The Domination Game Book 2
Автор
Jen Byars
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Prologue
ADIRE
My eyes were bloodshot as I stepped into my mom’s room on Christmas morning.
Lucy was perched on a chair, and my mom was knitting a vibrant pink blanket, both engrossed in A Christmas Story playing on the small TV.
As I entered, my gaze immediately found Lucy. She put down the TV guide, understanding that I needed to talk to her privately.
My mom, however, was blissfully unaware of the tension in the room. “Kitten! Merry Christmas,” she greeted me, her voice carrying the off-key cheerfulness that was becoming more frequent.
I leaned in to kiss her forehead, still dressed in my dinner clothes, now stained with the dirt from my knees after retrieving Allie’s spare key.
I hid my swollen hand behind my back, not wanting her to see the damage I’d inflicted on myself. “Merry Christmas, Mom. Did you have a good morning?” I asked.
Her hair was neatly pulled back into a ponytail, her preferred style for relaxed days. But even in relaxation, she was the picture of elegance and composure.
“Oh yes. Lucy made me confetti pancakes this morning. And guess what she did with the syrup?” she asked, her voice filled with excitement.
“No, what?”
“She warmed the maple syrup in the microwave, and then added a pat of butter!” She laughed joyfully. “Best thing I’ve ever tasted,” she told me, contentment in her voice.
“Wow, that does sound delicious, Mom. I can’t wait for her to make me some,” I replied, kissing her perfectly styled hair.
Lucy got up and grabbed her cigarettes from the kitchen counter. “Loretta, darling, I’m going to step out for a quick smoke.
“I don’t want to miss the part where they put the lamp in the window,” she told my mom as she headed for the door.
I gently touched my mom’s shoulder. “Mom, do you mind if I join Lucy for some fresh air?” I asked softly.
She was too engrossed in our family’s favorite Christmas movie to pay attention to my words. Her knitting needles started moving again as she chuckled at the TV show.
“Oh no, kitten. Go right ahead,” she mumbled, her eyes glued to the screen.
Lucy had already stepped outside. I noticed she’d picked up a bandage wrap for my hand, having spotted the swelling.
As I stepped into the small courtyard, she gave me a once-over, then shook her head. “You’re still in last night’s clothes. And where’s your jacket? It’s freezing out here!”
She lit her cigarette and came over to examine my swollen hand. “I think you might’ve broken it, sweet pea. How did this happen?” she asked.
I shook my head, not ready to spill everything that had happened.
“Is this about me taking your momma back to Georgia? I know you love her, A.B., but I love her too.
“I’ve already told my kids we’re moving to Savannah. They’re okay with it, I promise. They’ll love your momma just as much, and you can visit her anytime you want.”
I nodded. “Mom’s sick, isn’t she?” I whispered, dreading the truth but needing to know.
“Yes, I believe she is, sweet pea.”
I choked back a sob, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I thought so. Is it just Alzheimer’s, or is there more?”
“I think there’s more to it, but yes, Alzheimer’s is definitely a part of it,” she told me, her voice heavy with sadness.
I looked up at her, and she met my gaze as she carefully wrapped my hand.
“Lucy, are you sure you want to do this? It’s a lot to take on. Should I quit my job and move to Georgia with you two? I’m here, and I am her daughter,” I whispered.
“I know you are, and that’s why I thought you’d be upset with me for taking her away from you. I know how much you love her.” She released my hand and took a drag from her cigarette.
“I’ve been with her for eleven years, Adire, and I love her.
“I want to take care of her, but I need you to sign some papers that say I’m her caretaker and can make medical decisions for her. Are you okay with that?” she asked.
I held my hand to my chest, trying to ease the throbbing.
“I’ll sign whatever you need, whenever you need it. I’m just a phone call away,” I assured her, shivering in the cold.
She rubbed my arms to warm me up. “Let’s get you inside,” she chuckled.
I shook my head, still needing to tell her the real reason for my visit.
I took the cigarette from her and inhaled deeply. “I want you to take Mom away from here…now. I want you both out of Revere, out of Massachusetts, by tomorrow morning.
“I don’t care what you tell Mom; you just need to get her away from here, and I think Georgia sounds perfect,” I said.
“If you need help with moving, just let me know, and I’ll cover the costs. If you need to pack a suitcase and have movers come for the rest, that’s fine. I’ll pay for that too.”
Lucy’s dark-brown eyes widened in surprise, not expecting me to agree with her plan to take my mom out of state without a fight.
“A.B., what on earth is going on?” she asked, reclaiming her cigarette.
My hands were trembling, and I balled up the uninjured one, trying to keep my composure. “I ran into someone tonight at Davis’s place,” I said softly.
“Who did you meet that’s got you this rattled?”
A tear slipped out, and I quickly brushed it away. “I met Davis’s father,” I whispered.
She squinted at me, not quite grasping the significance. “And…”
“Lucy, Davis’s father is the man who hurt Mom.”
“What?” she exclaimed into the deserted courtyard.
“I’m telling you, he’s the one,” I insisted in a hushed tone.
