The Boy Next Door [On Hold]

Chapter 9

"Baby, it was an accident," Harry and I hear from downstairs.

"Yeah, because Melinda tripped and landed on his.." Harry trails off as I look at him.

"This has happened more than once, Paul. I'm done. I want you out of this house, and I want to raise my children by myself. I don't need a man," She says and I applaud her in my head.

"Baby, what can I do to fix this?" He asks my mom as they walk into the kitchen.

"Do you really want to know what you can do to fix this?" She asks smiling and walking close to him.

"Yes, I'll do anything," He says relaxing a little bit.

"You can get the hell out of my house," She says a little too calm and his face falls.

"Baby," He tries, but she puts a hand up to shush him.

"Kourtney, I don't want you to hear this. Harry, can she go with you and I'll call her when she can come back?" She asks.

"Of course. Come on, Kourt," He says as he grabs me by the hand.

"Fine, let me get my phone," I say as I go into the living room and retrieve my phone.

I go back into the kitchen just in time to see my father step to my mother and Harry step in front of her.

"That's not a good idea," Harry says calmly.

"What are you going to do, kid?" He asks Harry. He was about to answer when my mom answered.

"What are you going to do, Paul?" She asks from behind Harry. "You're going to hit a pregnant woman?" She asks.

"No," He says quietly.

"Oh, really? Because if I remember correctly, you've done it before. Both when I was pregnant with Kate and Kourtney, and a few times when I wasn't."

"What?" I say as I put my phone on the table.

"Kourtney, you need to leave," My dad tells me.

"Don't tell me what to do," I say walking closer to my mom.

"What are you talking about, mom?" I ask her.

"Remember when I fell down the stairs when you were eleven and I broke my leg?" She puts air quotes when she says fell down the stairs.

"Yes," I say looking over at my dad.

"I didn't really fall down the stairs," She says as a tear escapes her eye and falls onto the floor.

"You did that?" I ask my father. He looks away and then leaves.

"I'll have your stuff packed by the time you get back!" My mother yells after him.

"Harry, I want to thank you for stepping in like that," My mother says as she gives him a hug.

"It's no problem. No man should ever put a hand on a woman," He says as he hugs her back.

"Do you have any friends who can come and help get his stuff out?" She asks.

"Of course. I'll call them right now," He says as he goes out to the back to make a couple of phone calls.

I sit at the table and dial Kate. She answers on the second ring.

"Hello?" She asks.

"Hey, today isn't going to work. Can you come a different time?" I ask.

"Sure. I'll talk to you later. I have to work right now," She says as she hangs up.

"Kate was coming?" My mother asks as she sits down at the table next to me.