Chapter 7

"What are you telling me? How did I raise an idiot like you? I had known you had something to do with the disappearance of Nicole. Who's idea was it to get rid of the body?"

Mr. Fox rolled up his sleeves as Jack stood by the kitchen sink. "Do you realize everything I worked so hard for would be all for nothing? When they convict you, you won't see the light of day again."

Mr. Fox ran his hand over his beard, thinking as he paced up and down, "So you were not driving?"

Jack shook his head; "Rick was driving;" Jack nodded, "you still never told me whose idea it was to dispose of the body." Jack looked down, "Mine, dad."

Mr. Fox then walked calmly behind Jack, suddenly placed his arm over his neck, and started to choke. "dammit, you are a bigger idiot than I thought you were."

Mrs. Fox placed her hand over his shoulder.

"Let go of Jack" Angela stood in shock, watching her dad's outburst, not daring to speak up, knowing her father might run up to her and start fighting with her.

He had let go of Jack; "you know what, I know what to do to get these suckers off our property; we will put this on Rick."

"No, Dad, you can't," said Angela

Mr. Fox turned to her, "you know the apple does not fall far from the tree; you would rather see your brother locked up and cover for that low-life useless waste of oxygen? If that's the case, young lady, you leave my house and never come back." Mr. Fox pointed to the door.

"There is the door if you protect that low-life scum."

"Calm down, dad." Said Jack as he was rubbing his neck, it's.

"Okay, I will take the fall and face the consequences."

"You won't do such a thing. You think I will let you throw away your life because your sister intoxicates your mind?"

"In the morning, we will go to the police station, and you will make a statement saying that this was Rick's idea; you climbed into the pickup, and he drove into Nicole; he left you there and said he would take her to the hospital."

"I can't do that, dad. It's a lie."

"What's the point of two sitting for a crime you had not committed, son."

"But dad"

"No, buts! Your Mom will confirm you got home by foot that afternoon, and you young lady, you are leaving today, and not a word to be spoken about what happened."

Angela smiled. "Yes, dad, just as you wish," she said in a sarcastic voice as she walked up the stairs; her dad looked at her from behind; "that thing is toxic; I can't wait to get that girl out of my house."

Angela came to her room and looked around; there was nothing but old portraits of her Mom and her on the beach, her Mom was happy in that portrait, and a little brown box she had gotten from her granny.

She opened the box, remembering she had received it before her granny's passing, but she never came out to open it. Angela now took the box and placed it on her lap as she sat crossed legs on the bed.

The box had a brown envelope; she had unsealed the envelope; Angela had a loving grandma from her Mom's side.

Her granny was fond of her; they would build sand castles together and spend a lot of time playing; Angela loved her granny, and she would follow grandma Betty, as the kitchen always lingered of that delightful smell.

The smell of freshly baked bread out of an oven was a smell she remembers waking up too often.

On the third of July 1964, she was diagnosed with cancer. Sadly it was too late to do anything since she had stage four cancer.

Angela's memory was sitting by grandma Betty's bedside and holding her fragile pale hand where the veins were transparent as a golden fish in a clear pound.

Her grandma had always told her, "I have a surprise waiting for you when you grow older, and this surprise will be life-changing."

Witnessing her grandma's struggles, she was always happy to be around her; Angela felt safe and comfortable in her presence.

When her grandma mentioned that surprise, she thought it would become old photos that would be sentimental; being young, all that made her happy was animals and sweets; never would she have guessed what was to come.

Angela was looking at the brown envelope when a knock on the door, "honey, it's me." As she pushed open the door, her Mom said, "are you okay?"

Angela smiled and nodded, "I am sorry about your dad and how he spoke to you."

"It is okay, Mom; you should not be the one apologizing. He should be apologizing."

"You know I will miss having you here; this house won't be the same without you."

Angela let out a faint smile, not saying anything.

"Are you ready for this new beginning?"

Angela nods and lets out a gentle smile, "will you be okay, mom?"

"Yes, honey." said her mother holding a brave face.

"Please don't say anything about your brother. If this ever comes out, his future will be destroyed?"

"It's always been about him, Mom; no one ever worried about how I feel. I am glad I am leaving."

Mrs. Fox's eyes caught the brown box.

"Is that from your grandma Betty?"

Angela nodded, "yes, it is," as her mother picked up the photo of grandma Betty holding Angela in her arm at the beach.

"I remember this day, it was scorching out, and the sky was clear; we put your tiny little feet in the water as you came running back as you were about to fall," her mother let out a smile. "Your grandma caught you right in her arms."

"As she always did catch me, mom," Angela smiled as Mrs. Fox set down the photo. "Do you need help packing?." Angela took the brown envelope and put it in her bag. She will later look at what is inside.

"Yes, please do, mom; the sooner I get away from this man, the better it is;" Mrs. Fox wanted the best for her daughter like any parent does.

The heat waves rose off the pavement like flames above a roof.

As the day wore on, the heat climbed higher. Sandals were the same as going barefoot, as those who had walked on the street could feel the heat of the sand blistering the soles of my feet with every torturous step.

The detectives that sat in the car all day could no longer stay in the same spot if they didn't find shelter soon; their brains would fry like an egg on the pavement from the blinding heat.

Rivulets of sweat poured off the detective's shirt, soaked and clinging to their formal wear. Without mentioning the temperature or the oppressive heat, they communicated in the car that he was sweating like a turkey the day before Thanksgiving.

Angela and her Mom had a cooler in the house, so the heat was not as intense as it was outside.

"I have a gift for you." said her Mom, as she handed her a box with a dress, "this is beautiful;" Angela had changed into the dress her Mom had given her and bent half at the waist, arms stretched in front of her with hands coming together to form a toppled-over steeple.

Her Mom gathered up the dress and helped her wriggle into it.

Angela straightened up, smoothed the frock neatly into place, and performed a clumsy pirouette followed by a playful curtsy. "So, how do I look?"

"It's very unusual." Said her Mom and rubbed her chin. "It brings back memories of my younger days," said her Mom, looking over to the mirror at the side of Angela's bed. Her mother remembered once feeling young and naively in love.

A whole new world awaits her daughter when she leaves this house, Mrs. Fox had so wished Angela not to go so soon, but she no longer has a say; Mr. Fox has made up his mind, and there is no changing his mind.

Even if she could change her husband's mind, she wouldn't because it's in Angela's best interest to be away from this house as far as she can.

Angela looked at her mother and let out a smile.

"Someday I will come back for you, and I will take care of you, mom; I do not support what dad is going to do with Rick, but in all honesty, Nicole's body had not been discovered yet, so they should wait before making any approach to this situation."

"You have always been smart, and I know you will be successful someday, but we need to do everything we can to protect your brother, which is why you do not tell anyone about what happened."

Angela looked away, then back up at her Mom, and she smiled. "Okay, mom."