“Honey, that was ages ago. How can you be certain after all this time?” she asked. But I could see it in her eyes: she was hoping, praying, I was mistaken.
I let out a bitter laugh. “If there’s one thing I remember about that night, it’s sneaking around the corner and seeing him grab her ass and say some disgusting things to her.”
I laughed again, but it was a laugh filled with pain. “Looks like the old bastard hasn’t changed his ways,” I told her angrily, recalling what I’d just witnessed.
Lucy sank onto a bench. “Oh, Lord, honey! I never thought I’d hear that from anyone,” she said, lost in thought.
“And now you want us to move to Savannah because of him?”
I walked over and flopped down gracelessly, hugging myself for warmth.
“Yes, and I want you to do it as soon as you can. The last thing I need is Davis’s father trying to find her or Mom bumping into him on the street.
“Can you imagine the chaos if he suddenly showed up to talk to or threaten Mom?” I said firmly.
“But why would he come looking for her?”
“Because of me, Lucy. Because of what I said today, what I accused him of in front of his whole family. I gave him a hint that she was still around here, and I’m Davis’s fiancée.
“Now he knows there’s someone out there who knows what he’s done. And I’m scared of what he might do,” I said angrily.
I shivered, and she put her arm around me. “Are you saying you’re going to marry that boy?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No! How can I marry him now? He’s the son of the man who tried to kill my mother… I can’t. I just can’t!” I whispered, wiping my runny nose unceremoniously with my sleeve.
Lucy handed me a handkerchief. “Alright, honey. I’ll have us packed up by tonight, and we’ll be gone by dawn.” She nodded, taking one last puff of her cigarette.
“So what are you going to do now?”
I took a deep breath of the icy air, feeling it sting my lungs before I spoke. “I’m leaving. I’m leaving him, my brownstone, and Massachusetts altogether. I plan to be gone for a while.
“I’ll come and visit you in Savannah when I’m done with my next job.”
She placed her dark hand over mine tenderly. “And the boy?” she asked softly.
Whenever I’m with Lucy, I feel like a fifteen-year-old girl again. I shrugged, just like I used to do back then.
“Life has thrown me another curveball. How can I get past who his father is to my mother?”
“Sins of the father, honey. They shouldn’t fall on the son,” she suggested. She turned her head and looked at me. “Last night, you told Loretta you loved him. Is that true?”
“Yes. I still love him, even though I can’t,” I glanced down at my hand, realizing I’d need to visit the emergency room before I left.
“So anyway, I’ll come see you and Mom before I head out tonight.
“I have some personal things to take care of. But I’m going to get you two new phones so I can reach you whenever I need to,” I told her.
She nodded. “You going to the hospital to get your hand looked at?”
I bit my lip, the pain still throbbing intensely. “Yes. I’ll take care of that first.”
“You’re not even going to tell your boy you’re leaving him? Don’t you think he deserves to know what you’re planning?” she asked, her face creased with a deep frown.
“No, and I don’t plan on telling him,” I replied.
“So you’re just going to run away now?”
“Lucy, when is this ever going to end for me? We both know that whenever I get seriously involved with a man, it seems to have serious consequences for my life and my family.
“Isn’t it time to call a spade a spade?” I asked with a shrug.
“You accepted his marriage proposal?”
“Yes, I did.”
“I don’t think a man that in love with you is just going to move on, A.B.,” she responded.
“I’m sure he’ll move on, Lucy. They all do, don’t they?” I murmured sadly.
She shook her head at me. “It seemed like he had plans for you, girl. You need to settle down, A.B., start a family,” she urged me.
But I shook my head back at her, unhappy with the direction the conversation was taking. “Things got messy, and messy doesn’t suit a woman, Lucy.
“I let him go, and I’m going back to work. That’s all there is to it.”
“Why do you look so down if it’s that simple?” she asked, her hand soothingly rubbing my back.
I pushed myself off the bench, heading for the door, but then I turned back to face her.
“There are things, Lucy, that just aren’t meant to be. Even if we want them more than anything else we’ve ever wanted.
“I’ve always been practical about life and the choices we have to make.
“I’ve always taken what life throws at me, and now it’s time to get back on track and move forward. That’s what I always do,” I said, keeping it simple.
Then I headed back to the door that led inside the house.
“Adire, Adire…” she called after me.
I paused, turning back to face her.
“People change, sweet pea. Sometimes, you can’t go back to who you were once you’ve broken out of that mold,” she said.
“Whether you like it or not, I see a change in you. There will be consequences if you don’t face your feelings and leave the man you love.”
Her words made me frown, but she went on. “Just remember, when you stumble from this decision and your knees are bruised and aching, you can always get back up, sweet pea.”
We locked eyes for a moment, this woman who was like a second mother to me.
“I’m going to say goodbye to Mom. I’ll arrange for your plane tickets and a car in Savannah within the hour.
“I’ll drop off the phones before I leave tonight,” I rushed out, not wanting to hear the truth in her words…not ready to admit the truth to myself.
