With All My Heart - Emilia Finn Page 0,3
for dinner?”
“Ah, I was going to do steak and potatoes. Is that okay?”
He flashes a smile anyone who didn’t know better would swear is pure adoration for his angelic little girl. Mostly, it’s conditional love. For as long as I’m a ‘good girl’, for as long as I make him happy, he adores me. But when I don’t, even if unintentional, I lay in bed with brand new welts and the fear that tonight might be the night he ends it all.
My life is spent on eggshells that balance on a razor blade. Each slip results in fresh welts on the backs of my legs from the metal buckle of his belt, and the barrel of a Kingston .22 teasing the delicate skin of my temple.
“Perfect. I’ll be in the living room watching the game.”
“Okay.” I pull the already marinating steak from the fridge. “I’ll let you know when it’s ready. It’ll be about an hour.” Just as he steps from the kitchen and into the living room, I pluck up the heart-pounding courage to make my move. “Um, Daddy?”
He turns back, but his mind is already engrossed in football. “Yuh?”
“I was wondering; you like Shane and his family. And I got an A in math…”
Already out of patience, his eyes narrow. “Spit it out, Pumpkin.”
“I was wondering if I could call Shane a little later. Just to say hello.”
A low rumble works at the back of his throat. Disapproval sends shards of glass skittering through my blood. “That costs money, Chantelle. I’m not a money tree.”
“No, I know, Daddy. But I thought maybe I could do some extra chores to make up for it. I just wanna say hello. Tell him goodnight, that sort of stuff.”
His eyes turn to feral slits. “He’s keeping his hands to himself, right? I want you to marry that boy, Pumpkin. He’s our ticket outta here, but he’s not gonna buy the whole cow if you’re giving up the milk for free.”
“He’s a perfect gentleman, Daddy.”
“You better still be a virgin, young lady.”
I can’t believe he can say that without squirming. “Yes, sir, I am. I’m a good girl. Saving myself for marriage, just like you want me to.”
“Does he pressure you?”
“No.” I don’t sigh out loud like I want to. “He’s a gentleman.”
Narrowed eyes, poor Shane’s death planning itself in his mind, he nods once. God help us all if he ever found out about Bryan Kincaid marking me on a daily basis. “One call. Five minutes. Don’t make me regret this decision.”
Excitement bursts in my chest like fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Lights flash, bells jingle, my heart soars with excitement… on the inside. On the outside, I simply nod. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“And to make up for it, I want you to weed the yard this weekend.”
“Okay. I promise.” I turn away when my smile threatens to break free. Flicking on the stove and prepping the pots, I get busy making dinner. “I’ll call you out in an hour for dinner.”
“Bring it to me. I wanna watch the game.”
I’m calling Bryan tonight. I’m going to speak to him. Daddy will only ever see that I made a call. He doesn’t have to know what number I called. “Yes, sir.”
Five and a half hours later, an hour later than the time I normally call, I slide into bed in my nightie, with freshly shaven legs, hair still damp from the shower, and a sneaky smile, I dial the number I got from Tammi St James. She got it from Geo Blair. Geo Blair is the boy she’d go down on in a dirty bathroom if he simply smiled at her.
Which I’m pretty sure he has.
I burrow deep under my covers, despite the fact it’s a sticky May night and way hotter than it should be.
The phone rings once.
My heart thrums with exhilaration.
The phone rings twice.
My palms sweat, but that might not be nerves as much as it’s hot as hell under the covers.
The phone rings a third time.
Laying on my side, I curl into a ball and touch my knees to my chest.
I’m entering brand new territory here.
The phone rings a fourth time.
“Bert?”
Silence. I can’t speak past the lump of nerves that lodge in my throat.
“Please, God, tell me that’s you, Bert. The phone rang a fourth time. Don’t break my fucking heart.”
“I meant to call Shane.” I clear my throat nervously. “Wrong number.”
He chuckles softly. The worry in his voice is instantly replaced with arrogance. “I don’t even care that you lie