Her Silent Revenge novel Chapter 114

His hands, clutching the tablet, are tiny. If something were to happen— No, not today.

Not ever.

I'm being ridiculous.

Nothing's going to happen because we're not by a lake, and after that story, I'm not sure I want to take him to one until he's in middle school.

"You know," Delly says, leaning forward and placing her hand on my arm, grabbing my attention. "It's been great getting to know you. These old stories aren't half as interesting without any new ears."

I smile.

"It's been nice, Delly. So is bringing Arlo around for company. He could use the practice with his social skills. School just doesn't cover every situation."

"Of course. He's a lovely boy, isn't he, Evelyn?" "To die for," Evelyn agrees.

"But I appreciate your honesty, Salem," Delly continues. "Patton hasn't brought any girls home since high school. It's a hard thing being sincere and authentic."

"I mean, I can't be anything else," I say.

An eyebrow quirks as she smiles. "You'd be surprised how many others try. I'm a little protective of my sons—not that they need it when they're grown men. Until Dexter got engaged, I feared they'd stay allergic to dating forever. And Archer? You don't even want to know."

That actually piques my curiosity, but I laugh along with them.

"Some women get funny ideas. They see this big old house and think they know what we want to see and what my boys expect." She laughs and the tension drains from her shoulders. "They aren't great at it when they try to go through me, always playing up their looks and eggshell personalities. Patton, though, he knew how to pick them when he was younger, or so I thought. Then the truth would come falling out, whether he screwed things up or not."

I take a long pull of coffee, hiding the way my stomach pinches at the thought that I'm being compared to his old dates, even if it's favorable. And how fast will that change when they figure out the truth about Arlo?

"Well, I'm an open book. What you see is what you get, like it or lump it."

Well, mostly.

Delly's face splits in a grin.

"We already knew that, honey," she says, that hint of Southern drawl she has making its way into her words. But all that does is make me feel guilty.

Soon, soon.

The whole truth and nothing but. After I've told Arlo first.

But it feels like that moment is coming too soon, bearing down on me like a bison stampede, wild and inescapable.

Part of me wishes she'd take a good long look at Arlo and figure it out right now. I can't wait for all the lies and deception and half-truths to end.

Once everything is finally out in the open, we can move forward, whatever that looks like.

Is this how Patton's been feeling ever since he found out? It's pretty rotten, like insects crawling under your skin.

I look at him and smile.

"It's all that orange juice, I bet, on top of the cake. Do you know it had pieces of real candied oranges in it?" A little reaction around his lips to a citrus overload wouldn't be new.

"Why are we rushing?"

"I'd like to see Patton this evening," I explain.

Arlo doesn't protest as I strap him into his car seat and we set off, only to be stuck in late morning traffic five minutes later. I lean on the steering wheel, tapping against it impatiently.

"Mommy," Arlo says from the back. "Mommy, I don't feel good."

I barely have time to turn around to see before orange spray bursts from his mouth, covering him in a complete mess. He lurches, more cake coming out, almost undigested.

Holy shit!

I look for a way off the road, but there isn't one. We're stuck.

God.

"Hang on, sweetheart." I keep my voice calm, unshaken, though panic sweeps through me.