Say Forever(56)

I take a chance and slowly turn. Nora's got her arm around my mom's shoulders, and they fall all over each other as they stumble out of the bar toward the large fountain at the center of the arched entry. I suppose that story about Nora no longer being The Cobra's BFF was just another line of bullshit. I exhale a sigh of relief when I see they are leaving the club. But my relief is short-lived when I hear an enraged shriek that sounds part predatory hawk and part tribal war cry. I feel like I'm watching a nightmare play out in slow motion as my mom descends upon them, and before I can stop her, my birth mother is shoving Nora and my adoptive mother into the fountain's basin.

I jump from my seat and race toward the entry, pushing through the throng of onlookers who crowd the scene.

My whole world implodes on itself as I get a good look at my mom. She's hovering over the fountain, hands clenched at her sides, while The Cobra and Nora flail in the water like drowning puppies.Mom points a shaky finger at Nora. "That's for trying to ruin my daughter's wedding!"

Nora stands up and swipes a strand of wet hair out of her eyes. "It was nothing personal, Jenny. My husband-"

"I don't give a damn about your personal life. I only care about my daughter!"

My heart slams when I see the rage in my mom's thunderous expression. She looks ready to spit fire.

"And that's for ruining my daughter's life!" she says to The Cobra who answers with a harrumph as she struggles to get out of the water.

Nora doesn't bother to offer her friend a hand up. I get the feeling their friendship isn't very solid. I still can't believe my mother, with her tiny five-foot-three frame, soft smile and easy-going nature, managed to knock both her adversaries into the water.

Though I'm terrified what will happen to my mom after publically assaulting these snakes in the grass, some part of me wants to pump my fist in the air and say, "Kick their asses!"

Instead, I decide on the sensible course of action—pull Mom away before security apprehends her, and then run like hell.

"Mom!" I raise my voice to get her attention. Imagine how awkward I feel when both my birth mother and adoptive mother turn to me. I purposely look away from The Cobra, after catching the venomous look in her eyes. I think I hear hissing coming from the water, and I imagine she's trying to turn us to stone right now.

The crowd is silent. Funny how nobody offers to help Nora and The Cobra out of the fountain.

My mom pulls back her shoulders, turns up her chin and walks up to me. Despite her show of courage, I note the haunted look in her eyes. It's enough to break my heart. I open my arms, and she buries her face against my neck, sniffling against my ear.

"I'm sorry, baby."

My throat tightens with emotion. "Don't be. I love you, Mom."

"And I love you," she says as she pulls back and flashes a radiant smile despite the sheen of tears in her eyes.

"You assaulted me!" An ear-piercing shriek resonates behind me. "I'm filing a police report, and you'll be hearing from my lawyer!"

I look over my mom's shoulder at The Cobra still standing in the center of the fountain. Her bony knees are shaking, and her short skirt clings to her wrinkled thighs. Her giant cone of hair plasters her head in saggy strands, exposing bald patches on her scalp, and her heavy makeup runs down her face in globs.

I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with my mom and entwine her fingers with mine, distressed to feel how badly her hand shakes. I narrow my gaze at the monster who raised me. "You sue my mom and I'll press charges against you."

She places both hands on her hips. "For what?" she slurs as water spews from her lips. "I was the one pushed into the water."

I take a deep breath and then slowly exhale as I try not to make eye contact with anyone, despite the multitudes of curious stares. "For being an accessory to child rape."

The Cobra gasps and stumbles backward. Nora, who's standing beside her, doesn't even try to break her fall as my adoptive mother hits her head on a spitting cherub.

My mom cries as her hand flies to her throat. "You don't have to do this, Christina," I hear her rasp.

The Cobra is groaning and rubbing her head. Nora finally lends a hand and helps her out of the fountain. I know I need to strike again, when my opponent is still down. The only problem is my sordid past will be known to everyone. But my adoptive mother needs to be held accountable for what she has done.

I turn up my chin and steel my resolve. "You knew my dad was raping me and you didn't even call the cops."

The Cobra looks like a wet rat, dripping all over the tile floor. The veins in her skinny neck stand out as her fingers curl like claws by her sides. "How dare you bring that kind of shame upon our family!"