Page 264 of Ruptured
“Then shouldn’t you not want Daddy to drink?”
“I’ve always had an almost unrealistic trust in your father, love.”
“Take thealmostout of it,” Rebel grumbled.
Mom sipped her water. “I said exactly what I meant. It was almost unrealistic because I never demanded Christopher not drink. I had faith that he’d never harm me.”
Eyeing her, Rebel drank again. “And look how that turned out,” she scoffed as she set the bottle on the bar.
“Exactly as I expected, sweetheart.”
“Must be a pretty boring life,” Rebel sniped.
“Mom doesn’t mean that way,” CJ snapped. “She means Dad was never a mean drunk.”
Nodding, Mom smiled. “I was wondering when you’d enter the building. And, yeah, Reb, CJ’s right. Christopher has never been a mean drunk. He never attacked me.”
“I beg to differ,” Rebel said.
“Your father has never tried to force me into sex, Rebel,” Mom snapped. “Youmuststop interfering in my fights. No matter who it’s between. If I need your help, I will ask. I appreciate your loyalty and I need your tender, love, and care in the aftermath.”
“But Momma—”
Mom shook her head. “No, Reb. We’re at a critical stage right now. I don’t want either Digger or Johnnie to die, but I’m sick of them. Your interference just weakens me further in their eyes.”
“I thought you appreciated it,” Rebel said in a small voice. “You don’t call me down.”
“I have once or twice and you ignore me. And Idoappreciate it. We all have roles to play. We’re all key players in a very complicated world. Respect iseverything. No one can earn it for you. You have to stand on your own merits. You and I can plot in private. In public, unless I ask for your assistance, allow me to fight my own battles, sweetheart. When you undermine me, you undermine Christopher.”
Rebel stiffened. “He shouldn’t factor into this—”
“I’ve spent my life being his old lady. Heespeciallyfactors into this. He will ruin his club to protect me. A weakened me means a weakened him. My disrespect leads to his. His disrespect leads to mine. It’s a chess match, Rebel. Youcannotexist on brawn alone. You’ve got to use your brain, too. And diplomacy.”
Tears pooled in Rebel’s eyes and she clenched her jaw.
Mom sighed. “Go upstairs and take a hot bath. I’ll come and check on you in a little while so we can talk a little more.”
“Do you mind if I smoke, Mom?” CJ asked once his little sister ran out of the room.
“Not at all, son.”
Several minutes of silence passed while CJ enjoyed his beer and his cigarette.
Mom smiled and held up her phone. “Stretch wiped the serves of my confrontation with Digger. Disaster somewhat averted. Christopher will be quite suspicious about all this “lost” footage.”
CJ nodded.
“So…” Mom finished her water, sat the empty container aside, and leaned against the bar. “How do you feel about everything?”
“No way,” he admitted. “I was just watching.”
“I noticed. An outsider looking in, CJ.”
Guilt rushed through him.
“Ialmostunderstand Christopher’s stance.”
“Mom!”
