escaped her as she turned and headed out the door.
“Good seeing you, Royce. And thanks for taking care of my daughter,” Kane said, after them. “And don’t worry about cooking, Sandy. Drew and I can eat a frozen dinner or something.”
When Sandella entered Drew’s room, she found him sitting on the bed propped up with a pillow. He looked as gloomy as ever. “Hey, Drew. How’s it going?” She sat on the mattress next to him.
He sucked his teeth. “It’s not going. I’m tired of Dad being mean and judging people because of their jobs. We are surrounded by military families. He put me on punishment for going over to Troy’s house. Troy is a great dude. There’s nothing wrong with him. Or his brother. Or his father and mother.”
“Me either. Just so you know, I disagree with Dad.”
“I can’t wait to get out of this house. One more year, and I’m getting as far away from Beaufort as I possibly can. Just like Aric and Chandler went to college, I’m going, too. And like them, I’m never coming back.”
She nodded.
“I’m glad you see things my way,” Drew said.
“Dad is still grieving Mom. Don’t be too hard on him.”
“We all are still hurting over Momma. But we have to go on. We can’t stop living our lives. She wouldn’t want us to do that. Not even Dad.”
“You’re right, Drew. You’re absolutely right.”
Drew sucked his teeth. “Momma raised us to love all people, not to be prejudiced. Men and women are in Iraq protecting our country and Dad has the nerve to be judging them.”
Sandella said, “I think he’s depressed. I’m going to see about getting him some counseling.”
Drew burst out into laughter. “If you think his stubborn behind is going to get some counseling, then you’re more naïve than I thought.”
Sandella joined him in his bout of giggles. “You’re right. Dad is stuck in his ways. It’d be a cold day—”
“In hell before he goes to see a psychiatrist.” Drew threw his hands up in the air. “Staying in the house for a whole month is going to drive me up the wall.”
Apprehensive about the sudden decision to alter her father’s ruling, she nibbled on her bottom lip. “I have an idea.”
“What?”
“I’m going to convince Dad that it’ll be better for you to volunteer at the community center than to sit home and play the PlayStation when he’s not watching. That way, you can still be around your friends after school.”
Drew’s face lit up with a smile. He snatched the controller from the dresser, and clicked on the television. “And play basketball, and pool, and lift weights. Thank God you’re here to look out for me. I hope you don’t leave until after I’m gone.” His fingers shifted the control keys on the PlayStation’s control.
“Aw, don’t mention it.”
“Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes.”
For dinner Sandella cooked a good southern meal consisting of Cajun butterflied fried shrimp, fried catfish, and a big bowl of spicy southern potato salad. After washing the dishes, she helped Drew with his homework, then she and Royce headed back to Hilton Head Island.
Driving along the road in the thick of the night she shifted in her seat. For some reason she felt she was coming down with something. Perhaps she had a virus, or was getting the flu. Her head ached, and her body felt warmer than normal. Maybe she wasn’t sick at all. Maybe her dad’s negative attitude toward Marines had her more upset than she cared to admit. She turned the air conditioner to full blast in an effort to cool off.
Glints of the full bright moon cast a sensual glow through the windshield. Before speaking with her father this evening, she probably would’ve been able to imagine herself and Braylon sitting in the backyard at the estate under the tree, sharing another passionate kiss, and eventually making love. But now the only thing she could imagine was Braylon running away from her father with a gun pointing at his
“Good seeing you, Royce. And thanks for taking care of my daughter,” Kane said, after them. “And don’t worry about cooking, Sandy. Drew and I can eat a frozen dinner or something.”
When Sandella entered Drew’s room, she found him sitting on the bed propped up with a pillow. He looked as gloomy as ever. “Hey, Drew. How’s it going?” She sat on the mattress next to him.
He sucked his teeth. “It’s not going. I’m tired of Dad being mean and judging people because of their jobs. We are surrounded by military families. He put me on punishment for going over to Troy’s house. Troy is a great dude. There’s nothing wrong with him. Or his brother. Or his father and mother.”
“Me either. Just so you know, I disagree with Dad.”
“I can’t wait to get out of this house. One more year, and I’m getting as far away from Beaufort as I possibly can. Just like Aric and Chandler went to college, I’m going, too. And like them, I’m never coming back.”
She nodded.
“I’m glad you see things my way,” Drew said.
“Dad is still grieving Mom. Don’t be too hard on him.”
“We all are still hurting over Momma. But we have to go on. We can’t stop living our lives. She wouldn’t want us to do that. Not even Dad.”
“You’re right, Drew. You’re absolutely right.”
Drew sucked his teeth. “Momma raised us to love all people, not to be prejudiced. Men and women are in Iraq protecting our country and Dad has the nerve to be judging them.”
Sandella said, “I think he’s depressed. I’m going to see about getting him some counseling.”
Drew burst out into laughter. “If you think his stubborn behind is going to get some counseling, then you’re more naïve than I thought.”
Sandella joined him in his bout of giggles. “You’re right. Dad is stuck in his ways. It’d be a cold day—”
“In hell before he goes to see a psychiatrist.” Drew threw his hands up in the air. “Staying in the house for a whole month is going to drive me up the wall.”
Apprehensive about the sudden decision to alter her father’s ruling, she nibbled on her bottom lip. “I have an idea.”
“What?”
“I’m going to convince Dad that it’ll be better for you to volunteer at the community center than to sit home and play the PlayStation when he’s not watching. That way, you can still be around your friends after school.”
Drew’s face lit up with a smile. He snatched the controller from the dresser, and clicked on the television. “And play basketball, and pool, and lift weights. Thank God you’re here to look out for me. I hope you don’t leave until after I’m gone.” His fingers shifted the control keys on the PlayStation’s control.
“Aw, don’t mention it.”
“Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes.”
For dinner Sandella cooked a good southern meal consisting of Cajun butterflied fried shrimp, fried catfish, and a big bowl of spicy southern potato salad. After washing the dishes, she helped Drew with his homework, then she and Royce headed back to Hilton Head Island.
Driving along the road in the thick of the night she shifted in her seat. For some reason she felt she was coming down with something. Perhaps she had a virus, or was getting the flu. Her head ached, and her body felt warmer than normal. Maybe she wasn’t sick at all. Maybe her dad’s negative attitude toward Marines had her more upset than she cared to admit. She turned the air conditioner to full blast in an effort to cool off.
Glints of the full bright moon cast a sensual glow through the windshield. Before speaking with her father this evening, she probably would’ve been able to imagine herself and Braylon sitting in the backyard at the estate under the tree, sharing another passionate kiss, and eventually making love. But now the only thing she could imagine was Braylon running away from her father with a gun pointing at his
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