Page 235 - My FlipBook
P. 235

T R A I L O F C R U M B S


              I’d like, Dad? One where a father stands up for his kids, instead
              of offering them as a sacrifice to some lunatic. One where
              a father doesn’t take off”—her inhuman calm shattered—
              “IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, leaving his kids to fend
              for themselves!” She felt her face distort, a fleck of spittle
              fly. A deranged person. Roger cowered, crushed. She stepped
              away to keep from slapping his face.
                 She backed out of the living room and turned at the

              bottom of the stairs. Now she had to say it, couldn’t help
              herself. “Why, Dad? Why? You put us in harm’s way for seven
              years and then left us. I’ll never understand.”
                 Roger shook his head and rubbed a hand over his mouth.
              “I guess…I guess I didn’t think I could handle losing another
              wife.”
                 “Do you realize the price you paid? The price Ash and

              I paid?”
                 He nodded, his eyes manic. “I’m so sorry, Greta. I’ll do
              whatever you ask to prove I won’t let you down again.”
                 Greta continued, ignoring his apology. “First you lost wife
              number one. Then, in trying to keep wife number two happy,
              you lost your two children. Then you left your horror of a
              second wife anyway. Congratulations, Dad. You managed to
              lose everyone.” She turned and ran up the stairs before he
              could respond.

                 Thankfully, Elgin wasn’t in his chair that night. Greta
              curled up in hers, shaded by fern leaves, and cried.







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