Twisted Roots (DeBeers 3)

to set foot off this property except to go to school,

understand?"

"I will not permit the madness to give life to the

curse on this family. I will not permit it. I will fight it

now, fight it tooth and nail." she vowed, lifting her

right fist in the air.

She continued to look up at the ceiling. "You took my baby, but you will regret it," she

threatened. Whom was she threatening? God? Fate?

Me?

"Go to your room." she ordered, turned, and

walked back upstairs.

I went looking for Miguel instead and found

him in the library, sitting at the desk and sipping from

a glass of bourbon, the bottle beside him. He was

staring out the window, reminding me of Uncle

Linden. actually.

"Miguel?"

He turned slowly. "Oh, Hannah. I came

downstairs looking for you, wondering why you

hadn't come up to tell me about dinner, and Lila said

she heard you leave. You took Willow's car without

her permission or mine?"

"I just felt I had to get away for a while." "Your mother was very upset. She went to the

phone, and she called Mrs. Robinson, who told her

you and that boy had just left. Why did you do that.

Hannah? Why? Are you deliberately adding fuel to

the fire of her sorrow, my sorrow?"

"No, just the opposite."

"Just the opposite?" He shook his head. "You

have a funny way of doing just the opposite. Selfish.