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HELEN
Ipulled up to Rita’s just fifteen minutes after Brenton and I had spoken still reeling from my conversation with Wally. I had to find a way to stop Carter from purchasing the house, but I had larger priorities right now. I took the handicap spot out front. I figured if I didn’t find anything, I’d be gone before anyone knew it. And if I did find Candace, then I had bigger things to worry about than illegal parking.
I ran inside, leaving my purse and phone in the car. I burst through the front door and scanned the bar area. It was filled with burly men in flannel and jean jackets. Almost every single one had facial hair. The bartender was an older woman, with a heavy spray tan and wrinkled skin.
No sign of Amber or Candace yet, I walked in further. As I walked forward, my flip flops squaked on the sticky, tiled floor. There was squished popcorn and spilled beer coating most of it. In the middle of the room was an aged pool table and nailed to the wall were a couple slightly tilted dart boards. Two women were throwing various colored darts and laughing.
A few tables were scattered around the dimly lit establishment. I observed the people sitting at each one. None had Candace’s bleached blonde hair. I didn’t see Amber’s small figure either. My heart fell deep into my stomach and I lowered my head. I was wrong. I began to turn and go, when two women walked out from the bathroom. I froze.
A short brunette and a platinum blonde. It was Amber and Candace.
Amber was in front of Candace, dragging her by the elbow.
“Stop trying to hide in the bathroom. Why are you being such a brat today?”
Candace whined in protest behind her mother. “I don’t want to be here. I want to go back to dad’s.”
Suddenly, Amber stopped in her tracks and looked up, straight at me. Her eyes narrowed and her frame grew tense.
“What the hell areyoudoing here?”
At this, Candace looked up. Her face lit up when she saw me. “Helen!”
“I’m here to get Candace.”
“Ha!” Amber laughed. “Over my dead body, you skank.”
“Let go of me!” Candace yelled, yanking her arm from Amber. She began to move toward me, but Amber held her arm out, halting the girl.
“Not so fast, sweetie. This bitch isn’t taking you anywhere.”
“Amber, think long and hard about what you’re doing.”
“Oh, I have.”
“What are you getting out of this? Your daughter doesn’t want to be here. You’re not getting any money from Brenton anymore.” At the mention of Brenton’s fortune, Amber scoffed but wriggled her stance uncomfortably.
“My daughter belongs with me. I see that now.”
As Amber spoke, the strong stench of whiskey wafted toward me. She was standing slightly hunched and every so often she stumbled to catch her balance.
“Amber, you’re drunk and not thinking clearly. Let Candace come with me now and the charges against you will be way less severe.”
“Who do you think you are?” She waved her hands at me and traces of spit flew from her mouth as she yelled. “I’ll tell you! You’re nothing! You mean nothing to him. You’re just another play thing. And you surely mean nothing toher.” She pointed at a frightened Candace.
Candace’s arms were crossed over her stomach and I could see that she was trembling.
“You’re scaring her,” I told Amber.
Amber looked from me to Candace and then back to me. She chuckled a bit and then meandered her way to the bar, catching her drunken feet on the tacky floor a few times. She ordered a shot and slammed it immediately. I watched as calmly as I could, slowly inching my way toward Candace as I did so.
Amber turned back to us. “You want to see scary?”
She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a compact metal object that took my eyes a few seconds to register. I gasped when I did. It was a pistol.
“Amber—”
“Shut up! I’m sick of hearing your voice!”
