What Doesn't Kill Her (Cape Charade #2)(80)

Max started doing what Max did; handling the situation. He shoved the note into his pocket, took Kellen’s hand and Rae’s hand, and together they climbed the stairs up onto the porch. “Now, Mother. Calm down. Kellen and I can deal with this.”

“Do you know what they do to bullies? In camp and in school?” Verona opened the screen she’d just slammed and gestured at them to enter. “She’ll be expelled!”

“No, no.” Max had his soothing voice on. “I got a note from camp and they’re asking her to apologize to Martin.”

“I will not!” Rae pulled her hand out of his and stomped inside.

Max continued, “Kellen and I have to take a class on raising a child who knows how to negotiate rather than use violence.”

“You’re joking.” Kellen couldn’t believe it. “Because she punched the little snot? He was being a bully. Does his mother have to take the class, too?”

“Probably not,” Max said. “Martin didn’t hit anybody.”

“Because he’s a wimp.” Kellen pulled her hand free and followed Rae into the living room.

Verona swung the door into Max’s hand and followed them both, scolding, “Kellen Adams, I hope you’re happy. Rae never got in trouble before. Now she’ll be kicked out of camp. She’s going to be chastised and watched by her teachers. She’s going to be marked as a troublemaker—”

Kellen lost her temper. She just lost it. No excuse, it was stupid, but she turned and shouted, “I’m not ashamed! Maybe Rae will be marked as a troublemaker now, but she’ll grow up to be a woman who allows no man to hurt her, to abuse her, verbally or physically. She’s going to be strong. She’s going to be the boss. She’s got my back and I’ve got hers, and I taught her that. Maybe someday she’ll save some other woman’s granddaughter from kidnapping, like I saved Annabella.”

Verona took a breath.

Kellen wasn’t done yet. “Rae might be in trouble now, but in the future, she’s going to be a strong and confident woman, one who will make you proud!”

Verona’s indignation collapsed like last night’s angel food cake. She fumbled for words. “Oh. I suppose...”

“Mommy, you shouldn’t yell at Grandma.” Rae stood by the stairs. “She’s a delicate flower.”

Kellen stared at her daughter, then at Verona, who was wide-eyed and shell-shocked, then at Max whose face was working as if he didn’t know whether to laugh or intervene.

“Well!” Verona cleared her throat. “Kellen. I spoke hastily. What you say is true, and I am grateful. But Rae needs to recognize the difference between a real threat and an obnoxious little boy whose jealous mother made unwise comments. You’re Rae’s mother. Explaining that is up to you.”

Kellen’s anger faded fast. She looked between Verona and Rae again, and realized the task she had set herself. “You’re right. I should be able to do that. I guess Rae and I need to have a talk.”

“Maybe while Rae is taking her shower and changing for dinner?” Verona suggested.

“Right. Come on.” Kellen put her hand on Rae’s shoulder and headed up the stairs with her.

Max stayed behind, speaking with Verona.

As Kellen and Rae walked, Kellen tried to think how to explain to a seven-year-old the degrees of danger that stalked the world. It came down to one simple thing. She stopped Rae in the hallway outside her room and knelt in front of her. “Is it possible for Martin to kill you?”

“No.” Rae crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s nothing but a skinny sissy boy.”

“Then you can’t hit him.”

“But he said bad things about you, and you said we have each other’s backs.”

“We do. If someone was threatening you and he could really hurt you, maybe kill you, I would do everything in my power to protect you. You know that.”

“Yes. But Martin said you were a hooker!”

“Do you know what a hooker is?”

“No.” Rae looked disgruntled.

“It’s a mean word meant to hurt. Words can hurt, but only from people you care about. If Martin and his mother want to call me a hooker—” Kellen waved a hand “—pft! I don’t care. I don’t know them, and I don’t care what they think.”

“Some people care what they think,” Rae muttered.

Translation: Rae cared. That was important, and Kellen didn’t want to easily dismiss her feelings. “Are you afraid some of your friends will listen?”

“Not my friends.”

Kellen considered that. “Your not-friends?”

“Roxy Birtle laughed.”

“Roxy Birtle sounds mean.”

“She is!” Rae had red in her cheeks and her eyes were too bright.

“That’s too bad. There’s always a mean girl and there’s always a mean boy and I always feel sorry for them.”

“Sorry for them?” Rae’s voice rose. “Why? Mommy, why?”

“Because they like being mean. Would you want to be like that?”

“No. I like people to be happy!”

“I know!” Kellen hugged her. “The important thing is we don’t care what mean people say. You and me. We’re ThunderFlash and LightningBug. We’re secret superheroes together.”