Shattered: A Salvation Society Novel by Bella Emy (pdf to ebook reader .TXT) 📕

“What?” I furrow my brows. I don’t understand what this has to do with my father. “I don’t understand.”

“Please, let me finish,” she says.

Nodding, I sit back in my chair and wait for her to continue.

She folds her hands on her lap. “As I was saying, there are some things in life that you just wouldn’t understand yet. You’re very young and inexperienced.”

Inexperienced? What is she talking about?

“Your father and I are getting a divorce.”

“What?!” I knew it. I knew it all along. Yet the words coming from her now shock me. Why wasn’t she honest with me when I first asked her? Deciding not to hold back, I ask ahead. “Why didn’t you just tell me that night I asked you? Why?”

She shakes her head. “Because I had hoped we’d work things out, but unfortunately, it’s too late for that.”

I furrow my brows. “How? How is it too late for that if you’re married? There should always be a way to fix a marriage. Always. If you love someone, there should always be a way to work things out.”

She smiles wistfully at me and says, “This is what I was talking about when I said you were inexperienced. I can’t expect you to understand certain things. With that being said, your father and I cannot fix things.”

“But I—”

“This can’t be fixed, Alexa. After he told me he’s been having an affair for the past two years and is having a baby with another woman, I can’t stay here and pretend like everything is going to be okay.”

My eyes almost bulge out of my head. I can’t believe what she’s telling me. An affair for two years? A baby with someone else? Who is this man she’s speaking of? It can’t be my daddy. My daddy would never do such a thing.

But now it makes sense why he’s been staying away for so long.

I swallow thickly. “So he’s not coming back?”

My mother closes her eyes tightly, and without ever opening them, she says, “He’s coming back in two weeks to grab the rest of his things, and then we’re putting the house up for sale.”

Furrowing my eyes again, I say, “What?”

Finally opening her eyes, she looks dead into mine and responds. “We can’t stay here, at least I can’t stay here and continue raising you in the house you grew up in with all these bad memories. We will be moving to New Jersey to stay with grandma and grandpa for a while until we can get everything situated and then we’ll have our own place, just you and me. How does that sound?” She forces a smile that’s more fake than her implants.

“How does that sound? How does that sound? It sounds horrible!” My heart starts speeding up and I feel like I can’t breathe.

“Oh, sweetheart, don’t be so dramatic. It’ll be fine. We’ll be okay, you’ll see.”

I want to slap her. How can she not see that this is not okay? This is not going to be okay, ever. “It’s not fine. It’s not going to be okay! What about Erin? What about Kalen? You’re pulling me away from them!” Sure, things have been off with Kalen and me lately, but we’re still officially together. And Erin, my best friend since forever? I can’t get through the rest of high school without her.

“You’ll be fine. I promise.”

I shake my head. “Mom, I love Kalen. Things have been weird between us lately, but I am planning on fixing everything. If you take me away from him, I won’t be able to do that.”

She rises from her seat. “I’m sorry, Lexi. Start packing your things and say your good-byes to whoever you need to say good-bye to. We’re leaving at the end of the week.”

Now I jump out of my seat and slam my fists on the table. “What?! You can’t do this to me!”

She scowls. “Watch your tone, young lady, and I will reassure you that I certainly can and will take you to Jersey with me whether you like it or not. Now you will go up to your room and start packing your things, is that clear?”

I glare at her. If looks could kill, she’d be dead by now. I can’t believe she’s ruining my life like this.

“Do I make myself clear?” she repeats in a stern voice.

Instead of answering her, I push away from the table and storm off.

“Alexa Alderidge, you come back here right now and answer me, young lady.”

But I don’t turn around, and I sure as hell don’t answer her like she’s asking me to do.

Chapter Eighteen

Without stopping for a second, I run straight up to my room and lock the door behind me. I want nothing to do with my mother, nor do I want to see her again. And my father? Fuck him. How could he have another family on the side that we didn’t even know about? How is this real life?

I throw myself onto my bed as unbridled bitter tears roll down my face. I need to call Erin. I need to tell her how completely unfair my parents are being and how my life is being ruined by them right now. It’s going to be so hard to say good-bye to her.

New Jersey? Who the hell lives in New Jersey? Ugh. I really wish my grandparents lived here in Cali with us. Then if we had to move there to stay with them, I could still be with my friends. But Jersey? That’s so far.

I pick up the phone. As I go to dial Erin’s number, I decide to try Kalen’s first. He hasn’t spoken to me in days, so maybe I won’t even get through now. But at least I’ll have tried. If I still can’t get him on the phone, I’ll text him to call me that it’s urgent. This is, isn’t it? I mean, this will be the end of us… even if there really hasn’t been an us in days.

A new wave