“I hate her. I fucking hate her,” Bethany repeated over and over as I drove out of the neighborhood as quickly as possible. I was trying to avoid the cops getting called by Tammi or one of her neighbors. I’d spotted a few peeking out of their blinds and knew it was time to go.

I’d never seen her that way. I’d never seen the woman I love turn into a rabid animal the way she did. The deep-rooted hatred between Bethany and her mother was obvious. Her mother was a piece of work and the terrible woman she was expected to be. I was mistaken to expect it would go over well.

“Hey, Bethany. Baby calm down.” I ran my hand over her leg, but she it snatched away. She was still fuming, and I didn’t blame her.

Mr. Cross had spoken about Tammi a bit toward the end of his life, but I was under the impression that they were divorced long ago.

“It was a bad idea coming up here. She’s a witch. I should have known.” Bethany was shaking her head as we sat idle at the stoplight. “What else could we expect from a woman who abandoned her kid.”

“You hungry?” I asked as the light turned green and I began toward my new destination.

“Hungry?” Bethany questioned. “Food. You want me to think about food after that?” Bethany let out a frustrated growl.

Yep. Food was next and then we could come up with a plan from there. I turned and headed directly to where we were going while Bethany continued to rant and rave about Tammi and the extent of her evil.

I pulled the car into a parking space in the strip mall and Bethany glanced up for the first time in the last few minutes. She glared around her and her eyes landed on the signage of where I’d decided to take her. We’d arrived at Punky’s, a 1950s style diner.

“Haven’t been here in forever.” I gave her a gentle smile in hopes that the prospect of being at a place we used to spend time at and getting food into her would lighten her mood.

“This was our favorite spot when we wanted to run away,” she reminisced. “I can’t even remember the last time I came here.”

“I remember.”

“Of course, you do.” She gave me a smile and I knew my plan had worked. She was still visibly upset, but no longer raging with the anger she’d possessed only minutes ago.

“Let’s grab something to eat.”

Getting out of the car, I rounded to Bethany’s side as quickly as possible and wrapped an arm around her waist. I wanted her to feel secured even if it was just for a moment. Every moment I could give her that was a gift.

We entered the quaint diner with its red and white post World War II theme. It was the type of place one could escape to and be in a different time. There was not thinking about the problems of today but slide into easier times. I’d bring Serenati on occasion for a milkshake when life was getting me down.

“Take a seat anywhere,” a curly haired waitressed called out as she poured a customer a cup of coffee.

Pulling Bethany along, we found a booth. For the first time in the last few minutes, I let her go as she slid into the seat and I sat on the opposite side of the table. My eyes found the giant ‘EAT PIE’ sign and I smiled. I was definitely going to grab us a pie to go.

Bethany mulled over the menu, but I was pretty set on what I was getting. My usual a Fonzie burger and a chocolate milkshake.

“Not exactly the place for a vegetarian,” Bethany mentioned before she sat the menu down. “Guess I’ll get the grilled cheese.”

“Sounds good. That’s Renni’s favorite.” I grinned thinking of my little girl. She’d sit across from me with her missing tooth grin.

The thought of Bethany’s offer ran through my mind. I couldn’t possibly take her money no matter how much it would help me. I had to fight this battle on my own. I’d made the mistake of having a child with the wrong woman, and it was my job to earn up to it. I was Serenati’s father and I’d do my damnedest to get my daughter in a safe home.

The waitress came over to us and took our order. Bethany was pretty quiet, and her silence was driving me crazy. I had to know what she was thinking as she glanced listlessly out of the window and into the parking lot.

“I know that wasn’t easy for you in the first place, facing her and all,” I mentioned.

Bethany’s eyes landed on me and she nodded in agreement. I saw the pain deep in her blue irises. She’d already lost her father and now wounds left from childhood were ripped open in a split moment.

“When I was a kid, I thought something was wrong with me,” Bethany confessed. “Honestly, I never understood why other kids had loving mothers and I didn’t. Olivia was orphaned because of tragedy, but my mom left me. She abandoned me, and I just thought something had to be wrong with me. Then when I found out I was pregnant, I was scared as all hell to be a mom. I didn’t know how to be one and I didn’t want to turn out like her. I knew I couldn’t abandon my kid, but then again I didn’t know how much of her I had in me.”

