The cab pulled up to the curb. Rose ordered the cabbie to wait, then let herself out.
She sneered as she stood and looked at the small house. She patted the back of her turbaned head and walked up the driveway.
“Well, I’d best get going,” Hope said as she got up from the loveseat. “I don’t want my parents to get worried.”
“I can’t believe it’s been two and a half hours already.”
“Me, too. I appreciate your time to meet with me and to talk with me.”
“Never you mind. Thank you for coming. It was very nice having you here. You have my number and e-mail address?”
“Yes,” Hope said with a nod.
“Next time we get together, we’ll have to do brunch or dinner.”
“It’s a deal. Thanks again.”
A loud knock on the door startled Vivian and Hope. Vivian answered the door and yelled, “Unbelievable!”
“I knew I’d find you here,” Rose said as she barged into the house uninvited.
Hope glanced at the woman nervously.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Vivian said. She held her hand up, palm forward. “Now, you wait just a minute!”
“I don’t wait for anyone!” Rose said.
“I’m gonna get going now,” Hope said.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Vivian said to Hope. “There’s something I want you to know. Hope, this is our so-called mother, Rose Hutchins.” Vivian turned to glare at Rose.
“Excuse me?” Rose said.
“No excuses, ma’am,” Vivian said. “This is Hope Windom, the half-sister I never knew I had.”
Hope curiously eyed Rose. “You’re my mother?” Hope asked. “What a monster you are!”
Rose barely acknowledged Hope with a sidelong glance.
“Glad you gave me up for adoption,” Hope said. “Because from what I’m seeing now and from what I’ve heard about you, it’s apparent that my adoptive parents are nice people compared to someone like you.”
“Who cares?” Rose said. She turned to Vivian. “I demand to know what happened to my house, and I want to know who is responsible for the destruction of my property.”
“Now you wait just a damn minute,” Vivian said as she shook an angry finger at Rose. She drew nearer to Rose in a menacing manner.
“How dare you take that tone of voice with me! And the unmitigated gall of you shaking your finger at me like that!”
Vivian whacked her own mother across the face with a fierce backhand swipe.
“Wow!” Hope said with a gasp.
“You’re not welcome here!” Vivian said. “Get out! Now! Just leave!”
In the background behind Rose, Vivian and Hope observed a metallic-red convertible speedily pull up in the driveway. Its tires burned rubber, emitted bluish-gray smoke, and left skid marks on the concrete as it came to a screeching halt. The door flew open and Christine jumped out.
“Oh, no,” Vivian said with consternation.
Rose stiffened as she saw Christine, who had a twisted, vicious snarl on her face. Christine stomped from the convertible to the entrance of the house.
“You can run, but you can’t hide!” Christine yelled with a hoarse voice at Vivian. “I said I was gonna get ya! From the word ‘go,’ you have been nothing but trouble! Worse than a thorn in my side, much worse than a bug up my ass!”
“You want to know who was responsible for the destruction of your property,
Mrs. Windom?” Vivian asked. “Well, here’s your answer.”
Christine stepped in. She huffed and puffed. Her eyes blazed with insanity.
“Figures,” Rose said. “Nonetheless, you are all to blame.”
“I didn’t come here for this,” Hope said. “I am outta here. Sorry, Vivian.”
She left Vivian’s side and headed for the front door, but Christine slammed it shut with a quick kick with her heel.
