Free Bases Loaded by Lolah Lace Page A

actually liked Connie. I just rarely saw her. Tess was distant from her family and I didn’t interfere when Tess was so stubborn.
    My kids ran inside and went upstairs to their rooms. I went into the kitchen for a glass of water, tap water. Shit, I ran right into Connie and Tess. I believe I ran right into a fight. What the hell are they doing in here?
    Tess was swinging wildly into the air. Connie’s face was bleeding. Blood was on her forehead and cheek.
    Tess caught a glimpse of me. “Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!” Tess wailed like she was dying. Her fist flew in the direction of Connie who was doing a terrible job of blocking the erratic frenzy of blows.
    “Tess! Tess! Tess! Calm down! Tess!” Connie was begging Tess to stop. Some of Tess’ balled fists were landing on Connie.
    I was lost and confused and somehow I was stuck in the entryway of the kitchen. Tess was like the cartoon Tasmanian devil. She was tearing up things in her wake. She grabbed a Teflon skillet off the stove and she started wielding it like it was a baseball bat. What the fuck?
    I catapulted myself into the action. “What the fuck is going on?” Is Connie going to clue me in?
    Connie’s eyes shot over to me as if seeing me for the first time. “Mason just help me with her.” Connie asked. “Grab her.” She ordered.
    I le apt to the opposite side of the of the kitchen table. Connie and I had Tess boxed in. I reached out for Tess and she swung the skillet at me and almost took out my elbow. Damn, that was close. I was trying to find a way to take Tess down. My eyes were scanning my environment. I noticed there were chunks of hair in the kitchen floor.
    Tess was moving side to side. Her eyes were glazed over. I had never seen her this way. I had seen something similar that day at the hotel parking lot, similar but not quite the same. I jumped forward and reached for the skillet. I snatched it from her hands. I turned to check Connie’s proximity. Where the hell was Connie? She left me alone in the kitchen with Tess. I took my eyes off Tess for a second to search for Connie. Tess’ eyes were examining the room like she was being attacked by some hokey invisible entity. Tess was shaking so bad. Her entire body was trembling in a way I had never seen.
    Connie was back. “Mason, grab her.” She yelled.
    When Tess turned her attention to Connie I seized the opportunity to subdue Tess. I charged toward her and grabbed her up with both hands and lifted her off her feet. Tess was thrashing and I was just holding her completely unaware of what brought about this fit.
    Connie ran over to us and she injected Tess with something. There was a syringe in Connie’s hand. Where the fuck did that come from? What the fuck? In two seconds Tess went limp in my arms.
    “Take her upstairs to bed.” Connie ordered as she backed away and took a breath. She was winded and I was puzzled.
    “What was that? What did you give her?” WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?
    What the fuck is happening? “Take her upstairs!” Connie waved to me.
    I tossed Tess up into m y arms capturing her legs. I rushed up the stairs. What the fuck is going on? Connie was right behind me. I put Tess in bed. I couldn’t get the image of Tess uncontrollably shaking out of my head. She looked like she was having a seizure. Does she have seizures? I pulled back the sheets and covered Tess’ peaceful sleeping body.
    I looked across the bed at my sister-in-law. I had a definite scowl plastered across my face. I needed answers right now. I air gestured for Connie to follow me out to the hall. I moved first and Connie followed me out. She pulled the bedroom door shut.
    “What the fuck?” I whispered.
    Hannah peeked her head out of her bedroom door. “Is everything okay out here?”
    “Yeah ladybug. Mommy’s sleeping so keep it down. She needs her rest.”
    “Okay dad.” Hannah ducked her head back into her bedroom.
    “Let’s go downstairs.” I said and Connie followed me downstairs. We went through