The Little Girl
Page 18
“All of this is going on because you and I were too afraid to fight. Everyone else is.
I might not agree with violence but at least they’re in the game. Where are we, mayor? Where are you?”
Bordeaux flinched, nostrils crinkling.
“You got the power to stop this and you’re standing on the sidelines watching. Presley is fighting for her life, the town’s fighting for justice whether it’s for Nate or Presley and it’s time I fight for it too.” Klein pushed his shoulders back, straightening his shirt. “I can’t work with you anymore if you don’t stop this tonight.”
“What?”
“I got into politics to change things. If we don’t do that then what good is it?”
“Don’t you think I want to say something?” Bordeaux thrust his hand toward the TV. “I’m ashamed it’s gotten to this point and I wish I’d done something sooner, but me going out there won’t make a difference now.”
“Who put you in office?”
Bordeaux twitched. “The people.”
“If you’re not there when they need you the most then you might as well get the
hell out because you’re not worthy of this office.”
Bordeaux held a distant gaze as if he were reflecting. “What if I can’t?”
“Then I can’t be your chief of staff.”
“I’d be lost without you in my corner.”
“Well?” Klein shrugged. “What are you gonna do?”
Bordeaux sighed, glaring at the TV. “Handle my business.”
Klein slapped Bordeaux’s back. “That’s the mayor I know and love.”
****
Sonjay turned in Dex’s passenger seat, looking out the back window at the riot disappearing from view. “Wow.” She turned ahead, straightening her seat belt. “It’s like we’re at war.”
The sound of glass breaking and people fighting stained the night air.
Dex seized the wheel. “I used to love Thompsonville now I’m ashamed of it.”
“You don’t have to go to the hospital with me. You can drop me off and I’ll get a ride back to the house to get my car.”
“You don’t need to go anywhere near Klein.”
“He can’t stop me from going home.”
“Trust me, you don’t want to be around Klein as pissed off as he is.” His eyes sparkled from the traffic lights. “Besides, I wanna see Presley too. What a night, huh?”
“How will I look at Klein again? I’m a horrible person.”
“I don’t like hurting him either but he’ll get over it.” He touched her chin. “We knew being together wouldn’t be easy. I refuse to beat myself up over this.” Dex turned onto the street a few blocks from the Mills’ restaurant. “We fell in love and we didn’t mean to hurt anyone. It’s done. All we can do is deal with it.” He gripped her hand. “We don’t have to hide anymore. That’s a beautiful thing.”
“Tell me I’m not a terrible person.”
“If you were I wouldn’t be with you. I still got the ring.”
She looked away from him.
“Yeah, I’m asking again. Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
His mouth opened but she interrupted before he spoke, “Not right now though. We need to give things time. I need to heal from Klein.”
Dex nodded, looked ahead and leaned forward. “Is that Zayden’s truck?”
It sat in the parking lot of her parent’s restaurant as sparks shot from behind the building.
“Whoa,” Dex said. “Was that a spark?” He sped into the lot. “What is that?”
“I don’t know but what the hell is Zayden doing here?”
Another burst of light flashed from behind the restaurant.
“You smell that?” Sonjay sniffed. “Smells like something’s burning.”
“That motherfucker.” Dex jumped out the car.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Sonjay and Dex ran behind the restaurant.
Zayden leaned over in the patio light, trying to light the end of a bottle.
Sonjay shrieked, “That’s a Molotov cocktail, Dex.”
Zayden dropped the bottle but before he could run, Dex tackled him.
“Get off me.” Zayden kicked and punched. “Filthy nigger lover.”
“What are you doing?” Sonjay grabbed a bottle. “You were gonna burn my parents’ place?”
“Damn right. I wish they’d been in it.”
“Get up here.” Dex slammed him against the bricks. “Not only are you pathetic, your dumb as hell too. Parked right in front of the building you planned to blow up? That’s smart.”
“Here you are with your nigger bitch again.” Zayden wriggled. “What? On your way to the woods? Mind if I join in?”
Dex punched him. “I let you live the last time but I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
“Dex, stop.” Sonjay got the bottles. “We need to call the police.”
“Fuck the police,” Dex said. “They can’t handle him so I will. I’m tired of you, Zayden.”
“I’m tired too. Every time I see her and people like her thinking they own this country. Where’s your pride, Dex? You’re disgusting. Sleeping with that trash?”
“Shut up!” Dex slugged him.
“Stop,” Sonjay screamed. “Dex, this isn’t the way.”
“I’m ending this tonight, Sonjay.” Dex shook Zayden as if he were a ragdoll. “Why shouldn’t I kill you, huh? Tell me.”
Zayden snickered through sweat and blood. “You won’t do it because you’re a coward.”
“You’re the coward,” Sonjay said. “You do all your dirty work behind people’s backs. Not man enough to do it in someone’s face.”
Zayden glared at her, mouth twitching.
“You’re just a sad little boy with no life and no one to love him,” she said. “Heard your daddy grew a pair and threw you out. Your own father doesn’t want you.”
“Shut up.” He pushed against Dex, trying to get to Sonjay. “Say another word, cunt, and you won’t say another.”
