Payback is a bitch, Jude mumbled.

She silently moved past my father and towards me, because I was standing at the bottom of the stairs.

“You’ll pay for this,” she sneered evilly. “Even if it takes my life, I swear you’ll pay,” she vowed solemnly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My dad is turned away from me and I know it hurt him to do that, but it had to be done. He sighs into his hands that cover his face.

“I’m sorry you had to hear that, Spencer. Don’t believe a word she said. Our marriage has been on the rocks ever since we moved out here.”

“I know what she said isn’t true.”

“Come here, honey,” he says, extending his arms out to embrace me. “It’s okay now. She won’t be able to hurt you anymore. You will always be welcome in my home.”

“Thanks, dad,” I say against his chest.

We stay in this position until my mom clears her throat in an obvious manner.

“Arthur,” my mom says in a formal tone. “I guess this is goodbye…unless you’ve seen the error of your ways.” She sniffs. “I suppose I could take you back,” she says confidently.

“I don’t know how many ways I can say this. Let’s find out. Goodbye. So long sucker, see ya, bon voyage, arrivederci, later loser, goodbye, good riddance, peace out, let the doorknob hit ya where the good Lord split ya, don’t come back around here no more, hasta la vista, kick rocks, and get the hell out,” he says, ushering her outside and slamming the door in her face.

“Let’s go put your stuff back in your room,” he says to me.

The rest day at school was quite uneventful compared to the day before. All I could think about was Ashley and the decision she was soon to make. The possibility of her rejecting me gnawed at me all day, which is why I was relieved once seventh period rolled around. I have to know!

Every time I tried to make eye contact with her, she would look away, which was unnerving. Was that a sign of what was to come? I couldn’t help but be somewhat pessimistic about what her answer would be.