Poison Town by Creston Mapes Read Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t worth an all-out war, let it die. But this was worth going to battle over. It was time. For the past year and a half, even before Granger got out of prison, Jack’s unforgiving spirit had worsened. Now that the topic was out on the table, she wasn’t going to drop it until she had spoken everything that was on her heart.
    “What do you think about what we talked about on the phone today?” She examined his eyes.
    Jack searched beyond the window, then glanced at the girls, who were busy with their creations.
    “You have your opinion, and I have mine.” He lowered his voice. “Pam, it’s my job to protect us, okay? Think about what we went through, what he did to us—to you . Cut me some slack. You don’t have to agree with the way I feel. I’m doing the best I can.”
    “You know what you remind me of? You remind me of me , right after he first broke in and I wanted to get a gun. I was so furious I couldn’t think straight. I wanted to take matters into my own hands. That’s how you’re acting. And your temper is always right there, ready to blow at the drop of a hat. You were never this way before.”
    Jack lowered his head and slumped his shoulders. “I’m the husband, Pam. Okay? The protector.”
    “I was in denial about who was in control,” she said. “ You were the one who asked me if I thought God wanted us to have a gun, if He was big enough to protect us. Thanks to you, I took a hard look at myself. Remember? I realized I needed to give all my rage to Him.”
    Pamela caught a chill from a cool breeze that swept through the restaurant. The voices and laughter of other dinner guests and the sound of clattering dishes filled the stillness between them.
    “Maybe I’m the voice you need to hear right now,” she said, “just like you were the voice I needed to hear.”
    “I don’t see why you can’t understand my feelings toward the guy. I’m not ready to be his friend. After what happened, doesn’t it make sense that I want to be a little … vigilant?”
    “Vigilant is one thing.” She paused, praying she would come across as humble. “But there’s hate in your heart, honey. I can see it. It consumes you sometimes.”
    Jack’s head swayed.
    She hesitated but decided there would never be a better time to lay it on the line. “I haven’t seen you do your quiet time lately. What’s going on?”
    “Since when do you monitor my quiet time?” He squinted at her. “You don’t know what I do and don’t do.”
    A myriad of emotions rushed up and warmed Pamela’s face. “See? You get angry about everything! You can’t take any criticism. Listen to yourself.”
    “The guy kidnaps you, and you want me to celebrate that he got a minimum-wage job someplace? Nope. Can’t do it. Sorry.”
    Rebecca had stopped coloring and was staring at them.
    “We’re having an adult conversation,” Jack said to Rebecca. “Just keep doing what you’re doing and try not to listen.”
    “This isn’t the place,” Pamela said softly.
    “I’m not the one who brought it up.”
    Pamela shook her head and tried to rise above the tears that threatened to gush over.
    “I’m going to say something, and I’ll be done.” She held her napkin beneath her left eye for a few seconds, then her right, then stuffed it in her lap.
    “Mommy, are you crying?” Rebecca said.
    Faye stopped coloring and stared as well, her mouth open.
    “Girls,” Jack said. “We’ll be done talking in a minute.”
    Bella, their favorite waitress, showed up just then. “Hey, Jack. Your pizzas are almost up.”
    When she was out of earshot, Pamela whispered. “All I’m asking you to do is consider what I’m saying. Pray about it. See if there’s anything God wants you to deal with. This affects all of us.”
    Jack stared at her, mouth sealed.
    “I’m done,” she said.
    He locked his fingers under his chin, elbows on the table, and turned his head ninety degrees, staring out the window as if he wished he could