Page 109 of Misrule
“What happened, boy?” he asked gruffly.
What happened? Kendall happened, as always. The woman terrorized everybody but Meggie would be damned if she allowed her to frighten CJ.
“Then what the fuck happen, son?” Christopher asked, and Meggie regretted missing CJ’s first response.
“Does it really matter?” she asked, a dull ache in her chest.
“Aunt Kenda mean,” CJ sniffled, answering Christopher despite Meggie’s question. “She don’t treat me like at the ball, when MegAnn was there. And you. A whole lotta peoples.”
“What the fuck happen now, CJ?” Christopher asked.
“Her grabbed my arm and shook me, then her hit my booty and legs so hard, ‘Law. Real hard. Her say she was going to beat me again cuz I won’t say Aunt Kend-All. I call her Aunt Kenda.”
Kendall squinted at CJ. “He’s lying,” she said without flinching.
Meggie bristled. Kendall looked perfect and put-together, not a hair out of place, her make-up flawless. Her surface beauty hid so much ugliness.Too much.
Too much for Meggie to keep ignoring. Someone had to stop her.
“You and Johnnie got a bad fucking habit of wanting to hit other people’s kids, Red,” Mortician told her.
“I don’t want to hit him. Ididn’thit him,” Kendall insisted. “I told you he’s lying.”
“Nuh-uh, Aunt Kenda!” CJ cried, tears wetting his reddened little face.
“My boy ain’t a liar.”
Folding her arms, Kendall lifted her chin. “Even if it was true, which itisn’t, there’s not a lot you could do to me.”
A buzzing started in Meggie’s head at Kendall’s boast. The past few days had been so difficult for Meggie. She was worried about Christopher, heartsore over their arguments, and upset with herself for denying Christopher’s want of another baby. She’d pushed all that aside to make Kendall feel as welcome as possible, so she wouldn’t feel so alone. Being isolated from everyone had never helped Kendall in the least.
But Meggie was on the verge of exploding, leaping on Kendall and pummeling her into the ground.
She’d defended Kendall to Christopher time after time. Had even talked Christopher into giving Kendall the house that was meant for their protection should the need ever arise. After overlooking the rumors of Kendall almost punching CJ, she came into Meggie’shouseand actuallyhither son?
“You would never hit me,” Kendall boasted.
No,Christophercouldn’t hit her. “Leave, Kendall.”
“And,” Kendall went on, ignoring Meggie, “because of Johnnie, you wouldn’t kill me, either.”
“I could shake the fuck out of you,” Christopher snapped. “Dangle your motherfuckin’ ass from a fifty-story building and accidently let you go.”
“As if,” Kendall bit out. “CJ is a stupid little nothing, Outlaw. Just like you.” She turned angry eyes to Meggie. “Your son’s a goddamn liar.”
“Kendall!” Roxy shouted in anger, while everyone else seemed shocked into speechlessness, even Zoann. “Get the fuck out of here, girl.”
Instead of following Roxy’s order, Kendall stared at Johnnie, with accusation and anger. Even hate.
“My son isn’t stupid and he isn’t a liar.” Meggie marched to where Kendall and Johnnie stood. “I’m telling you once more. It’s time for you to go. I was going to talk to you about the incident from a few weeks ago. The supposed punch you almost gave to CJ. I defended you, but…” She huffed in a breath. “Oh, never mind. Just leave before I do something I regret.”
“Ha! Another shallow Caldwell with empty fucking threats.” Kendall let out a nasty laugh. “I fucking dare you to raise your hand to me. That’ll be the last fucking thing you do for a while.”
“Touch Megan and that’ll be the last motherfuckin’ time you ever fuckin’ breathe, cunt,” Christopher snarled.
“Back the fuck off my wife, Christopher,” Johnnie warned.
“Fuck him, my love,” Kendall called. “This is between Meggie and I. Unlike her, I fight my own fucking battles.”
