Chapter 6
Leonard didn't say a word.
There was a faint rustling on the other end of the line, as if someone was moving closer.
Then, a soft, almost whimpering female voice broke in, so sweet and tearful it sent shivers down my spine.
"Mr. Morton... maybe I should be the one to explain," Kelly said.
The show was about to begin.
I didn't even blink.
Kelly's voice trembled, sounding so wronged, as if she were the victim here.
She said, "Mrs. Morton, I swear I didn't mean to. Frank burst in and slammed the door so loudly. My mind went blank. I was stunned."
She sniffled. "I touched him without even thinking. I could've guessed things would end up like this..."
I didn't buy it.
I glanced at Frank's face.
His nose was red again, tears welling up in his eyes, his whole body stiff as he tried to hold it all in.
That slap was loud enough to echo, and she was calling it a "touch."
She could spin anything. A few words, and suddenly the truth was upside down.
Kelly was faking it, and Leonard was buying it.
What a perfect pair they were.
"Kelly," I said. "So tell me. Did you 'touch' him with your hand, or was it your face?
"Maybe I should send you a photo of the fingerprints on his cheek, to refresh your memory?"
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then Kelly's voice broke through, thick with tears. "I know you don't like me.
"But you can't make it sound so bad because you don't like me.
"I was scared. I swear I didn't mean to hurt Frank. You're making things so hard for Mr. Morton. You can't tolerate me, right?"
Tolerate her? Seriously?
I nearly burst out laughing.
"Who do you think you are, that I should go out of my way for you?" I said.
My tone was flat. "You barged into my family, messed around with my husband, and when my son caught you, you slapped him.
"Now you're crying and asking if I can't tolerate you? Have you no shame? Or did you swallow it whole?"
Kelly went dead silent.
She probably never expected I'd tear into her so directly.
All these years, I'd always kept my composure in front of outsiders, barely showing my emotions.
But composure was for decent people, not for the likes of her.
If you let someone walk all over you and kept up a dignified front, that was not being gracious. That was being stupid.
Leonard's voice dropped, cold and sharp. "Enough. Who are you talking to like that?"
"What, feeling bad for her now?" I shot back at Leonard. "Figures. You didn't care when your son got slapped.
"But the second I call her out, you jump to defend her. Leonard, you're really something, father of the year, huh?"
Leonard's breathing grew heavy on the other end.
Kelly spoke up again, her voice soft and weak. She sounded fragile enough, like she'd been crying but was holding it together.
She sobbed. "Mr. Morton, it's okay. It's all my fault. Maybe I should apologize to Frank, so you two don't end up fighting because of me."
Her words dripped with that fake innocent act, like she was playing the victim right through the phone.
Just an apology, huh?
But notice, she never said a word about bowing.
She tossed out that line, sounding all soft and meek, but every word was adding fuel to the fire.
She made it crystal clear that I wasn't sticking up for Frank but was using this as an excuse to stir up trouble.
Sure enough, Leonard wasted no time backing her up.
Leonard said, "Did you hear that? Kelly's willing to apologize.
"No way she's bowing.
"Don't push your luck."
I stayed quiet for a couple of seconds.
I lowered my gaze and gently adjusted the towel that had slipped off Frank's face.
He sat there, small and quiet, holding his breath, like he was afraid the tiniest sound would earn him another "you had it coming."
His cheek was still swollen, the heat from his face seeping through the towel.
Suddenly, I remembered back when we first got married, Leonard stood in front of the elders and promised no one would ever bully our kid or me.
He talked a good game.
Men could be all honey when they were sweet-talking you, but when push came to shove, they'd even throw their own son under the bus.
Whatever hope I had left was shattered.
"Fine," I said.
That was all I said.
Leonard sounded a bit surprised that I gave in so quickly, his tone easing.
He said, "Good, glad you finally see reason. Let's call it a night. Don't bring it up..."
"Why are you in such a hurry?" I cut him off. "When I said 'fine,' I meant I finally got it.
"I get it now, Leonard. You're so determined to shield her, you don't even care about your own son's face."
Leonard's breath hitched on the other end.
I didn't give him a chance to respond.
I snapped, "She slapped Frank, and you said Frank had it coming. She said Frank didn't know how to behave, and you called it a lesson.
"The moment I asked her to bow and apologize, you said I was being unreasonable, pushing my luck."
"Fine. You'd better keep acting all tough, Leonard. Don't regret it."