“Have you touched our daughter?” Laura asked.
I balked at the woman before I started to laugh.
“You can’t be serious. Theresa?” I asked.
“Yes!” Glen bellowed. “Theresa! My daughter!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down.”
“Don’t you tell me to calm down, boy. You tell me right now, have you touched our daughter in any way? Have you laid your hands on her?”
“No, Mr. Glen. I would never do that to her. Or to you,” I said.
“You’re lying to me.”
“No, sir. I’m not. I haven’t ever touched Theresa.”
“Do you believe him?” Glen asked as he looked back at his wife.
I looked over at her and saw the hesitation in her eyes. What was going on? Had something happened? I mean, I knew I stole glances at her every now and again.
Thersa was a special girl. A great personality and a killer smile, despite all her awkward teenage-ness. But after what they had done for me? Taking me in after my parents kicked me out.
I would never betray their trust like that.
“Look, you guys have to believe me. I don’t know what’s going on, but you guys have been my saving fucking grace.”
“Language,” Laura said.
“Sorry. Sorry. I would never do that to Theresa,” I said. “And I would never break your trust like that, Mr. Glen. You’ve gotta believe me.”
“Maybe I misunderstood what she said, Glen,” Laura said.
I swung my eyes her way. Had Theresa said I’d done something to her?
“I’m not a bad guy, Mr. Glen. I would treat Theresa with respect like she deserves.”
“So you do admit it. You have a thing for my daughter,” he said.
“No, I don’t. But you’re making it sound like I’m some sort of predator.”
“Daddy?” Theresa asked, coming into the room, a look of horror on her face. “What’s going on?”
“You stay out of this,” Glen said.
“Don’t talk to her like that. Nothing’s going on, I swear,” I said.
“What’s he talking about?” Theresa asked. “What’s going on?”
“Laura, get her out of here,” Glen said.
“Come on, honey. Let’s get Jane home,” Laura said.
“No. Wait a second. What’s going on? Why is Dad upset with Grant?” Theresa asked.
I could hear the panic in her voice as I turned my gaze toward her. Theresa’s hair was wild from sleep, and her glasses were cock-eyed on her face. She was wearing her same clothes from yesterday.
But I hated the look of fear in her eyes.