Page 82 of Degradation
Then my door bursts open. She’s on her feet, the controller thumping to the floor. She backs away.
‘I knew it! I knew you were in here.’
His accusing face finds me, and I try not to let him see my fear.
‘Pop,’ I begin, but he grabs me by my shirt and pushes me into the couch. ‘Stay! I’ll deal with you and your lies afterward.’
Marguerite stands where she is and my father stalks toward her, looming over her much closer than she likes anyone to be.
He doesn’t say a word, just screams in her face. She lets out a cry at the sudden noise and I look away. I know what he’s doing. He found her weaknesses early on. Touch. Loud noises. And he uses them. I don’t think he’s bothered to find any others, though. These ones do a good enough job to punish her.
I wish April would do something. She knows, but she won’t stand up to my dad the way she did at the beginning, not anymore.
‘You hit Michael Larson! He has a cracked nose. This is the last straw, Marguerite. Your mother agrees! If you refuse to learn to act like a respectable member of this family, we will send you somewhere that will teach you! I will not have any more of these embarrassing incidents.’
My fists clench. ‘He hit her with something, Dad. There’s welts all over her arm!’
He turns on me swiftly, eyes flashing. ‘She walked up to him at lunch and hit him. He had to grab a stick and fend her off because she knocked him down and tried to kick him.’
‘That isn’t true!’
My father rolls his eyes. ‘Michael already told his parents everything. Two other boys confirmed what happened. Thankfully, his father has agreed not to press charges, otherwise the police would have been called over this shit. Now, shut your mouth and sit DOWN!’
So, he’s paid off Mike’s father. I do as he says even though I know those two boys will be Dan Mathers and Fred Coppa. They’re Mike’s friends and they’d say anything he told them to. Marguerite isn’t cowering visibly. She’s stoic as usual. My father hates that she doesn’t quake and quiver the way he’s used to people doing when they’re faced with his temper, the way Andy and I do. The way I’ll bet April does behind closed doors.
He points at her, pushing her back with his finger. ‘One more chance, Marguerite. I mean it. No more incidents.’
He turns around to leave but when he gets to the door, he turns back with a smirk. ‘Oh, I almost forgot, you’re cleaning the bathrooms all week, Marguerite. The staff have been informed. Also, dinner tonight is shrimp followed by beef and no dessert. If you don’t eat it, you can have it for breakfast and then dinner tomorrow night and every night until you do eat it! No more video games either.’ His eyes narrow on me. ‘For either of you. For a month!’
Daisy doesn’t move after he leaves. I turn off the video game because I know he’ll send someone in to check.
We’re still in the same places, wondering what to do, when there’s a knock.
‘Is Marguerite in there?’
April.
I say that she is, and Marguerite’s mom opens the door. ‘Can I come in?’
I nod.
April enters. She’s dressed in a crisp pantsuit with her hair up, looking every inch the Novelle wife my father wanted.
She stands in front of her daughter, looking tired. ‘This can’t keep happening, sweetheart. This is John’s home and his world. He’s let us come and be a part of it after your dad... He’s helped us a lot and he didn’t have to. Appearances are very important here.’
She sighs, putting her head to Marguerite’s lightly. ‘I know you don’t understand, but you don’t really need to. What you do need to know is that you’re starting to get a reputation at this school as a troublemaker. If you don’t turn it around, John is going to send you away. I don’t want him to, but you’re getting worse, my little Daisy. I won’t be able to stop him if things go bad. Your dad wouldn’t want that for you and neither do I, but we’re part of a family now. It isn’t just about you anymore. You have two brothers too.’
She gives Marguerite a kiss on the head.
‘I’m sorry. I wish I hadn’t brought us here, but it’s too late now,’ she whispers so low that I don’t think I was supposed to hear.
She turns to go, giving me a small smile. ‘Get your homework done, Jack, sweetie, and I’ll do some laps with you in the pool later if you want.’
I nod, watching as she leaves. I like April a lot. She’s always trying to make sure we all spend time together, although my father is usually not around.
‘Sorry about dinner,’ I say quietly to Marguerite. ‘I know you hate shrimp and beef. My dad knows too. You get that, right? Don’t show him stuff like that. Sometimes you have to pretend so people don’t know stuff you don’t want them to.’
I glance over at her. ‘And stay away from Mike Larson. He’s an asshole.’
