Page 12 of Redemption
Shrugging my shoulder, I say, “You pick.”
I don’t make eye contact, keeping them firmly planted on the dash in front of me. Hayes is like looking at the sun—stare too long, and it starts to hurt.
The radio flips from station to station until he finally lands on one. A country song croons through the radio, and for the rest of my life, I’ll never forget how Hayes’s smooth voice serenades me as he drives me home.
It will forever be in my top ten moments.
______________________
“Mallorie Jade, will you come down here a moment,” my mother calls from the foot of the stairs.
Dread fills my stomach, making me want to puke. When I got home earlier, she stood at the door as Hayes dropped me off. Her sharp eyes narrowed when Hayes ran around the truck and opened my door for me, but she didn’t say anything as I walked past her and into the house—something very unlike her. I should have known she wouldn’t let it go long—not that it’s my fault Langston forgot me.
Sighing, I shove my homework off my lap and crawl off my bed. It won’t do to keep the queen waiting.
My feet are like lead as I lift them, taking me to my doom. When I’m standing in front of her at the bottom of the steps, she doesn’t bother explaining what she called me here for. She flicks her cherry red fingernail, indicating for me to follow, and says, “Come along.”
I follow like a well-trained puppy—except I’m not. I push the rules just to see how far they will bend until they finally break because maybe when they break, I’ll be able to be me—the real me, not the one my mother tries to force me to be. But my journey to being myself is long, and sometimes I have to choose my battles. This is not one I want to fight, so I follow behind her, keeping quiet as we go.
Our house is big. Dr. and Mrs. Harrison wouldn’t stand for anything else, but as we pass room after unused room, I can’t help but think of the coziness of the house Hayes lives in.
Langston went over there this summer, and being the annoying little sister that I am, I insisted on coming along. It had nothing to do with hanging out with my big brother and everything to do with the fact that I wanted a chance to see Hayes in his element. When we got there, I was shocked by his family’s pure love for each other. His mom was warm and welcoming, inviting me into their house with a hug. It made me long for something our house will never be.
“I need to discuss your father’s award ceremony with you. Sit,” she says, pointing to a high-backed chair in the library. She takes the chair directly across from mine, sitting gracefully and tucking her ankles together to cross her legs.
She waits until I’m sitting to continue. “I’ve spoken with your father, and we both think it’s time that you start directing your attention to more appropriate avenues. That mind of yours likes to run amok, and you are getting too old for that. I’m in charge of planning the award ceremony at the hospital this year, and you will help me.”
“Oh, yeah?” I ask. “Will we be getting quality mother-daughter time, baking, cooking, and putting together centerpieces?”
I’m afraid my eye is twitching from how hard I’m fighting back a smirk. We both know she doesn’t get involved in menial things like that.
She looks down her nose at me, her stare regal and deadly all at once.
“If you are done with your sarcasm, I will continue.”
According to her, I’m never done being sarcastic, but I sigh and nod my head anyway.
“Good. Now, here is the guest list. We will review that together, and your father and I have decided that you are old enough to bring a date along this year if you would like. Here is a list of boys whom we have pre-approved. Choose wisely from that list,” she says, slipping the list into my hands that have suddenly turned to ice.
Horror hits me in the chest at the idea that my parents think I would ever choose one of their approved boys to date. Add on the fact that they have a list, to begin with, and it’s a recipe for disaster mixed with a healthy dose of meddling.
My hands shake as I place the note on the side table next to me. From anger or horror, who can really say? They both inevitably feel the same when I’m in my mother’s presence.
“No, thank you,” I say, going for the polite socialite smile that’s been drilled into me since I was a toddler.
Surprise filters across her face for a second, but my mother seems to view emotions as a weakness, so she quickly schools her face back into her polite mask. I don’t know why she’s shocked. It’s not like I typically fall in line with her demands.
“If you are not ready to bring a date to a function, your father and I understand. However, I would like to make this perfectly clear—you are to stay away from Hayes Miller. He may be the poor boy your brother took in, but he will not become your stray as well.”
Embarrassment heats my cheeks because it’s clear that she’s caught onto my crush on Hayes, but I thought I had done a good job at hiding it. To try and save face, I say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Hayes gave me a ride home from dance because Langston stayed late to practice.”
Her lips purse as she stares at me, distaste clear in the set of her mouth.
“I see how you look at the boy when he is not looking, Mallorie Jade. Do not patronize me. However, I have made my feelings clear on the matter, and you will obey them.”
She stares at me until I give her a sharp nod, then says, “One more thing. I’m positive your brother has chosen someone appropriate for the function, but I’ll need you to keep an eye on him. You know he has a bleeding heart for things. People like to take advantage of that. At least that’s one thing I can count on you for—you’re always good at watching out for your brother.”
Just not from you and Dad.