Dex huffed and puffed. “Is that a threat?”
“You thought you broke me but you don’t have the power,” Sonjay said. “I’m not scared of you, Zayden.”
“You should be, bitch. Let’s see if you’re doing all this big talk when I pay you the next visit.”
“I wish you would threaten her.” Dex slammed him on the bricks again. “Going to prison for the rest of my life is worth killing you.”
“You make me sick, Dex. You’re everything that’s wrong with this world. You should stand with me but you’re with this—”
“Watch it.” Dex pulled Zayden closer, staring him in the eyes. “That’s my future wife and the mother of my child.”
“Child?” Veins sprouted from Zayden’s neck. “Don’t you know the rules, Dex? You can fuck ‘em all you like but you put your seed in that whore?”
Dex hit him with the jab.
“Oh.” Zayden slumped.
Dex raised his fist again, anger and disgust pouring from his face. “I’ll kill you now.”
“Do it.” Zayden panted, wincing. “I’d rather be dead than to see you with this nigger. That’s all she is and all she ever will be. I don’t care if you go to college.” He turned to Sonjay. “I don’t care if you wear fancy clothes and you have white friends. You’re nothing.” He spit at her. “Nothing!”
Sonjay jumped back as his speckle hit her face.
“Motherfucker!” Dex hocked a huge glob of spit straight in Zayden’s face and threw him to the cement.
Sonjay wiped Zayden’s spit off her forehead.
“You all right?” Dex took a napkin out his pocket and wiped her face. “Sick son-of-a-bitch.”
Zayden shivered on the cement with just as much disdain in his eyes as ever. “Whatever you do, it won’t change what she is.” He coughed, holding his stomach. “You can’t kill us all.”
Dex hugged Sonjay as she reflected on Zayden’s haunting words.
**
**
Later that night, Channing and Anderson watched the repeat of Mayor Bordeaux’s speech on her bedroom television.
“And, I promise you from this moment on that there will be no more hiding,” Bordeaux spoke to the crowd. “You’ve reminded me of what’s important, and I’ll never forget it again.”
Channing turned the volume down as the newswoman summarized the speech.
“What a day.” Channing lay on Anderson’s chest, shaking her feet. “A riot breaks out at the church and Zayden tried to set my parents’ restaurant on fire.”
Anderson stroked her arms. “Who’d have guessed this little town could have so many crazy people in it.”
She grinned, pinching his nipple. “Watch it.”
“Arson’s no joke.” Anderson kissed the top of Channing’s head. “Something tells me he won’t be able to squeeze out of these charges.”
“I’m so proud to be Presley’s mother.” The warmth of Anderson’s touch radiated into her. “She has more power than we thought.”
“Tonight was a mess but things are changing for the better.” He laid on the headboard. “Just wait and see.”
“Too bad I won’t be here to see it.” Channing held her breath, awaiting Anderson’s curiosity.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m tired of hiding. Wasn’t that the theme of the mayor’s speech? We’ve all been hiding too long.” She touched his cheek. “I want to start living.”
“Don’t tease me, woman.” He scratched his head, eyes rolling back into his head. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“I want to move to Boston and see what happens between us.”
“Honey.” He brought her into an electrifying embrace. “Are you sure? I don’t want to force you into this.”
“You’ve taught me so much about myself. You weren’t sent here just to expose Thompsonville’s problems but to help me see the person I am. The person I’ve wanted to be.”
A shaky smile covered his lips.
“You give me so much confidence.” She kissed his hand. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You coming to Boston is all the thanks I need.” He kissed her. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been surer about anything else.” She rose on her elbows. “I have to get things straight so it’ll be a few months until I can leave but I can’t wait.”
“What about Presley?”
“I’ll transfer her to a Boston hospital.” She tangled her fingers within his. “I’m betting their hospitals are better than the one she’s in, right?”
Anderson jumped in the bed. “I’m so happy!”
She laughed, hitting his legs. “Stop before you break my bed.”
He plopped beside her. “You’ll love Boston. There’s so many opportunities and nothing will hold you back.”
She imagined a new life in a new city and as a new woman. “Goodbye, Thompsonville!” She lay on her back, kicking. “I’m ready for a new life and—”
Her phone rang.
She grabbed it from the nightstand. “It’s Sonjay.” She accepted the call. “Sonny? Are you still at the hospital?”
“Yeah, you need to get down here.”
“Oh no, no.” Channing covered her mouth. “God, please. What’s happened?”
“What?” Anderson asked.
“She’s awake, Channing.” Sonjay laughed through tears. “Presley’s awake!”
Channing dropped the phone. “Thank you, Lord!” She bounced in the bed. “Thank you, Jesus!”
Anderson grabbed her. “What?”
Channing snatched his shoulders. “She’s awake. Presley’s awake!”
“What?”
“She’s awake!” She shook him, happy tears flowing. “My baby girl’s okay!” She sobbed in his chest. “She’s okay. Oh, Anderson.”
“I told you.” He rocked her. “Tonight is the start of a new world, Channing. A new world for us all.”
The End
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