Free Precedent: Book Three: Covenant of Trust Series by Paula Wiseman Page A

keys from her purse and dropped them in his hand. “You can’t keep me here. I have a job. I’m eighteen now.”
    “ I don’t care how old you are,” Chuck said. “Check the deed. This is my house, and you will live by my standards.”
    “ So is adultery okay, then?”
    “ Shannon!” Bobbi stood between them. “That’s enough!”
    Chuck took a step back. If Bobbi intervened, things would calm down.
    “ Mom, I’m sorry.” Then she turned to him, her eyes narrowed in bitter anger. “Just remember that whatever happens, it’s your fault.”
    “ Where is this coming from?” Chuck asked, his fists clenched in barely controlled fury. He could feel the heat on the back of his neck, the surge of adrenaline pushing his pulse. “What has gotten into you? Is it Katelyn? Is she putting you up to this?”
    “ Leave Katelyn out of this,” Shannon seethed. “You brought this on all of us when you decided to sleep with that whore!” She pointed a finger at his chest. “You’re just like King David. His baby paid, his kingdom paid, his sons and daughters paid. . . .” Bobbi reached for Shannon’s arm, trying to pull her into the kitchen, but Shannon wouldn’t budge. “Brad’s dead. Joel and Abby can’t have kids. Everyone has paid because of you, Dad.”
    “ Shannon, you need to—” Bobbi began, but Chuck cut her off.
    “ No, let her say what she’s got to say.”
    “ She’s said enough.” Bobbi turned to Shannon. “I don’t care what hurts or injustices have been inflicted on you, nothing . . . nothing justifies that kind of language and that kind of disrespect. I want you to apologize.” She locked eyes with Shannon and added, “Now.”
    “ I can’t,” Shannon said quietly, shaking her head. “I can’t do that. I’m sorry, Mom.” She turned and bolted from the room and up the stairs. Chuck snatched up the nearest thing he could get a hand on and heaved it across the room. The hardback book hit the wall with a thud, denting the drywall.
    Bobbi whipped around to face him. “I thought we were past all that!” she said sharply.
    He steadied himself against the wall and raised his fists to his eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Bobbi. I lost it. I’m so sorry. Dear God, I’m sorry.”
    She reached out and touched his arm. “Chuck, you’re shaking. What is it?”
    He wiped his eyes and dropped his hands to his sides. “What if . . . what if she’s right? What if this, all of this, is my fault?”
    “ It’s not,” Bobbi said quietly. “That’s crazy. Shannon’s upset—”
    “ No, she’s thought about this. Reasoned it out.”
    “ But that doesn’t make it so.”
    Chuck frowned and looked away. People revealed their deepest convictions in times of high emotion. And why did he lash back at her with that kind of anger? Because . . . deep down . . . he suspected she was right.
    “ . . . and since you won’t take my word for it, let’s call Glen first thing in the morning,” Bobbi said.
    “ For her or for me?” Hearing Glen confirm it was the last thing he wanted.
    “ All of us.”
     
    * * *
     
    Jack’s hands shook with outrage and indignation, sloshing the Coke over the rim of his glass. He should never have come down to the kitchen for a snack. He should have just waited for breakfast tomorrow. But no . . . And he heard every word. Every last hateful, spiteful word.
    His mother wasn’t a . . . She wasn’t. She was messed up. He would admit that much, but she wasn’t . . . She wasn’t what Shannon called her. She just wanted somebody to love her, to tell her she was okay. That didn’t make her a . . .
    No. It didn’t. Shannon owed him an apology. And he intended to make sure he got it.
     
    * * *
     
    Saturday, June 28
     
    Before daybreak, Shannon stole downstairs and out the front door. She patted her front pocket, pleased with herself for having the foresight to get an extra set of car keys made. She eased the front door closed and checked up and down the street.