“Beth, I know you’d never–”

“And I know, too.” She cut me off. “I do know that in that regard I am nothing like that woman but when the only real example of a mother you’ve ever had was her, it says a lot.” She wiped under her eyes and turned away. Bethany wasn’t one to cry and I knew that. She was always one to be strong, but the last couple of weeks had opened up her emotional side. “When I lost the ba...baby.” Her voice cracked, and she took a deep breath to suppress what was only natural.

Reaching across the table, I took her shaking hand into mine. I caressed her skin with my thumb as she took the time she needed to compose herself. She inhaled a sharp breath before she allowed her eyes to look into mine.

“When I lost the baby, I was afraid it had been my fault. That maybe I’d somehow rejected it the way she rejected me. It took me a long time, years, to accept that wasn’t the truth. Seeing her today, I can’t believe I share half my DNA with that monster.”

“I learned something, raising Renni, sometimes DNA is bullshit. Look at Kayleigh, she’s the hottest piece of hot mess on the planet, but my daughter is not taking that path. Sometimes nurture wins over nature.” I gave her hand a strong squeeze. “Bet you didn’t know I knew some science. Huh, Dr. Cross?” I winked at Bethany who broke into a fit of girlish giggles.

Playfully, she rolled her eyes. “You’re a loser, Liam.”

“Yeah, but I’m a loser you like,” I proclaimed proudly. She grinned, and I pursed my lips, leaning in her direction. She got the messaged and leaned in herself. We kissed for only a brief moment before our food arrived.

I had her heart, but for how long?

My car grumbled as we sat in traffic on I-5. Whatever was going on up the stretch of highway had us inching along for over an hour. It was likely all the roadwork that happened over the summer months. With an exit coming up, I merged into the emergency lane for the last quarter mile before taking the exit. I knew a couple of shortcuts that would get us back into Fort Shasta easier.

It wasn’t long before Bethany and I were driving down an unpaved road but going in the right direction. I hummed to the radio while Bethany looked through more of the paperwork provided by the lawyer. We had to come up with another plan after the bust with her mom.

A clunking noise from my car got my attention. I glanced at the dash and I had a half tank of gas. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary with my blue baby. The nose persisted and without warning the engine seemed to give out.

“What the hell,” I grumbled as I tried to start the car, only to realize one thing. The fucking fuel gauge was stuck. I tapped my fingers on the glass and it suddenly fell to empty. I growled to myself.

“What’s wrong with it?” Bethany asked me.

“Fuel gauge. It got stuck and I thought I had a half tank. Ran out of gas. Let me call Dad.” I was annoyed it was yet another hiccup in our already eventful day.

My fingers dug into my pocket and I pulled out my cell phone to the surprise of finding myself in a dead zone. I didn’t have a single bar of service.

“I’ve got no service,” I complained. “What about you?” I asked Bethany. She reached into her purse and got her phone. She shook her head.

“Says, no service,” she sighed.

I peered around our surroundings. No other cars were coming or going along the road we were stranded on.

“I saw a gas station not far from where we turned down this road. We can walk until we get service or walk back to that gas station,” I offered up our options to a wide-eyed Bethany. Though our situation was crap, I laughed at her face. “What’s with the face?”

“Walk?” she questioned. “I’m not quite dressed for, nor do I have the shoes, to walk.”

My eyes looked her over and she was right. She sat in her floral romper that showed off her silky, gorgeous long legs accented with wedge heels. She wasn’t exactly dressed for walking, but I wasn’t leaving her alone, and it was our only option.

“Sorry Baby, but we’ve got to walk,” I shrugged as I opened the door and dropped my sunglasses from the top of my head, over my eyes.

It was one of those days where I wished I lived somewhere cooler. It was over one hundred degrees and the sun was beating down from high up in the sky. Bethany groaned loudly as she got out the car.

“Kill me now!” she cried up to the sky. Drama. Bethany was drama, but the good kind. She had always kept me laughing and on my toes in the past and she hadn’t changed too much. At times she could be overly serious and a pain in my ass, but I’d always loved her for it.

