Chapter 2 - The Crack in the Silence
|
Judith’s gasp echoed sharply off the bedroom walls.
"Daniel!" she called out, her voice rising in pitched indignation. "Daniel, come in here right now!"
Heavy footsteps hurried down the corridor. Daniel stumbled through the doorway, his silk bow tie hanging loose around his unbuttoned collar. He smelled strongly of scotch, having been drinking heavily since the reception ended. His eyes were glassy, completely lacking the tender affection he had displayed during our first dance.
Judith pointed at me as if she were delivering testimony in a courtroom. "Tell your wife to stop behaving like a spoiled princess. She thinks she's too good to wash your father's clothes."
Daniel looked down at the sloshing bucket, then turned to me, exhaling a frustrated breath.
"Rebecca, come on," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "It's just one load of laundry. Can we please not turn this into a major issue tonight?"
A sudden chill settled deep inside my chest. "You expect me to hand-wash your father's dirty underwear on our wedding night?"
"My mother did things like this for years without complaining," he snapped.
"Then your father owes your mother an apology," I said firmly.
Judith let out an outraged noise, and Daniel’s face darkened instantly. He stepped forward and grabbed my upper arm. His grip wasn't gentle or playful; his fingers dug into my flesh through the delicate lace until pain shot up my shoulder.
"Don't talk to my mother that way," he hissed.
I stared down at his knuckles turning white against my dress. "Let go of me."
"Rebecca—"
"Let. Go."
May you like
Instead of releasing me, his hand flew up.
The sharp crack of his palm against my face was smaller than I would have imagined, but the force jerked my head sideways. My lip slammed against the inside of my teeth, unleashing the immediate, metallic taste of blood.
