“Hello, Aggie.” I have never called her Mom or Mother. That’s not who she is to me. This woman standing before me is a money-hungry leech. I shoot a text to Fox, thankful we both have an app that allows us to call, text, or FaceTime from my computer to his phone. I have no idea what she’s going to do next, and that’s the biggest issue.
“Is that anyway to talk to your only living relative, especially your mother?” She arches her eyebrow. This woman might be a relative, but she’s not family and I tell her that. “You’re not my mother. You never have been and never will be. Why are you here?”
“That’s not the answer I was looking for.” She saunters in her stiletto heels, somehow managing not to trip in the sand between our decks while inviting herself over. That’s another reason I could never be anything like her. Who comes to the beach dressed in a black skirt suit, stilettos, and a face full of makeup? It’s a no for me. I’m in one of Fox’s shirts, which is hanging down to my knees, and I even stole a pair of his boxers, my hair is in a bun, and there’s nothing on my face. The best part about looking at Agatha is that it brings home the punch that my dad was the best parent I could ever have, and I’m more thankful than ever he was my foundation, even if it guts me daily that he isn’t here.
“That’s the only thing you have to say? If so, it’s time for you to leave.” I get up, my laptop secured to my chest, and walk inside Fox’s house.
“Not so fast.” She must have walked double time to get closer to me because by the time I make it to the sliding glass doors, Aggie is gripping my upper arm so bad, it’s painful.
I stand my ground, not wanting her to follow me into the house. Who knows what she’s capable of?
“What do you want?” I grind out, shrugging her off my arm. She moves but is way too close and in my personal space.
“Why do you think I’m here? After Gene got the judge to throw out my contesting of the will? Still not too sure how he went about that. I thought I had an in with Judge Smith. Shows just how much reach your father and Gene have in California. Too bad the same can’t be said for South Carolina.” I see my chance while she’s searching for something in her purse. I’m already crossing my fingers it’s cigarettes, but after her grabbing my arm and the way she’s talking, I can’t be sure, and I don’t know if Fox got my 9-1-1 text alert yet. So, I take matters into my own hands, watching her every move. When she pulls her hand out of her purse, I know it’s time for me to do what needs to be done.
She has a gun in her right hand. While she lights her cigarette with her other, that gun is going willy nilly. Christ, this is a mess. I really hope my plan works or that Fox gets here, and fast. That’s my last thought as I use my laptop as a weapon, using all my might, hitting her hands and her head all at the same time. My last thought when her gun explodes and before I lose consciousness is how I barely got any time with Fox, then I’m falling backwards.
19
Fox
I’m slamming my door shut to my truck when I hear a gun explode. I run around the house, phone in my hand, calling the cops when I round the corner.
“Christ.” I drop the phone. Mel is on the ground, no blood in sight, but she’s out cold. Her limbs lying haphazardly as I rush to her.
“Sunshine, baby, wake up.” I feel her pulse. It’s strong and steady, and she’s breathing. Those are all good signs, but why the fuck isn’t she waking up?
“I killed her, oh my God, I killed her!” That’s when I look around. I already know without even asking that she’s Melanie’s mother. If I weren’t worried about Mel, I’d probably grab the gun that’s close to me on the ground and kill her myself, but it won’t do Mel any good if I’m in prison, and Mel is my first priority. Instead, I block Aggie out and cradle the woman who has my hearts head in my lap until the ambulance arrives. I think about all the memories we’ve made in the short amount of time, the way she laughs, her smile that’s my ray of light on the rare occurrence I wake up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep. It’s Mel who helps me find comfort in her arms and body. When she’s having a rough day, she’ll come lay her head on my chest, and I’ll run my fingers through her hair until her breath evens out and she’s either asleep or all is right in her world again.