Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“Lorna, folks say things out of anger. It was still fresh, you know? He was upset. Miffed. It’s been over a decade! Surely Kage is not holdin’ on to that same animosity after all of this time. Besides, you two were so young back then. Now, I don’t have much time.” He glanced at his watch. “I have other affairs to tend to tonight, but I want you to think about what I said.”
He pulled an envelope out of his jacket pocket, walked up to her, and placed it on her coffee-ring-stained table that she sat at. Her wary gaze flitted over him, then she slowly opened the envelope. She took out a huge handful of crisp one hundred dollar bills, and her eyes smiled before her lips did. Then she noticed the piece of paper folded inside.
“Don’t worry about that letter just yet. Read it when I leave. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
She took out the piece of paper and placed it down onto the table.
“Now, that money I gave you? That’s just half. I’ll give you the other half after you go over and discuss with Kage what’s in that letter.”
Her smile slowly faded.
“I… need the money. I’m behind on all of my bills. But I can’t go see Kage, Mr. Wilde. He’d be mighty upset. I was married to that man. Shared a life with him. He meant what he said to me.”
“Lorna, you’re being paranoid.” He shook his head. “I know Kage better than anyone. I told you that folks say all sorts of things when they’re angry. Includin’ Kage! You know how bad his temper is.” He shrugged. “But love is love, angel. You fooled around, right? Had an affair. It happens! Sometimes in a moment of weakness, we—”
“I didn’t just cheat on him.” She snatched a crumpled tissue from the table and blew her nose.
“What’d you do then?”
“He packed up my stuff after he found out about the affair. And in the midst of doin’ that, he found pregnancy termination papers… found out I got an abortion. I told him I didn’t know if he was the daddy, but he didn’t want to hear it. He was convinced it was his—he wanted that baby.” Her voice trailed at the end. “I have a lot of regrets. Kage was a good husband. He was a lil’ high strung and intimidating at times, but he loved me, and I loved him. I just wasn’t ready to be married back then, I guess. Ain’t nobody ever treated me as good as he treated me since.” Her eyes watered—she was overwhelmed. “I couldn’t have no baby under those circumstances and besides, I didn’t want any kids no way. I just didn’t have the heart to tell him.”
Grandpa swallowed his emotions. He wanted to take his cane and whack her across the gotdamn lips. Both sets. How fuckin’ dare this White trash, stinkin’ ass bitch! No wonder Kage hates her!
He took a deep breath and composed himself.
“Let those without sin cast the first stone, child. Go to him… apologize… explain your mindset. Then present him with the information in that document.”
She reached for the paper.
“No, no, wait until I’m gone. It’s a surprise.”
“Why do, uh, you want me to talk to Kage so bad?” She sniffed, then took a drag of her cigarette.
“Because I want to make it up to him. Make him happy. He’s miserable without you. Another reason is purely my fault, Lorna. As you may recall, Kage blames me for the harm caused to him in that hospital when he was a teenager. I do feel somewhat to blame. He needed to go, don’t get me wrong—I mean he did try to kill me and all—but I drew it out far beyond its helpfulness. I was wrong to do such a thing. It changed him… turned him into someone he wasn’t before. A monster. In fact, I’ve been tryin’ to make it up to Kage for a mighty long time and now, with you, I finally can.”
She picked up the money and counted again, a greedy gleam in her eye. He looked around her pigsty once more. Sloth. Stewin’ in her own filth. After she was satisfied, she smashed her cigarette in a piece of crinkled foil, then glimpsed at dead Hank, and flinched.
“Honey, don’t worry about him. I’ll make a call and he’ll be out of here before he starts stinkin’. Gone without a trace. Now, you use some of that money to get cleaned up. Stop in a beauty salon and get your hair done. A little makeup and a new dress would do you good. Then you head over to see Kage. I’ll leave you his location.” He slipped Kage’s address that he’d written on a piece of paper, and laid it beside the now open envelope. “This offer expires soon, young lady, so make haste.”