We started up the road together, and I glanced back at my idled car. It already looked like a mirage in the short distance we’d taken.

“I can’t with these shoes on. Wait up a sec,” Bethany stated as she stopped in her tracks She leaned onto my arm and held on for balance as one by one, she took her shoes off.

“Better?” I asked her as I nudged her arm with my elbow.

“Much,” she sighed in relief as she peered up into my eyes. There was something about her radiant spirit. I’d missed that in my life and I needed it. I needed to keep it there. I needed to keep her there.

Her bare feet padded along the dirt as we searched for a cell signal. It was looking bleak and we’d likely have to make it all the way to the gas station I’d spotted. The heat was murderous, and I hated Bethany had to be out here with me. I was going to have to get that fuel gauge fixed as soon as I got the car home.

“I remember when my car broke down trying to come see you once,” Bethany reminisced. “You came out and got me. You saved the day as you always did.”

“Wish I could save the day now. It’s hot as hell,” I commented.

“If not hotter,” Bethany added as we kept trekking.

We chatted as we strolled along. The heat almost seemed as if it was getting worse. We stopped for a moment and I checked my phone. I had one bar. That was at least enough to try and call Dad.

“I’ve got something. Let me call Dad and see if he can get out here,” I started dialing the number to the garage knowing Dad would answer it over his cell phone that was likely discarded in his cluttered office.

Allowing it to ring, I prayed silently he would answer the phone.

“Mechanic,” a voice finally answered the other line.

“Hey Dad, it’s me. The gas gauge on my car got stuck. Bethany and I ran out of gas. We’d gotten off I-5 because of the traffic. I have enough signal to text over our coordinates,” I told him.

“Text me and I’ll head over.”

“Will do.”

Ending the call, I grabbed my map location and sent it off to him. I glanced over to Bethany as I hit send and she gave me a smile of relief. Turning to face her, she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled her body in close to mine.

“I’m looking forward to enjoying that pie, tonight,” she mentioned.

“Mmm, me too,” I hummed thinking about the Dutch Apple Cherry pie sitting in the backseat of my car that we’d gotten from Punky’s.

My arms pulled her body in closer and my lips found hers. I left a chaste kiss on her pink glossed lips. Time dwindled away, but every moment I had her back in my arms was a gift from above.

The ride in Dad’s tow truck was rough and crowded, but Bethany’s head laid resting on my shoulder as she slept. I planted a kiss on her forehead quickly before I saw Dad watching me with a smirk on his lips.

“You’ve always loved that girl,” he chuckled. “I remember when there wasn’t a moment she wasn’t around. I like her. She’s a much better option than that trashy one you knocked up. Don’t get me wrong, I love my granddaughter with all my heart, but you made a shit mistake getting with that girl.”

“I know. I think about it every day. I’m just worried about what happens when Bethany is done here. I’m not leaving here, and you know that,” The only people I ever talked about my true fears with were my parents, and Mr. Cross.

“Just make better choices. I like seeing you smile again. It’s been a long time since a smile graced that ugly mug of yours,” he teased me.

“Ugly mug?” I laughed. “I inherited this ugly mug from you!”

“True that, son,” Dad agreed as he pulled into the lot of the garage. He backed in to let my car down. “You can take care of the rest. It was a hot ass day and I’m headed home. Lock up for me.”

“Will do,” I promised as he tossed me the tow truck keys.

I watched him hop in his pick-up and drive out of the lot and onto the main road toward home. Gently, I nudged Bethany’s shoulder.

“Hey there, Girlie,” I whispered before giving her forehead a kiss to urge her awake.

She yawned, and her opened eyes danced around to take in her surroundings.

“I fell asleep?” she questioned with a small yawn.

“Yeah, it’s been one long ass day. I’m going to get my car down and we can head up to my place. I’ll make us something to eat,” I told her, and she nodded in agreement.

It didn’t take long for me to get my car off the truck and parked into the garage. While Bethany stood by, I parked the truck and locked up the garage. I took her hand in mine and weaved our fingers together.

