Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(54)

Tabitha’s my sister. If I wasn’t so damn worried about you ripping her head off, I’d’ve hugged Mary Esther.”

“I can’t believe you’re siding with your dad and that—”

“Don’t say it!” Miranda’s ability to censor her words grew weaker. “I’m not siding with dad. He deserves to be punished for cheating on

Mary Esther.”

“They were separated,” her mother defended him, or was she defending herself? “And that woman is a bitch.”

Kaboom! Another explosion happened. Without a countdown this time.

“Maybe she’s a bitch because you took her husband. What’s your excuse?”

Miranda slid off the bed. A voice deep inside her said she should shut up, but there was no stopping her now. “You’re right. He deserves to

be punished for not telling you. But maybe he’s been punished enough. And maybe it’s someone else’s turn.”

Her mom just stared. Her expression was a mix of hurt, shock, anger. But Miranda wasn’t finished yet.

“Don’t pretend you didn’t know! You told me that you had your suspicions about Daddy when you met him. Maybe you should have asked a few

more questions before you got naked and pregnant!” Kaboom. Kaboom. “And … with morals like that, you don’t have a right to say anything

about me and Perry! And I said Perry! P. E. R. R. Y!”

One look at her mom cowering against the white wall almost brought Miranda down to her knees. Mother cracker, she’d gone too far! “I…” Was

she sorry? Could she lie?

“You just…”

“I think you’ve said enough!” Her mom’s voice shook. “Go with Burnett. I’ll … call later.” A heartfelt sob escaped her mother’s lips.

She pressed a hand to her mouth. Tears shimmered in her hazel eyes. Her mom never cried.

Grabbing her Gucci purse, she started out, leaving Miranda in a cloud of regret.

“Wait,” Miranda pleaded, but her mom didn’t wait. I’m sorry. The two words rested on Miranda’s lips, but she still couldn’t push them

out. Hadn’t she meant every word? But it had hurt her mom. And hurting people just wasn’t Miranda’s thing.

She almost went after her, but she knew her mom well enough to know that she didn’t forgive easily.

Standing alone, heart aching, Miranda pushed the words out. “I’m sorry I hurt you.” She could’ve, should’ve said that.

She went back to her bed and gave in to another round of tears.





Chapter Fifteen

It was almost eleven when Burnett pulled into the Shadow Falls parking lot. Miranda, a lump of hurt with a cast, sat in the passenger seat.

They hadn’t talked on the ride, but with Burnett, chitchat was optional.

To busy herself, she went through her unanswered texts. She’d checked her phone every ding, hoping it would be Tabitha. It hadn’t been. She

had seven in total. Several from Della, apologizing for not being there because she’d been given an FRU assignment. Three from Kylie, checking

in and saying she’d come up to see her, but when she’d heard Miranda’s parents shouting, she decided not to interfere.

She had one from Shawn. Call me when you get a chance.

She’d have to do that tomorrow. But what the hell was she going to say to him?

About to put her phone away, she saw a text she hadn’t heard come in. Not from Tabitha.

Perry.

Miss you already.

Her heart spasmed and sent jolts of wish-you-were-here-now emotion. She flipped back to Shawn’s message. Read it. Reread it. No jolts.

Not wanting to go there, she looked down at her school books that Holiday had brought up. The fae had stayed at the hospital for almost an

hour, offering calming touches.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t come bearing good news. She still hadn’t gotten anywhere on finding out what the tattoo could mean. Then again, it

hadn’t shown back up. Maybe it was gone for good. It would be one less thing to worry about.

Burnett turned the car’s engine off. Miranda got out, snatching her backpack from the floorboard. The moon, a day away from being full, added

a silver hue that reflected off the concrete parking lot. A light breeze, smelling like rain, stirred the air, offering slight relief from the

Texas temperature. But not much.

Then maybe it was the hurt in her heart and not the heat that had Miranda feeling uncomfortable in her own skin. She’d tried to call her mom,

even texted, but her mom had yet to reply. Needing some parental connection, she’d called her dad. He’d answered on the first ring—concern

and love in his voice.

She’d asked him where he was, and he’d tried to waffle out of telling her, but finally confessed, “In a hotel. I can’t handle your mom and

worrying about Tabitha.”

She hadn’t told him about the blowup. It didn’t feel right adding something for him to stress about.

Burnett hit the clicker and the car beeped as it locked. He came and snagged her backpack from her shoulder.

“I still have one good arm,” she said.

He shook his head and walked on. He stopped at the gate, waiting until the low click sounded. A small light on the gate turned from red to