Read Diablo Lake: Moonstruck for Free Online Page B

dietary stricture.
    Dwayne slid himself onto the stool next to Avery’s wheelchair. “What the heck? I haven’t had a vanilla Coke in ages. Probably since the last time you were here.” He paused as she began to make his soda.
    Her father made small talk until she finished, placing the soda before Dwayne.
    He took a sip and sighed happily. “This is just the thing. Thank you, Katie Faith.” His smile faded. “Is everything gonna be all right? Between you and Darrell?”
    She cocked her head and looked at him long and hard. “Seems to me, Mayor, that’s what they call a dead horse. There’s nothing between me and Darrell to be one way or the other.”
    “This is my town, Katie Faith. I just want to be sure things run smooth-like. I know he did you wrong. But he’s got himself two younguns and a wife. I need to know right up front if you have any plans to interfere with that.” Oh that folksy thing made her want to punch him.
    Anger burned through her and the lights hummed just a bit before she reined it in. “You come in here and ask if I’m going to mess in someone’s relationship? Me? If I recall correctly, and excuse me here because I’m getting angry, but I was the one who had someone else interfere in my relationship.” She shook her head and held a hand up to keep him silent. “No. You said your piece and now I’ll say mine. I came back here because my family needed me and because this is my home. I don’t want your son. I’m grateful every single minute of my day that he cheated on me and dumped me before I joined myself to him. He’s someone else’s problem. She’s welcome to him and his babies. If you’re lucky, they’ll turn out like her sister, leastwise they’ll be smarter than stumps.”
    Dwayne sighed deeply. “I know he did you wrong, Katie Faith. I’ve said so before and I’ll say it now, I’m sorry for the things I did right after the wedding. He was wrong. But he’s trying now. I’m asking you to respect that.”
    “Dwayne Pembry, I’ve never done a damned thing to your son or his wife. I don’t care about either one of them enough to spare their marriage a passing thought. I’m finding it hard to locate my sense of humor. I told you I don’t want a part of any Pembry, especially Darrell. I don’t care if you don’t trust my word. The God’s honest truth is that I’m the only one with credibility here. You need to go on now. I’m done with this conversation forever.” She took his glass and began to wash it.
    “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Katie Faith. I really am glad you came home.” He stood and she looked up at him.
    “You delivered your little message, now go. Rest assured I want no part of you all. Don’t you come back here to upset my father again or there’ll be the trouble you’re so eager to prevent.” His dumbass son was one thing, messing with her daddy when he was still weak? That made her furious.
    With a heavy sigh, Dwayne turned and trudged out.
    “And don’t you call round election day asking for money, neither,” her father called out. “Imagine! The nerve of him to come in here and treat you that way.”
    She shook her head and took his hand in hers. “ Please don’t get upset, Daddy, it doesn’t signify. Let it go. I have. It’s been over three years now. You can’t afford the anger right now. Your revenge is to live a long time.”
    The bell jingled again, but this time the doorway held far more interesting fare than before. She grinned.
    “Hey, Jace.”
    He removed his ball cap, what the cops in town wore, and ran his hand through his hair. He’d probably put that hat on while his hair was still wet from the shower. Oh my. She paused a moment, going to a very happy place.
    She probably shouldn’t be thinking about him in the shower. But she wasn’t talking on a cell phone and driving, that was an improvement. Right? Her internal argument faded as she watched him move like the predator he was toward the counter. His