Twice the Trouble by Sandra Dailey

This farm revolved around them. They were the biggest part of Lacey’s life.
    At the other side of the table Jerrod picked at the food on his plate. Lacey must have noticed too.
    “You’re awfully quiet tonight, Jerrod. Is your leg hurting worse?” she asked.
    Jerrod glared at Alex as he answered. “My leg isn’t the problem, I just don’t care for all the changes going on around here.”
    Lacey looked across the table to Alex, and then lowered her eyes to her plate. “Nothing’s changed that I know of.”
    “You’ve changed,” Jerrod accused. “Since when did you start kissing men right in front of the house? You’re getting to be no better than Casey’s mom. Maybe all those people in town are right about you. Next thing I know, you’ll be wearing short skirts, high heels and tons of makeup. You’ll start staying out to all hours of the night in bars. God only knows who you’ll be dragging home with you next.”
    Lacey stood so quickly, her chair clattered to the floor behind her. Her open hand shot out to slap Jerrod hard across his cheek. In the next second she looked devastated. She’d probably never touched the kid in anger. Given the opportunity, Alex could have kicked his skinny butt and not regretted it a bit.
    A sob tore through Lacey’s throat as she ran out the back door. Both kids sat in stunned silence. They visibly jumped when the screen door slammed behind her.
    Alex stood with the palms of his hands on the table. He leaned toward Jerrod with a menacing expression. “Jenna, could you leave your brother and me alone for a moment.”
    “I-I don’t know,” she stammered.
    “Don’t worry, I won’t kill him. If he gives me any trouble, I’ll just make him wish he were dead.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Jenna turned to her brother, raised both hands and made a pecking motion with her head, like a chicken. In return, Jerrod raised his hands and shook them rapidly. Jenna took on a superior smug expression and walked out of the room.
    This sign language of theirs would take some getting used to. Alex took a few deep breaths before he spoke. “You were so out of line just then, young man. Your mother works too hard to have to put up with crap like that.”
    “I don’t have to listen to you,” Jerrod sneered. “You’re nobody to me and you don’t even belong here. I’m going to my room.”
    “Is that the best you’ve got…really?” Alex repositioned his feet and leaned closer. His nose was only six inches from Jerrod’s. “Let me fill in the parts you forgot. I’m twice your size, I’m five times stronger, I’m ten times meaner, and I could take you out with both hands tied behind my back. Now let me tell you how this is going to go. I’m going to find your mom and bring her back here so you can give her the most sincere and heartfelt apology she’s ever heard. If your butt moves out of that chair before that happens, I’ll chase you down. Makes you think about that bum leg, doesn’t it? Is there anything I’ve said that you don’t understand, you little monster?”
    ****
    Lacey let her legs dangle over the end of the dock. The pink twilight sky made the surface of the lake look like a sheet of lavender tinted glass. If she had to leave the Double J, the lake was what she’d miss most. She’d never lived in a place where she couldn’t see the water from her window. But she’d decided that if she did have to move, it would be to a new town. She’d make a fresh start. She’d go to a place where people didn’t know every detail of her past. Her kids shouldn’t have to hear gossip about her.
    Jerrod was clearly ashamed of her. That had been the worst pain she’d ever experienced. Then, to solidify his low opinion of her, she’d struck him. She wished she’d never gotten out of bed that morning.
    Alex’s footsteps sounded on the wooden planks’ but she didn’t turn around. She was too embarrassed. He sat on the corner of the dock with his back against the rail post,