Page 191 of Under the Waves
My mother reeled backwards almost as if she’d been hit clean across the face. Back in the truck, my father honked the horn three times, clearly growing impatient with every passing second.
“Hurry the fuck up, Evelyn! I haven’t got all day, just grab the brat and let’s get the fuck outta of this place.”
I flinched then at the sound of his booming voice and so did my mom—Vienna, however, didn’t even bat an eyelash at him, and it struck me then just how deeply those two people, who were supposed to be my parents, had scarred me.
Ruined me.Broken me.
My mother stepped backwards again, and part of me deep down couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her because I realized then I might not be the only one who was terrified of him.
But shelovedhim. She was wholly convinced that he was the love of her life so why,why, was she afraid…
In a blink of an eye, my mother hooked her fingers underneath the fabric of my hoodie and began dragging my body backwards. All the air in my throat constricted as the fabric began to strangle me as she hurried over to the tuck, dragging me with her like some broken doll.
“That’s it, woman. Hide behind that pussy of a husband of yours,” Vienna sneered, running after me, reaching out her hand.
I couldn’t reach…I couldn’t…
I was beginning to realize that there was a fiery, protective side to Jasper’s mom too, as well as the sweet woman I had met just a few hours earlier. Part of me, deep down, couldn’t hide the feeling of envy wrapping around my heart like a vine of ivy.
Why couldn’t my mom be like her? Why couldn’t she defend and protectme like that?
How was it that an almost stranger had done her job ten times better than she ever had in her entire life?
“What-fucking-ever,” my mom cackled before grabbing my arm, sending a shooting pain down my entire body. “We’regoing, Poppy.”
She was defending me. Vienna Ridge was defending me to my own mother.
I stood there speechless. Unmoving, despite the persistent efforts of my mother—my own mother who had never loved me a day in her life.
“No!” I yelled, fighting her touch. Fighting her like I should’ve done before. In a desperate last attempt, I turned back towards Jasper’s mom with tears in my eyes as I begged, “don’t let them take me, please! Please, help me!”
Her grip tightened on my bare flesh, nails digging into my skin as she seethed, “shut up you stupid girl. Stop being dramatic and making a scene!”
Don’t let them take me.
Don’t give up on me.
Please.
“For god sake, Poppy,” she snarled, hitting me clean across the cheek. My skin burned as she reeled her hand backwards, no hint of regret or horror on her face.
“Youbitch!” That sight was all it took for Jasper’s mom to march over and pull me out of her grip, hiding me behind her, almost like she was shielding me from my mother.
“You don’t ever get to lay another fucking finger on that girl, do you understand me, woman?” There was no hint of mercy on her face as she said those words—no hint of regret about protectingme.
“Who even are you?” My mom squealed as Vienna gawked at her like she was only now realizing just how insignificant and far down the list of priorities I was for my own mother.
“You are a despicable person and an even worse mother. If you attempt, or eventhinkabout hitting my little girl again—”
My mother scoffed. “Your little girl? I’ll think you’ll find she is my—”
“No,” Vienna interrupted her, silencing her with only a glance. “Mylittle girl, I willendyou, woman. Do you understandme, or do you need that sick bastard of a husband to spell it out for you?”
I audibly gasped as soon as those words left her mouth, and from the gaping look my mother was giving her, she was just as shocked as I was.
“Do you understand me?” Jasper’s mom repeated, not backing down from this.
“You can’t take her from me!” My mother snarled. “She ismykid,mydaughter!”