. She’s being teased a lot. And the comments? These kids can be downright nasty. Then there are the adults who shoot us dirty looks and gossip about my family nonstop.”
“That’s fucking bullshit,” she said. The fury was back, though she kept her voice low to keep from disturbing my little girl, who was still sleeping serenely on the love seat. “She’s only ten.”
My chest squeezed in response. I appreciated her fury on Merry’s behalf. “We can’t escape it. If it’s not hostility we’re confronted with, then it’s pity and whispers. Rumors.”
She closed her eyes and let out a long breath, like she understood. And she probably did better than most. Because she had been the recipient of plenty of pity. The small-town rumor mill was inescapable and endless.
“People suck,” she said quietly.
Usually, my interactions with this woman were nonstop. Shouting, wild gestures, and the exhilarating feeling of sparring with a worthy adversary.
But in this moment, she was still, quiet. She listened. And there wasn’t an ounce of pity in her eyes. Only compassion. So I kept talking. “If it were up to me, we’d leave and never look back. But her mom is settled and happy here. We came back so Merry could have the best possible childhood. But right now, that seems impossible.”
“You’re brave.” For once, she wasn’t lobbing an insult at me. No, there was no fire behind her words, no anger in her eyes. And I felt that compliment in my bones.
Unaccustomed to her kindness, I opened my mouth to make some kind of quip. But I clamped my jaw shut. It was just like me to ruin a human moment, to bluster over the vulnerability I had shown.
“I’m trying,” I said instead, my heart heavy in my chest. “To fix everything. To make it right for Merry. But I’m just so tired.”
“That’s why you’re here. Working for us.” It wasn’t a question.
I nodded and held her gaze, hoping she could sense my sincerity. Sense how important this was. “I need the job. And I’m trying to make it work for Merry.”
“I respect that.”
We sat like that, regarding one another, for an uncomfortably long time. What the hell was happening? Were we becoming friends? My heart pounded as I studied her.
My palms were sweaty, and I could feel the weight of her gaze on my skin. My brain spun with things to say, but I found myself completely tongue tied. So I stood, breaking the spell, and woke Merry gently. The day was coming to an end, and I was due to drop her off at Alicia’s tonight, where I was sure to get an earful about letting her come to work with me.
Once she’d stretched and yawned and hopped up from the love seat, Merry gave both He-Man and Adele giant hugs and said her goodbyes.
As we were walking out, I turned to close the office door behind me.
“Stretch?” Adele said. “You’re doing a great job with her.”
With a silent nod, I pulled the door closed.
She may have possessed the personality of a fire-breathing dragon, but Adele’s heart was good. And that only made this situation more dangerous for me.
Chapter8
Finn
