Page 107 of Shame the Devil

She could’ve told him. Sure she could’ve. To be honest, though, she was enjoying this.

“Hang on,” she said, and negotiated the sale of her dresser to a middle-aged lady, then walked over to straighten a table of lamps.

She knew he was behind her when she heard him saying, “If you’re thinking I’m helping with this without a fight, you’re dreaming. Why would you have it, anyway? You had to know I wouldn’t want it.”

She froze. If she turned around without some words formed, she was going to slap him. Her hands gripped the edge of the table, and she thought,Don’t hit. Don’t hit.

It wasn’t working. Her hand had already come up, and she was turning when she heard the other voice.

“You know,” Harlan said, “I’ve heard some lousy things in my life, but that ranks right up there.”

Why washehere? HeandAnnabelle, because she was right behind him. What?

Mark said, “Hey, buddy, get lost. This is a private conversation.”

Harlan said, “You know? Not so much.” Mark had turned to face him, and they both looked ready to go, like a pair of bull elk in rutting season. Which was stupid, because the rut had already happened, and the better bull had won.

Annabelle said, “What? Harlan …”

Mark said, “Oh. You’re Kristiansen.” Thrown off-balance, then recovering to say, “You know what? I don’t care who you are. It’s still none of your fucking business. Whenyourgirlfriend gets knocked up after she told you she was on the Pill and trapsyou, I’ll come tell you what to say to her, how about that?”

His voice had risen, and Harlan took a step closer and said, “Shut up and back off. Now.”

All right. This was ridiculous. Half of Jennifer wanted to laugh, and the other half wanted to see if Harlan would actually fight for her. Well, not quite half, because from somewhere, her better nature had her stepping between them.

Unfortunately, at the same instant, Mark’s arm shot out to shove Harlan, which meant he shoved her instead. Hard. In the breast.In thenipple.

Pain like a lance. She cried out, doubled over, and clutched at herself, Mark jumped back, and Harlan grabbed him.

* * *

Harlan hadthe guy’s arm twisted behind his back, and now, he kicked him in the back of the knee to get him down. The guy staggered, but kept his footing, and Harlan twisted his arm harder and wanted to break it. The red mist was rising, and he was …

Jennifer was there again, forcing her way between them, shouting, “Harlan! Don’t!”

He let go fast, stepped back, and grabbed her to shove her behind him, and the other guy staggered again and turned. Three women and a couple of teenagers had appeared on the driveway somewhere in there, too. The women were exclaiming, and one of the teenagers had her phone out.

Jennifer wasn’t getting out of the way. She said, “Mark! Stop it! You’re not the father!” She shouted it, actually. And now,shewas shoving the guy—Mark—the ex—back.

Somebody said, “It’s just likeMaury,”and both teenagers had their phones out now.

Mark said, “What the hell?”

Harlan said, “That’s right, asshole. I’m the father.”

Mark said, “You were screwing somebody else?Thisguy? So all that talk about me not wanting to marry you was just, what?” His eyes widened. “Oh. I get it.Iget it. You get knocked up, and you think you’ll getmeto marry you. Not this time, sister. No way. Just because you can’t keep your legs closed, that doesn’t mean I’m—”

Harlan was going for him, but Jennifer was already there, advancing on Mark like an avenging fury, shoving him in the chest with a hard palm, driving him back until he tripped over an end table and nearly fell. He came up spluttering, and she said, “Getout.You’ve got nothing to do with this. You’ve got nothing to do withme,because I dumped you and found a better man. You know why I’m moving? Because I’m going to live with him, that’s why! Because he asked me to. MeandDyma. Because when he found out I was pregnant, he steppedup.He didn’t come ask me why I didn’t get an abortion and make his life easier! And I said yes. Know why? Do you?”

“Gee,” Mark said, “maybe because he’s worth about a hundred million bucks?” He looked at Harlan. “You’re taking the kid, too? Yeah, good luck with that. She’s a pain in the ass.”

“No,” Jennifer said. She was all but spitting now. “Because he’s ten times the man you are. He’s kinder. He’s stronger. He’s smarter. He’s … he’sfunnier.And he’s so much better in bed, it was like waking up from a bad dream. Or just aboringdream. It was like … like going from eating bologna sandwiches out of a baggie to filet mignon on a chinaplate.And since I’m never going to want that rubbery, crappy bologna again in mylife,you can Just. Get.Out.”Each of those last words was accompanied by another shove at his chest.

“Yeah?” Mark said. “What, he’s willing to wait an hour for you to come?”

The teenagers made some “Oh, mygod”noises and kept filming, and Harlan stood back and crossed his arms. She was on a roll, no question about it.

“No,” Jennifer said, all but bouncing on her toes. “He’s willing toworkan hour, if that’s what it takes. But guess what? It hardly takes any time at all, because he’s not rushing to get there, which means by the time he does, I actuallywantit. Oh, and he’s actuallygoodat it, too. He can do things with his tongue that you can onlydreamabout. He’s gotpositions.He can—”