Run, Hamster, Run! - 1. Chapter 1: Writer’s lab, Page 91

I stared at the door in front of me, dread pooling in the pit of my stomach. I could clearly hear the three different octaves of laughter float through the door, and I knew that I would be ruining one of their days.

Finally plucking up the courage, I raised my hand and knocked on the door. The laughter died down, and I heard a pair of heels crossing the wooden floor. I stepped back as I watched the curtain on the window shift, a face appearing in the gap that was just created. The smile on her face vanished, glaring at me before disappearing back behind the curtain.

I held firm as the woman unlocked the door and swung wide. She leaned against the doorframe, filling the entire doorway with crossed arms as she continued to glare at me. “What do you want, Speed?” she demanded, using the nickname from my childhood she knew I hated. It took all I had not to visibly flinch.

“Hello to you too, Charleen.” I answered, trying my hardest to be polite and kind to her. “How have you been?”

“Cut the crap, Walter. Why the hell are you here?”

“The same reason I come every week.” I say with an irritated sigh. “I’m here to pick up my daughter.”

“And just WHERE do you plan on taking her?”

“The same place I take her every time.” I explained, rolling my eyes. “I’m going to take her wherever she wants for lunch, and then we are going to the farm for her riding lesson.”

“How many times do I have to tell you the same thing.” She snapped, straitening up from her leaning position. “I do not, repeat, DO NOT, want my granddaughter near those dangerous things.”

“About the same number of times as I have to say it is none of your concern.” I retorted, shoving my hands into my pockets so she did not see them clench. “Jenna is allowed to choose whatever sport she wants, and she chose riding.”

“I don’t care. Either convince her to stop riding on her own, or I can get a court order and make it stop.”

“That’s a crock and we both know it.”

“Oh, but my sweet boy,” my former mother in law crooned, somehow making her voice drip with honey and acid at the same time. “All I have to do is tell the family court you are knowingly and deliberately placing your child in harms way, and I can get rid of two problems with one court fee.”

I gasped, all color draining from my face. “How could you threaten not only me, but your granddaughter, with something like that? Especially when your own daughter rode and competed.”

“Not because of a lack of my protest. You can blame my good for nothing ex.” She practically yelled. “Besides, look at where that landed her. Stuck in a wheelchair when that stupid animal…”

“MOTHER!!!” I heard the sweet alto voice I love so much snap from the other room, and I sighed with relief as she rolled to the door.

“Don’t ‘Mother’ Me. You knew my opinion of that stupid activity of yours from word one, and now look at you Julianne.”

“And I will tell you what I say every time we go through this. It is NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!” she growled at Charleen before turning to the little girl who stood at her right. “Go get your gear, my angel. It is time to go with daddy for your lesson.”

“All right mommy.” Jenna said with a smile before running off to her room.

Once Jenna was out of earshot, Julianne turned to glare at her mother. “I know you moved in to ‘care for me’, but in doing so you kicked out Walter. We tolerated it because we knew having a registered nurse living with me was a good idea at the time.”

“But…”

“Mother, don’t start. I will speak my mind on this. You have outlived your welcome, and your usefulness in this situation. You treat Walter like shit every time he’s over….”

“Because he is your EX-HUSBAND.”

“Only because I requested it so I could compete, keeping my finances and his separate.”

“Exactly.” I chime in, wishing I could edge past Charleen so I could have some contact with Julianne. “And every time we spend time together, I ask when we can get married again. We have already signed the pre-nup.”

Charleen glared at me with venom in her eyes, but somehow managed to keep it out of her voice. “Now Julianne, dear, you’re not honestly considering kicking me out, just so a good for nothing…..”She stopped mid-sentence as she heard Jenna come bouncing down the stairs.

“Sorry that took so long, dad. I couldn’t find one of my boots.” She told us as she landed next to her mother. “Oddest thing, I found it behind the recliner in my room. “She shrugged and swung her bag onto her shoulder. “Ready to go, dad?”

“Sure, Liebling. Why don’t you go wait in the jeep, I’ll be there in a minute.”

“All right, dad.” She started down the walk, then stopped and looked at Julianne. “You sure you won’t come and watch? I’ve gotten tons better since your accident.”

“I don’t think that is a good idea, Jenna.” Charleen said. “After what that vicious….”

“DO NOT BLAME WRANGLER!” Julianne growled. “I was the one who misjudged the distance and the footing.” She looked at Jenna. “I would, but I haven’t a clue where any of my gear is.”

“I can run and get your tall boots.” Jenna stated with glee, and Julianne stared at her daughter with wide eyes.”

“How did you manage to save my tall boots?”

“Dad simply told the emergency workers that your boots zipped down when they went to cut you out of them, and when they tried again to cut you out of them that they could pay for a replacement pair if they destroyed them.” My little one looked at her mother with big, pleading eyes. “So will you come down?”

“Who will you be riding?”

“At this, Jenna looked down, kicking the stones next to the side walk. “Wrangler, mommy.” She said in a sheepish tone, and then her head whipped up. “It wasn’t my idea, mom, I swear. Miss Kitt said that Wrangler was ready to start being ridden and…”

“Easy, Jenna.” Julianne said, laughing. “It is quite alright. If Miss Kitt says you have the skills for Wrangler, then it is fine for you to ride him. Now, go find my boots.”

Jenna squealed in delight and rushed up the stairs. Julianne watched her briefly before turning to glare at Charleen. “I want you packed and on your way back to your place by the time we get home.”

“But Juli…”

“No buts, mother. You have run rough shod over my life in the year and a half since my accident. My therapist was wondering why my recovery hasn’t been as fast as the other equestrians that she had worked with. Now I know why.” She carefully planted her feet on the floor and stood to her full height with the aid of the stairs banister. “I want you out of my house, and I don’t want to hear from you for at least three weeks.” She lowered herself back into the wheel chair. “It is time I got back in the saddle, so to speak, and take charge of my life again.”

I was smiling broadly at my love as she wheeled forward, not caring if she ran over her mother’s feet as she did so.

“Walter, my dear, would you help me into the jeep?”

“Of course, Hun.” I replied, following as she rolled her way over. Jenna zipped past, backpack in one hand and boots in the other and somehow managed to climb in like that.

As I bent to pick Julianne up in my arms, I gently kissed her cheek. “I am proud of you, Meine Geliebte.” I whispered in her ear.

“She wrinkled her face cutely and gave a laugh. “It was long overdue, honestly. And what mother threatened you with was the final straw.” She replied as I settled her into the front seat.

“Does this mean things will start getting back to normal?” Jenna asked, leaning forward between the two front seats.

“Hope so, Meine Liebling.” I replied as I put the wheelchair into the back of my jeep, closing the door before muttering to myself. “I certainly hope so.