Read Stardust Miracle for Free Online Page B

instead of talking down to me, maybe I won’t.”
    “I’m your father.”
    “And she’s your daughter, Dad.” Sarah strode across to them. She stopped at Becky’s side and faced their father. “And so am I. You didn’t stand up for me, either.”
    His cheek muscles ticked but he kept his gaze on Becky. “Is that what this is about? She’s been working on you since you came here? Turning you against me?”
    “You don’t get it.” Becky felt a little crazed. As if she’d been walking around with blinders on and now she’d torn them off. And what she was looking at wasn’t pretty. “The only one turning me against you is you. Sarah doesn’t even talk about you. The only thing she said about you was that you called and you were coming over.”
    “You aren’t important in my life,” Sarah added. “I have nothing to say to you. My son has nothing to do with you.” She put her hands on her stomach. “My daughter will have nothing to do with you.”
    He glared at her. “You brought this on yourself, marrying that... garbage picker . You disappointed me.” He turned back to Becky. “And now you’re disappointing me. Leaving a good man for something so little.”
    The whirling inside Becky speeded up, roiling up into her throat. She put her hand over her breast bone, her palm feeling the heat from her skin through the thin material. Now she understood so clearly.
    “You cheated on Mom.” The words slashed out her throat, her voice raw. “Didn’t you?”
    Sarah’s hand gripped hers and they both stood in silence while their father continued to glare. Silence stretched until Becky had to speak again. The hurt lanced through her, and she needed to hurt him back right this second – more than she needed to breathe.
    “While I was taking care of Becky and Mom, you were out fucking other women.”
    His hand came up and he stepped forward. As if in slow motion, she watched his hand swing out. She had time to avoid it but she couldn’t move. Her mind rejected what was happening.
    His hand connected to her cheek, the clap of flesh and muscle against flesh and bone, shocking and loud. Her head reeled to the side. A dog barked. She lurched back, her cheek stinging.
    At the same time, Sarah let go of her hand and surged forward. Her arm straight out, she pointed at the door.
    “Out!” she said. “Get out of my house!”
    Goldie ran into the room, barking at their father.
    Sarah grabbed Goldie’s collar with her right arm, her left still pointed. “Get out or I’ll let Goldie bite you.”
    Their father’s still handsome but fleshy face was blotched with red. He stalked out. With every step, Becky expected him to stop, turn around. Apologize. Do the right thing.
    But he kept going. Out the front door and onto the porch. Didn’t look back.
    The door closed behind him. 
    “Bastard,” Sarah said, the sound rough.
    Becky might’ve said something but she was running to the bathroom – her cheek burned, her hand pressed over her mouth – sick at heart and sick to her stomach.

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    A cool, slender hand brushed across Becky’s forehead. She was hot. Feverishly hot. As if she’d been drawn down into hell. Hot and sick. Now only three fingertips drew across her forehead. It felt good. So good.
    She tried to open her eyes and failed. Her upper and lower eyelashes were crusted together.
    They popped apart, first her right and then her left. A woman with long white-blond hair knelt over Becky, her forehead creased with worry. Her eyes the same clear summer-sky blue as hers and Sarah’s.
    “Mama?” she whispered, her voice a hoarse thread.
    She knew her mother was dead...for many years. But this woman looked like her mother would if she’d lived longer. And she kind of looked like Sarah.
    Maybe this was the miracle? Not a baby but her mother returned to life.
    A blinding happiness seized her. And she smiled, feeling...
    Oh no. Oh no. Oh shit.
    “I’m going to—” She slapped her hand