Page 42 (2/2)

"Poppy made many mistakes She had a penance to pay" The blae that was riding ht and hot betweenface Instead I curledin so hard that I drew blood

"She had sex, Dad Most girls in college do, and that is not an unforgivable sin that she needs to pay penance for the rest of her life"

He was going to disagree and this was going to be an endless battle of words and wills, so I cut it short

"Look, I don’t care what you think I don’t care if you spend every single night trying to will me to my own special corner of hell What I do care about is Poppy andforward You are not to contact her You are not to reach out to her You are not to try andinvolved in the death of a terrible man I want you to leave her alone Do you understand runted at me "You don’t speak for your sister, Salem There is still hope for Poppy to find her way back to the flock"

I growled and took a step forward "If she contacts you, all you are going to do is tell her you are happy she is okay and that you support the choices she isYou do not want to push the issue with ht you tooth and nail for her"

"You can’t threaten me, Salem"

"Oh, really? If you think you’re embarrassed by the way I hen I lived under your roof, just wait until I drag out all the dirt that’s under s I did to survive when you ran me off Did you knoas a stripper? How do you think you would like some of those videos and pictures uploaded to the Web with your na eyebrow and watched hih if I was serious or not

"How about the years I spent as a burlesque dancer or the time I worked for a freak show on a boardwalk, or the tiy bar? What about a sex tape? You have no idea the kind of skeletons I can drag out of the closet, and once so you and this entire parish into the mud Don’t push the issue with me, Dad I will do whatever I have to do to keep Poppy safe Oh, and that kid next door that had no farown up, wildly successful, and willing to fight right by my side Did I mention his sister is a lawyer? I’m sure he would love to tell the world all about how you pushed Poppy to date that quarterback and then turned on her when he got her pregnant and left her alone What kind of hter’s location to an abuser and covers up the fact that he’s been protecting a wife beater The farce you have going on will disappear in a puff of smoke I won’t just pull the mask off, Dad, I’ll shatter it into a million pieces"

I crossed my arht, wanted to believe that he was beloved enough, had people enthralled enough, that all low, but my mom suddenly ly

"She’s right This has to stop" My dad opened his h We lost one daughter already and Saleot another one killed I won’t be part of this anyer at my dad’s stunned face and told him flatly, "If you think your reputation can survive what Sale, then know this It absolutely won’t survive your wife leaving you on top of it You are going to do as she says and that is all there is to it"

My father looked dumbfounded and furious My ave ood for your sister She was never the sae I didn’t realize he was hurting her until it was far too late, and I allowed your father to convince ed and was remorseful for the way he treated your sister He toldI rong to blindly believe and trust I have been very wrong for the last decade You take care of your sister and give her whatever she needs We won’t get in the way" She looked over her shoulder at my father and fir to say thank you She didn’t get gratitude for finally doing so my entire life It was her job to stand between her children and this man I nodded and turned to walk away from both of them for the last time

"Salem" I looked over my shoulder as my mom called my name "I need you to know it broke o"

It brokeher It broke my heart because I had left Poppy and Roaves of sorrow inso I didn’t have to go, Mom"