We stepped into the alley together and started in the direction of the stairs. A small voice startled me, and my head shot up to find the innocent face of Serenati staring down at me from the top landing by my front door.

“Renni, baby. What are you doing here?” I instantly dropped Bethany’s hand and jogged up the stairs to where my daughter was. My six-year-old was alone in an alley.

“Mommy and Mike were fighting. I got scared,” she told me as I pulled her small frame up into my arms.

“So, you came here? Does your mom know?” I was frantic, but not trying to show my emotions to my already frightened daughter.

“I came, but you weren’t here. Grandpa wasn’t in the shop, so I came here,” she explained, and I nodded trying to listen to every detail she gave. “Mommy doesn’t know. Am I in trouble?”

“Never,” I instantly proclaimed. “You were scared and wanted to get somewhere safe. You will never get in trouble from me for that. You hear me, Renni?”

“Mmhmm.” She nodded still unsure of her fate. “Are you going to send me back to Mommy? I don’t want to be there.”

“And you don’t have to be. I’m not sending you back.” I had to think quick on my feet. I wanted to hurt Kayleigh for putting our daughter in danger, she knew better. I was tired of her bringing men in and out of Serenati’s life like a revolving door of scumbags. “Bethany, you can come up!” I called down to Bethany who stood witness.

Bethany jogged up the stairs and arrived at my door where I stood with my daughter secured in my arms. I gave Serenati a loving and protective squeeze.

“Renni, this is my friend Bethany. She’s going to stay here with you while I go get your stuff from your mom’s house. She’ll take good care of you, I promise you,” I informed both of them and Serenati nodded. I knew she trusted my judgement.

As soon as I got out of the car, I could hear the yelling coming from Kayleigh’s rundown apartment. I arrived at the front door and allowed my fist to bang on the door before it flew open and there was my ex. She was fuming.

“Why the fuck are you here? It’s not your fucking day,” she spat at me while her boyfriend continued to yell at her from another room.

I stared into Kayleigh’s lost eyes. She was high. I knew that look when she’d gotten a fix of whatever the drug of the moment was. I shook my head as I glanced around at her pigsty of a place. There was trash on the floor. Beer cans and bottles all over the coffee table. The walls were dingy and a stench reeked through the place.

“You’re so fucking high you don’t even know your damn daughter isn’t even here. You’re such a lost cause, Kayleigh,” I fumed as I balled my fists but held them at my side to convince myself to not punch her in her face.

“She’s in her bedroom,” Kayleigh insisted as she turned into her place. “Serenati get your ass out here, your fucking dad is here!”

“Bitch,” I growled as I shoved her against the wall and held her there to keep her attention on every word I had to say. It took everything in me to not physically hurt her. “Serenati isn’t fucking here. She’s at my place. She ran away because she was scared. She was scared because you can’t keep your legs closed to strange men and you can’t keep it together. I’m only here to get her shit. You are irresponsible, and my daughter will never come back to this shithole. Never.”

I let her go and she stared at me lost and bewildered as I stepped into her place. From the kitchen, her boyfriend watched me march to Serenati’s room. I found her school backpack and started packing up clothes for her. Most of her things weren’t clean and I eventually gave up on getting too much. I’d just buy her new clothes. The only thing of major importance to grab was her favorite stuffed giraffe that sat on her bed.

“You can’t just come in here and claim her. I have custody!” Kayleigh screamed at me as I passed her. I sharply turned to her and glared at her.

“Not for long. No judge will let somebody like you keep custody of our little girl if I have my way. Get your shit together and I might let you see her, but if not, you lost your chance. My daughter deserves a chance to thrive and live a happy and safe life. You can’t provide that right now, not in your wildest dreams. You are the biggest mistake of my life.” I turned away from her.

“You only say that because your precious Bethany is in town. She’s going to leave you like before. She doesn’t want your small-town ass. You are just her drive by. You’re a piece of shit anyway,” Kayleigh yelled from her apartment as I strolled in the direction of the car I’d borrowed from the garage to get there. I shook my head. It was wrong of me to think of my baby’s mother that way, but if anyone was a piece of shit, it was her.