But that was where she was wrong. I wasn’t bluffing. I just wasn’t taking the chance that the cops would disregard the video or deem it inconclusive. Wasn’t taking the chance this schemer might go and convince that trusting man that I’d construed it all wrong. Take her back or give her another chance.
I just wanted her gone.
“What I want is for you to go. Go pack your things before Rex gets home and get out of town. Don’t ever come back.”
Her blue eyes flamed with hate. Ice cold. “Are you insane? I’m not doing a thing you say.”
“Then I’ll gladly forward this along. And if something happens to me, who knows where one of these videos is going to pop up.”
Steam might as well have been rolling from her ears, her jaw sharp and clenched, hate pouring out. “You bitch, just like your snot of a granddaughter.”
“Maybe, but it sure beats being a thief and liar and a cheat. I’m thinking your husband might agree.”
She paled, as if she were only just then realizing I was serious. The words were choppy when she released them from her vile mouth.
“You’re asking me to leave?”
“Oh, I’m not askin’ anything. I’m tellin’ you.”
“So what . . . I get out of town, don’t come back, and that video isn’t ever gonna appear? You’re saying those are your terms? You aren’t angling for anything more?”
Leave it to the thief to think I was aiming to steal from her.
“That’s it. Just go.”
She laughed a sour, hostile laugh, before she squared up, lifted her chin as if it didn’t hurt her none. “Fine.”
She spun around and flew back up the steps, door banging as she rushed inside. Rex’s dog, Missy, yelped when she slid out the door, door catching her tail before she went to stand guard at Frankie’s side. Frankie giggled and pushed her fingers through the dog’s hair. I took a couple steps into the driveway, figuring I best be guarding, too.
Ten minutes later, Janel came barreling back out, wrangling a big suitcase in both hands. She fumbled down the steps and heaved them into her trunk before she went running back up the stairs.
She scooped Frankie Leigh off her feet and raced back with her to the car. Missy scrambled down at their sides, whining, sensing that something was wrong.
Panic just about squeezed my heart into a million pieces, and I rushed that direction just as Janel was shoving Frankie into the backseat. She slammed the door shut and rushed to get into the driver’s seat before I could get there. Gunning it in reverse, she started to peel out of the drive.
I barely caught onto the back handle and jerked open the door. Hating the idea of putting Frankie in danger, but I couldn’t allow her to drive off with her.
The car screeched to a stop as I was hauling Frankie into my arms. Janel’s door flew open, fury on her face when she jumped out. “You might want me gone, but I’m not leaving without my daughter.”
She tore at my arms, skin breaking under the claw of her nails. Frankie started crying. Crying and crying. A jumble of confusion and fear. A baby who deserved none of this.
I fought her, backing down the driveway and holding Frankie protectively against my chest. “You’re not taking her, Janel. You are the devil and I’m not gonna allow you to taint this child. Leave her or I’ll gladly die showing Rex exactly who you are.”
Missy jumped around us. Yipping and barking. Not sure who she was supposed to be fighting and who she was supposed to be protecting. Janel continued to try to rip Frankie from my arms, two of us scuffling closer to the road.
And I tried to hold on. Not to let Frankie go. But Janel was stronger than I was. She finally tore her free, a sneer of victory on her face. That was right when we heard the loud rumble of the ever-distinguishable truck, the powerful engine rumbling as it turned onto the far neighborhood street.
For a second, Janel froze. I took the opportunity to lunge for her, grasping for Frankie, arm locking around her waist. I dislodged her from Janel’s hold just before Janel shoved me just as hard as she could. Both Frankie and I tumbled to the ground.
A wail of a cry rose from Frankie, and she climbed to her feet, wobbling at the back of the car. I skidded across the gravel, coming to a stop just to the side.
That engine roared in the distance. Coming closer and closer.
Panicked, Janel jumped back into the front seat and threw her car in reverse. Caring about nothing but setting herself free.
I screamed, “No!”
Tires screeched and dust billowed. It was so loud, the engine and my screams and Frankie’s cries, and I couldn’t make sense of the picture, nothing except her car hitting the street, shifting into drive, and then tearing down the road in the opposite direction of Rex’s truck.