Chapter 15 #3
A door opened and Blaine Turner, someone she definitely did not want to see, stalked into the room.
“Maria. Some secrets are better left in the dark.” A pleasant smile accompanied his words, but his tone was icy. She’d heard that tone all her life. He was in a rage.
Mia stood slowly and faced him. “Oh? You mean secrets like telling my boyfriend I’d had an abortion when you knew I hadn’t? And practically kicking him out of my life? Secrets like that?”
“That boy was no good for you. We had a reputation to maintain. One you nearly destroyed.”
She shot a quick glance at her mom. Carol looked composed, but Mia could see she was nervous. While Blaine wouldn’t stoop to physical violence, he had a mean streak that went bone deep. Even as a child, she’d recognized it and avoided being alone with him when he was in a mood.
Today, however, she refused to cower. This was something that affected her life directly. “I think I have a right to know about my parentage. It’s my business too. Wouldn’t you agree? After all, what if I needed some kind of medical treatment and Mom wasn’t a match?”
His complexion grew mottled, and his mouth tightened. “Careful. I raised you as my own. You had the best of everything.”
But not love.
Out loud, she said, “I always wondered why you never seemed to want me around. I guess now I know.”
“You were a mutt.”
Suddenly, she realized she and her mother had something in common. When Mia had gotten pregnant, he’d gone ballistic. If she hadn’t had a miscarriage, she doubted she’d have been allowed to remain at home. What would he have done?
A small bit of compassion for her mom crept in.
“Why help me now?” she asked, truly confused. “You said you were talking to the school board to get me reinstated. Why?”
“I can’t believe I have to explain this. You mean nothing, but your actions still reflect on me.”
Her mom made a noise in protest. When he turned his glare on her, she flinched, pressing her back against the chair.
“I’m starting up a campaign for the open Senate seat.
I plan on announcing my race in November.
I can’t exactly have my daughter, whether she’s biologically mine or not, being fired.
I will not let you affect my reputation.
Which means as much as we both might hate it, no one should ever know that you aren’t mine. ”
She’d had enough and walked toward the door. She wouldn’t get anywhere with him around.
“Maria, I also want you to stay away from that Stewart boy. He got you in trouble before. I have my eyes on you.” He marched from the room.
Mia turned to her mother. Carol sat on her chair, silently weeping. Mia squatted next to her and gently put her arms around her. When her mother leaned into her instead of pushing her away, she tightened her grip.
“Mom.”
Carol jerked. “You never call me mom.”
“I didn’t understand. I thought you were rejecting me too.”
“Mia, I’ve always loved you. But it was easier to give in.”
Mia’s nostrils flared. “Why stay with him? I’m all grown up. I don’t live with you; he can’t control me. And your parents are gone. Mom, come and stay with me and Gus.”
Carol shook her head. “I can’t.”
Mia backed away. “I know I’m asking a lot. But think about it. Gus has an extra bedroom. And you and I can finally really get to know each other. The way we always should have.”
“I don’t know.”
Mia talked to her mother for another ten minutes, trying to convince her to leave. In the end, her mother gave Mia her new phone number and promised to reach out. Then she urged Mia to leave before Blaine returned.
Mia stepped out the door, saddened by her mother’s refusal to leave. She didn’t believe her mom was in any physical danger, but Blaine was a cold, hard man. There had never been any love in that home. At the very least, her mother should be somewhere that people wanted her to be happy.
Mia took a deep breath, trying to cleanse the stagnant air of that house out of her lungs.
She would never again let Blaine Turner control any aspect of her life.
She got in her car to drive home.
What a messy day. Mia hit the Call button on her phone and dialed Jackson’s number.
She was less than two miles from her parents’ house when a black SUV pulled out in front of her. The window lowered and the barrel of a gun slid into view.
She bit off a word and slammed on the brake. The car jerked to a halt. She yanked the gearshift into Reverse, and the tires squealed as she spun the vehicle, attempting to escape.
“Hello?” Jackson’s voice came though the speaker.
“Jackson!”
Bullets ricocheted off the side of her car. Her back window shattered. The back tire popped, and her car spun wildly out of control. She screamed. In front of her, two boys abandoned their bikes to watch.
She was going to hit them!
“Mia!”
She spun the steering wheel wildly in the other direction, missing the boys and heading straight toward a gigantic oak tree. She was out of control.
She hit the tree, her front end crumpling like an accordion. Her airbag deployed, slamming against her chest.
She was going to die.