The door slammed open.
Shane strode in, scooping up the baby, scolding
- me.
く
“Claire, what kind of mother are you? He’s
crying his lungs out, and you do nothing? Are
you trying to starve him to death?”
He saw the leftovers I was eating, pork and glass noodles, and exploded.
“I can’t believe you’re so selfish! Are you starving? You ate all that, you didn’t even think
to leave any for Shelly, or for the baby!”
“Why do you get to eat it all?”
How messed up was that? I couldn’t eat my
own food without his permission?
I hadn’t even said anything, and he was already
acting like I was the mom.
Who did Shane think he was?
I sneered.
<
“Instead of yelling at me, why don’t you go find
the parents? They dumped a newborn in the
dirt. How is that any different from killing him?”
“People like that deserve whatever’s coming to them.”
I’d hit a nerve. Shane was pissed, but he couldn’t very well agree with me.
He grabbed the sweet potato porridge and started spoon–feeding the baby.
How could a tiny infant eat chunks like that?
Before he could swallow two bites, the kid was choking.
Almost killed by his own damn father.
Shane slapped his back and yelled at me.
“Are you blind? Help!”
<
10:19
“Are you blind? Help!”
I rolled my eyes and walked off. I had more
important things to do.
“Where are you going? I didn’t say you could
leave!”
“My legs, my choice. You’re not the boss of
me.”
He was speechless.
I’d always been so meek, I’d never said anything back to him. But he’d get used to it.
I went to see Marlene.
She knew everyone’s business.
I didn’t give away the secret about Shane and Shelly, I just asked some casual questions.
<
“Shelly’s been gone for months. Do you know
where she’s been?”