Stand In For My Sister As Mrs. Weston Chapter 04
I let Jodi finish, then gave a faint smile.
“Ms. Keller.”
The title was polite, but the scorn in my tone was unmistakable.
“Seems to me you know an awful lot about our family business. And you’re so concerned about my children.
“So, what is it you want? To be our housekeeper? Or to take my place?”
One strike, straight to the gut.
The air in the living room froze.
The smile on Jodi’s face stiffened, draining white before flushing an ugIy purple.
Raymond awkwardly tried to pull his arm free from her grip.
I didn’t give him the chance.
I turned to him, my tone calm.
“Honey, your friend doesn’t seem to understand how a guest ought to behave.
“Maybe you should keep your distance. We wouldn’t want people talking.”
Jodi’s face fell completely.
She stammered some excuse and fled.
The second the door closed behind her, Darla, who had kept her mouth shut the entire time, snapped, “Bethany, you’re getting way out of line.
“Jodi was being kind, coming to visit. What kind of attitude was that?”
Raymond, stung by Darla’s prodding, furrowed his brow.
He looked at me, his voice thick with accusation.
“Bethany, you went way too far today.
“Jodi is an important business partner of mine. You made me look like an idiot in front of her.”
I looked at him.
The husband Bethany chose. The man she thought was worth spending her entire life with.
Just as I thought. A lost cause who’d never amount to anything.
He kept going.
“Jodi was just trying to be nice. You’re being too sensitive.
“And the kids. You were never like this before. Why are you so overbearing all of a sudden?
“I’m telling you. Apologize to Jodi.”
I looked at him, and suddenly it all felt ridiculous.
So this was his idea of keeping the peace.
Kissing up to outsiders, throwing his weight around at home.
I didn’t argue.
I just turned, went upstairs, and came back down with a few things in my hands.
A disciplinary letter from school, a video on my phone, and a handful of photos.
One by one, I tossed them onto the coffee table in front of Raymond.
“See for yourself.”
He picked up the disciplinary letter.
“Due to repeated unexcused absences and physical altercations, student Trevor Weston has been placed on disciplinary probation. Any further infractions will result in expulsion.”
Raymond’s expression shifted.
I played the video.
On the screen, Jessie had cornered a girl with a couple of her classmates and was snatching a hairpin right out of the girl’s hand.
“Take a good look.”
Last, the photos.
Jimmie had taken colored markers and drawn turtles all over the expensive leather sofa.
Raymond’s face went from red to white to livid.
I looked at him coldly and asked, every word clear as a bell, “So this is the peace you wanted?
“Your oldest son is about to get kicked out of school.
“Your daughter’s a buIIy. The whole class has turned against her.
“And your youngest—no one can put a leash on him. He’s a walking wrecking ball.
“You’re their father, Raymond. Have you ever once stepped up?”
The words sliced through him like a scalpel, each one finding its mark.
His hands, still holding the evidence, wouldn’t stop shaking. He couldn’t get a single word out.
For the first time, I’d hit a nerve.
He sank into deep self-doubt.
I knew. If I wanted to change him, I’d have to play hardball.
So I decided to start with Trevor, the toughest of them all.
I’d make an example of him.
