Page 35 of Jonny’s Redemption

“Yes, you heard that correct,” Jonny said into the phone. “Your sister was arrested today, DWI. It’s her first offense, she’ll get off with a fine and community service. She needs help, Uncle Bryan, she will not listen to me, and after today I’m done. That means you’re up.”

“Get out.” Mrs. Spencer pointed to the door. “Get out of my house right this instant.”

“Yeah, that’s her kicking me out of the home where I grew up,” Jonny told his uncle. “This is after I got an embarrassing call from an old work colleague to inform me my drunk mother’d been hauled in for drinking and driving. This is after I drove home from Dewey to pick her up. After my woman brought her home and had to walk into a filthy pigsty. By the smell of this place, she’s been on a month-long bender. She’s lost weight, she looks like shit, the house is filthy, she’s been arrested, and yet she still will not admit she has a problem. She needs help, lots of it. Obviously, I’ve failed to get her what she needs. So it’s your turn, Uncle Bryan. That is if you care what happens to her because I am not doing this anymore.

“Her and my father’s bullshit ruined my childhood, my high school years, and almost got me killed. I’ve been forced to live a lie and I will no longer live this way. I don’t know if she’s got alcohol in the house and I’m not sticking around long enough to search so I don’t know the state you’ll find her in when you get here.”

Jonny finally finished his tirade and took in a deep breath of noxious air. God, the place really did reek. The fact that Jonny had not been in complete shock when he’d walked in spoke volumes and I hated, despised, loathed all it had to say. But more, I detested he’d done it alone. He was alone. No one to take his back, hold him up, listen when he needed to vent. My Jonny had alienated himself to protect a secret that was not his.

“We’re leaving,” Jonny snapped.

I must’ve missed the end of his conversation with his uncle because he was off the phone and looking at me.

“Okay.”

Without hesitation, I moved across the room and when I got to his side, I grabbed his hand.

“Your brother’s on his way. He’ll be here in a few hours. I suggest you take this time to pack what you want to bring with you to New York,” he said to his mother and started for the front door.

“I hate you.”

My step faltered and my insides turned to ice. Jonny’s hand in mine shook and I looked up just in time to see the devastation those three words wrought. Straight-up pain sliced through his handsome face. I knew what that anguish felt like. I could acutely remember the agony words caused when they were spoken in malice.

“How dare you,” I seethed, and craned my neck to look at Mrs. Spencer. “Get some help.”

“I don’t even know why you’re here,” she returned.

“No, you wouldn’t, seeing as you know nothing about your son. You have no idea what he’s given up for you. You’re too busy drowning in a bottle to see the magnificent man he is. The only good thing you ever had in your life and you’re throwing him away.”

“This is family—”

“I am Jonny’s family,” I cut her off. I needed to finish what I had to say and get my man home. Someplace safe, far away from his mother. “He could’ve been yours, too, but you turned your back on him. It’s so pathetic, I can’t even find it in myself to hate you. I want to. You’re a nasty, miserable, poor excuse of a woman. And I really want to hate you for all the hurt you’ve caused, but all I feel for you is pity. You will never know the man your son grew up to be. You’ll never know the goodness he has in him. How warm his love feels. How when he laughs it lights the room. It was all yours long before it was mine but you chose to wallow in unhappiness instead of taking care of your son. Get some help, Mrs. Spencer.”

When I was done I tugged Jonny to the door, opened it, and shoved him through. His stiff body followed me to his truck and he did it breathing heavy. I was rethinking hating her; maybe I could exchange emotions and stop feeling sorry for her. After the years she’d neglected Jonny it was what she deserved. She’d made that particular bed and I hoped when she was lying in it her callous words haunted her. I hoped she felt every ounce of pain she’d inflicted on Jonny.

“That was impressive,” Jonny muttered, and pulled me to a stop at the side of his truck.

“What?”

“Normally when you’re pissed, your sexy drawl comes out. You start spouting off all these cute Southern adages that make absolutely no sense. But just now you laid my mother out and your voice didn’t even pitch high. It was impressive.”

“This isn’t funny.”

I immediately regretted my statement when the amusement left Jonny’s eyes and the glacial stare returned.

“You’re right, there’s not a goddamn thing funny about the shitshow that is my life. But never have I had a single fucking person take my back when I was going up against their bullshit. So I’m concentrating on that feeling instead of walking back into my mother’s house and ripping her goddamn head off for being such a self-centered bitch.”

I felt at that juncture it was prudent I give Jonny anything he needed so I relaxed as much as I could and smiled.

“Your place or mine?” I asked.

“Mine. I want you in my bed.”

“Sounds good to me. Are we stopping by the store or ordering in?”

Everything about Jonny softened and his eyes drifted closed.

“Fuck.”