Chapter 26

“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” I jumped at the sound of Samantha’s voice and her book slamming. I looked groggily around the room before another body came into focus. Standing in the doorway was a tall well-dressed man.

My parents, my sister, and my mother-in-law had been taking turns to keep me company. It had been six days since Ray’s surgery.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Clarke, I just stopped by to ask how is Ray is doing.”

“Your crazy daughter shot at him and he is fighting for his life. How do you think he is doing?” my mother-in-law growled at him.

“Oh, my! He is the bitch’s father.”

“I’m truly sorry for what happened. Believe it or not, I care a lot about Ray. He was like a son to me.”

I remembered what Ray told me about his former boss, and I knew what he was saying was true. But even so, I didn’t want him here.

“I’ll take care of the medical bills, of course,” he said.

“No, thank you,” Samantha said. “We want nothing from you.”

The bitch’s father bowed his head and stared at his shoes. A picture of remorse.

“I know it’s not the best of times, but I was hoping we could talk about my daughter and reach some kind of agreement.”

“I hope your bitch of a daughter rots in hell,” I blurted out. “That’s the only agreement you’ll get from me.”

The man acknowledged my presence for the first time.

“I think we haven’t been introduced. Who are you?”

“I’m Ray’s wife,” I said proudly.

He looked down at my tummy.

“I see you’re pregnant,” he said in an accusatory tone. “Ray being the kind of man he is did the right thing. I suppose congratulations are in order.”

“That’s enough, Reginald,” Samantha said in a firm voice. I could have sworn she puffed out her chest. “If you think for a minute that you can come here and insult my daughter-in-law, you’re sadly mistaken. One more word and I won’t need security to escort you out, I’ll do it myself. I think you owe Ray’s wife an apology.”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t want him to pretty up his ugly-assed words with a half-assed apology. He should look at his own daughter’s actions before judging others. But it’s easier to blame others than to look at his failures as a father.”