Page 3 of Snow’s Charming (Hope Runs Deep #7)

“I can’t believe it’s you! You’ve grown up so fast!” said Ges as he wrapped his arms around me. Once he released me from the hug, he sneezed. “Sorry, I’m allergic to perfume.”

“I’m sorry! It’s Jackie’s, not mine. I don’t wear perfume. Let me—” I took a giant step back from him, hoping the distance would help.

“Don’t apologize! I’m allergic to like 58 things, according to my doctor. This damned body isn’t a temple—it’s a torture chamber—so please don’t blame yourself.”

“If you insist.”

“Chary,” stated Joker in a boisterous voice before placing a palm on Chary’s shoulder. “Wouldn’t now be a perfect time to tell her?”

Before Joker could finish his statement, Chary put out a hand to silence him.

“Don’t go there. It’ll be hard enough to convince her to come with us to the inn.”

“Actually? I had planned to drive down early tomorrow morning—but tonight works for me. My stepmother told me I’ve worn out my welcome at her house,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Why Dad left her anything in his will is beyond me. I mean, he loved her—but I think he was the only one.”

“Well, how about we drive you there? It’ll be fun to catch up with you,” Chary said.

I didn’t need convincing. As it was, I was going to book a room at a hotel. I didn’t want to spend any more time with Jackie.

“You can totally share memories of my dad with me.”

“Absolutely,” said Bear as he gave my shoulder a pat.

“Give me a minute to let the stepmonster know I’m leaving tonight rather than tomorrow,” Sesi said with another roll of her eyes.

She didn’t want to call Jackie out in public, but when Sesi was with her uncles—her father’s brothers at arms, she felt safe to tell them the truth.

“Don’t hold back, Snow, tell us how you really feel about the bitch,” Joker said with a wink. “Oh yeah, I can see your inner wo?—”

Chary slapped the back of Joker’s head.

“Don’t you dare, Joker! I’m warning you—knock it off.” Chary’s voice was a low growl.

“What? I was gonna say, inner woman—as in diva—not the other thing, I swear,” Joker said as he rubbed the back of his head.

I didn’t bother listening to the rest of their conversation in hushed whispers.

Instead, I focused my mind solely on my stepmonster.

If I weren’t in the funeral parlor, I’d flip her the bird as I walked out.

But alas, I was here, and I didn’t need Dad rolling in his casket.

The closer I got to her, the more sour her face contorted.

Didn’t anyone ever tell her that’s how you get wrinkles? Ugh.

“Jackie, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a change of plans with me. I’ll be leaving tonight for the inn. I’ll pack a few things now and send a truck for the rest of my stuff later.”

“That won’t be necessary. As we speak, I’m having the staff move your things into a Uhaul. Jerry can drive you with the van to the inn tonight, and he can come back tomorrow around 7 AM to pick it up.”

“Jackie, I’ll need more time than just a few hours this evening to unload a Uhaul.”

“Sesi Snow, you will become a full-fledged adult tomorrow. It’s time you did what the rest of us do and figure this out yourself. I didn’t have to be so kind as to rent the truck on your behalf.”

I crossed my arms and let out a sigh before shaking my head.

“Jackie, that was written into the will. I don’t think that constitutes your being kind to me. Also, you’d have to have a beating heart for anyone to consider you being kind.” I said all of this to her through gritted teeth. No one but me needed to know how awful she was.

“How dare you disrespect me!”

Her hand went up in the air, and I recoiled.

I know my retort was snotty, and I expected her to be pissed. But I honestly never imagined her striking me in public. She never had before, but then again, Dad was no longer alive. Perhaps she thought the rules had changed. I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for the blow, but it never came .

“There is no need to hit her. Abuse of anyone is against the law in all 50 states, Jackie. I suggest you calm yourself before I call the police and have you arrested. Sesi, we will follow the truck and help unload it.” Chary’s eyes radiated a fire that I hadn’t seen since before my father was sick.

He then gazed at me, his eyes softening along with his voice.

“The quicker you get away from what I see as a toxic and abusive environment, the better.”

With each word, his grip seemed to tighten more around Jackie’s wrist. And how’d he get to me so quickly? He was at the other end of the room when I left him to talk to Jackie. Maybe I didn’t notice because my eyes were closed and preparing for the blow. I shook my head to erase my silly thoughts.

“You cannot tell me how to raise my child!” Jackie said, wrenching her arm out of Chary’s grip.

“That’s just it, Jackie. I’m not your child. I was Dad’s, and if he were alive, you wouldn’t be pulling this crap.”

As I said this to her, she raised her hand again. In a rapid-fire motion, Chary stepped in front of me to get between us.

“Jackie, I warned you.” Chary’s voice was a low growl again as her hand connected with his chest. “If I ever see you touch her, you’ll answer me. Are we clear?”

Jackie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms with a huff .

“Are we clear, Jackie?”

His voice denoted the venom he spat towards Jackie. It wasn’t the tone of a drill sergeant—something I’d been accustomed to with my father getting me ready for school. No, this tone had the bite of a cobra.

“There’s no need for you to act this way. This girl was nothing but a brat who wrapped my husband around her little finger. It’s my job to raise her properly! She needs discipline.”

“She needs to be loved and cared for. And from where I’m standing, you don’t know what those words mean. No one raises a hand to Sesi—are we clear?”

“You aren’t family, Chary.”

“See, that’s where you are wrong, Jackie. Baseline is our brother at arms. Therefore, that makes Sesi part of our family. And just so you’re aware, she’s as pure as driven snow. There isn’t one ounce of brat in her body! Sesi, let’s go.”

Chary wrapped a protective hand around my shoulder and, for the first time since my father married, I felt safe.

While following Chary’s fluidity, I turned on my heel, not giving my stepmother another glance or thought as we walked out of the funeral home.

I then hopped on the back of Chary’s bike and headed straight for the house I grew up in.

Never once had I thought I’d leave it. I’d pictured raising children in it, but I guess that was all a pipedream now.

I never blamed my father for the circumstances I was in.

My father had a big heart, so it was no wonder he fell for Jackie and wanted to leave the house to her.

All I ever wanted was for my father to be happy.

And if that woman had made him happy, so be it.