Army Way of Life

Chapter Twenty Three

Three days later, I returned to my apartment after classes, a sleeping toddler in the back seat, feeling a general sense on unease.

I didn't know why I felt so uncomfortable as I pulled into my parking spot until I realized an unfamiliar car parked next to Jeremy's Jeep. It was black with tinted windows and just the sight of it sent a chill up my spine.

I hurriedly, but carefully and quietly, got my sleeping child out of his car seat and hurried inside my apartment, locking the door behind me.

I carried Ryker to his crib and nearly jumped out of my skin when there was a pounding at the door. 

I remained quiet and crept to the window as my heart began to beat out of my chest. 

I couldn't see my door, but could see that the suspicious car was still parked in the same spot.

Panicking, I grabbed my phone, ready to call the police. Whoever it was knew I was here because they'd seen me walk in.

Just as I hovered over the green button to call, a deep voice shouted, "OPEN UP THE DAMN DOOR, QUINN!"

While my panic only subsided a little, I relaxed my arm and set my phone down. 

I knew who was on the other side of the door and if I didn't answer it, one of my neighbor's would call the police for me.

I slowly made my way to the door, trying to calm myself down so that he didn't see how scared I was. 

I was only minutely successful, and it'd be obvious that I was freaking out when I opened that door.

When I did so, I was surprised to not only see my father, but my mother as well. I sighed, cursing my luck.

"When the hell were you going to tell us, Quinn?" my dad's deep voice rang out through the apartment.

I flinched at his words, and begged him to quiet down.

"Don't you dare... don't you dare, young lady!"

My mother laid a gentle hand on his arm and said, "She's right, dear. Ryker is asleep. And you don't want a nosy neighbor calling the cops."

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, not the least bit happy to see either of them.

My dad scoffed. "I think you damn well know why we're here."

My phone rang from the coffee table, but I was too scared to make a move to grab it, so the phone kept ringing and the call went to voicemail.

"Okay, so let me hear it. Tell me how much of a screwup I am, and how repulsed you are by me. Do it!" I shouted, losing what little calm I'd managed to hold onto. 

Mom's eyes welled with tears and I could see that she wanted to say something. But she didn't. 

Instead, my father said, "You have 13 days on this current rent cycle. After that, we are done. I'm not paying for you to live like this anymore. Clearly thinking that you could be responsible was a lapse in judgment on my part but make no mistake, I won't stand for it anymore."

A sob broke through as my phone rang for the third time.

I looked to Mom, whose tears were flowing freely now, and my heart shattered. 

I knew there was nothing I could say or do to make him change his mind about any of this.

"I don't know what you'll do, but I will not support these choices you have made any longer."

"What am I supposed to do?" I cried, not having any idea how I could continue to support myself and Ryker without help from them.

My dad shrugged like he could care less what happened to me while Mom's tears fell faster.