A Look Back: Rennillia Series - Prequel by M. Sembera Read Free Book Online

best of both worlds, and the best part was, I didn’t have to sneak around to see Hert anymore. The three of us were always together before school, after school and on the weekends. When summer came it was even better. I was hardly at home, which was a big plus for me. My Father was happy I was at the Roberts’ and I was happy to spend all day everyday with Hert and Emerson.
    When our junior year started, Emerson picked me up every morning before we swung by Hert’s to get him. Emerson had a new girlfriend and Hert still saw Carmella but aside from that, they were mine. Everything seemed perfect and I couldn’t imagine my life being better. Even my father seemed content. It was possible seeing him as little as possible was the reason. However, his latest investment seemed to be behind his better mood. My Father even bought me a little car. He surprised me with it one day after school, with the condition of to school and back home of course. Things were going so good, I stopped counting the days until I turned eighteen and just enjoyed myself. Until the night I woke up hearing my father yelling.
    Unsure of what was happening, I rolled out of bed and crept into the kitchen. My mother was sitting at the kitchen table crying and my father was shouting and cursing in Italian. I wasn’t fluent in any foreign language but I could pick out the words ‘off limits’ and ‘forbidden’. As I tried to listen without being involved, my father noticed me. Before I could make it back to my room, I heard him call me.
    “Rennillia!” he hollered.
    Slowly walking towards, him I whispered, “Sir?”
    “I told you! Didn’t I? I warned you!” he shouted.
    Confused, I shook my head at him.
    “That bastard and his whore mother… they killed him!” he informed.
    “What?” I blurted, unable to understand what had happened.
    Suddenly, my father grabbed my face.
    So close I could feel his breath on my cheek, he growled, “I catch you anywhere near them and I’ll beat you ‘til you can’t see straight.”
    My father’s threat provoked me to jerk away, spouting, “I don’t even know what you’re talking about!”
    At first he raised his hand then to my surprise quickly turned and stormed off to his room.
    Looking up from the table my mother wiped her eyes and explained, “They found Charles dead in his motel room,” stunned I shook my head at her as she finished, saying, “He drank himself to death.”
    Not knowing what to do, I ran to my room.
    Pacing back and forth, I wanted to go see Hert. I wondered if he knew and if he did, did he even care? I was so mad at my father. Hert’s father was so horrible when he was alive and now that he was gone, Hert and his mother were still getting blamed. Finally, I locked my door and decided to just go see if Hert was ok. Throwing on jeans and a t-shirt, I climbed out of my window and ran to Hert’s house.
    Peering in his window, I didn’t see him. Thinking I would just wait, I slid his window open and climbed in.
    As I sat on the edge of his bed, I heard Mrs. Herterand cry out, “It’s all my fault!”
    Then Hert yelled, “Stop saying that!”
    Guessing I caught the end of their conversation, I jumped a little when his door swung open.
    I could tell he was angry as he slammed his door and fussed, “Go home.”
    “Hert I just…” I started before he snapped, “I don’t care, go home!”
    Feeling panicked, I tried, “Please, I heard what happened.”
    “I don’t give a damn, get out!” he yelled.
    Refusing to believe he really didn’t want me there, I stood up and said, “Look at me,” as I reached out to him.
    Grabbing my shoulders, Hert leaned close and ordered, “Get the hell out!” through his gritted teeth.
    Shrugging his hands off of me, I slapped him, saying, “Stop it.”
    Shaking his head at me, he said, “I don’t want you here.”
    His words were worse than if he had slapped me back. Nodding at him, I turned and went home. I didn’t bother to change