The anger took hold of me, shoving away any sense of reason as I headed straight for the front door. I didn’t care how angry my dad was going to be once he realized I had snuck out; he was just going to have to deal with it. This is about Josh now. He is being wrongly accused and I will not let it happen.
I burst into the living room, causing all three men to jump to their feet in surprise. Standing nearest to me was Larry Tucker. Next to him was my dad and at the far side of the couch stood his retched son, Nathan. His face looked like a pomegranate. It was purple and swollen. Josh had beaten the hell out of him that night and I could see, from the looks of him, why his lie is believable. I launched right in, “You shameful piece of crap. How dare you come into my home, the place where I live, and try to turn my own father against me!” I was still standing in the entryway, when I slammed the door shut, hard.
A look of shock and horror was prominently placed on the faces of both my dad and Nathan; however, Larry’s expression was strangely ineffable. He spoke first, “Hello, Lizzie. We were just talking about you.” He looked to my father for input but dad remained still, unsure of my next move.
I charged Larry but then stopped abruptly at the back of the couch, “Don’t you dare talk to my father as if he is on your side. He will never side with your piece of garbage son. I don’t care how much money you throw at him.” I glared at Nathan, gauging his reaction.
Larry tried a falsely calm approach, “Lizzie, I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I only offered to help your father out financially with the lawyers to protect you.”
“Protect me? Liar! You’re not trying to protect me. You’re trying to protect your son.”I shot my index finger in Nathan’s direction and looked at him as I spoke, “You did this to me. How dare you put the blame on Josh. How dare you! He saved me from you. I want you out of my house. Out of my life! Do you understand me? Get out!” I was screaming at the top of my lungs now and sure the neighbor’s would hear, even with the door shut.
“Honey, please don’t do this. Larry and Nate are only trying to help you, to help us. I know you’re angry and confused but you shouldn’t take it out on the people who care about you and want to help.”
I was past listening to my dad’s blind words as he defended my attacker. I couldn’t really blame him too much since he was still in so much denial, but as dad and I stood there, watching Nathan’s eyes dart in undeniable panic between his father and I, my own father’s head twitched slightly and I knew he got it. He was much more in tuned to the situation than I had given him credit for - he was beginning to see the truth.
