Dead Flower (Sequel to The Flower Girl Book Two)

Chapter 10: Vigilance

Back from scarfing down that cheap ass meal. Anything beats having to eat eggs mixed in with oatmeal. I wonder if Flower ate that shit. I did a few errands before making it home. Hell, I still have to get a damn shower. When I pull up into the driveway, I see an unknown vehicle.

"Who the fuck is this?" Out of the truck, I slam the door shut. Preparing myself to see who's behind the door I'm about to storm into. Knowing my wife and child are in there. I don't count the seconds, none of that shit. I don't care if curiosity did kill the cat.

It's gonna have to kill me to, but not without a fight. Inside, the air hits me. Along with a figure of a woman. Brown hair drops to her wide shoulders. No ring on her left finger made for marriage, as a hand stands on her hip. Veronica converses with her, probably gossiping like women always do, until they shift their gazes to me.

Scorching blue eyes go bug. I don't appreciate the look. "What? Didn't expect me to have tattoos or something?" A hand rests over her heart. "I didn't think I was the fucking American flag, for you to do the pledge of allegiance to. Who are you?"

I watch her judging features. Just because I have tattoos and a fucking nose piercing does not mean I'm a shit father. Veronica steps up from the seat at the table. Holding me in her arms, "Aubrey, this is my husband Andrew. And Andrew, this is my friend Aubrey that I was telling you about. The one from the park."

I nod my head. She offers her hand out to me, but I don't take it. Veronica lightly shoves me, but I still don't falter. "Don't look at me like that again."

Back to the showers, I quickly scrub my skin clean. With the way I'm scrubbing, I'd think my tattoos would be rubbing away. I'm sure that uppity bitch would like that. I'm not here to please anyone. Especially not some snobby woman who thinks she can judge me, in my own home at that.

Dripping wet, I grab a towel, cleaning myself dry. I don't feel like doing shit to my hair. Why would I when I'm putting Flower's play set together today? Sticking my skin through a black tank top and shorts, I throw a hat over my hair. Picking the oldest pair of shoes I have, just in case they get ruined.

I feel like a cheese grater, cutting through the thick animosity. "Babe?" She always brings me back to life. My world, my wife Veronica. "We want to help. That's why Aubrey's here. She insisted."

Oh she did, did she? I don't want Veronica letting someone boss her around. I do that enough. She doesn't need someone she refers to as a friend to do that shit also. I nod my head tersely. Veronica walks outside. As this berry bitch is about to follow, I have something to say first.

"My wife is a kind, delicate woman. Don't think you can take advantage of that and push her around. You won't like the corollary."

I'm sure she'll never want to come here again. Not with me here. Good. I hope she doesn't want to see Veronica again. She thinks she knows me, but I have eyes, and I can see through her to. She smells like a fragrance whore. Couldn't decide on which perfume to settle on?

I take it she's the same with men. I watch them both briefly. Hands on their hips, not knowing where to start. Women. I roll my eyes.

                             Veronica

God he is so infuriating. I told him about Aubrey. I don't think she would judge him because of his tattoos. She was probably frightened with his primal energy. Women always look at Andrew, but very few actually say anything. When she stuck her hand out, it flew me back a few years.

I did the same thing. He was a bit more brutal to me. She should consider herself lucky. I feel embarrassed. She didn't deserve his crabby tone. Later tonight, we're having a talk. Like those help anyway. I see what he says about how therapy would be a waste of time, money and energy. Andrew never listens.