Heartburn: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) by Tarrah Anders (best ebook reader .TXT) 📗

had come to the city. I wasn’t hiding out. One quick search on social media and she would have had all the clues as to where to find me. If she didn’t agree with my father pushing me out, she would have done something more and not just played ignorant.”

“Did that man of yours hunt you down?” Geri questions.

“No. He was told by my father that I ran and to not come after me. That if he came after me, that my father would have him arrested.”

“And he listened?”

“Unfortunately. It’s what we did best back then.”

“Listening to your parents?”

“No. Stupid ass shit.”

“And who are you?” a gruff voice asks me, as I’m sitting on one of the Adirondacks that line one side of the patio.

I swing my head in his direction and offer him a smile.

“Hi, my name is Kindra.” I hold my hand over my eyes to be able to see the person. He’s definitely one of my father’s friends, Frank, something or another.

“Kindra, and how do you know the Mason’s? I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen you around here before, and I know everyone,” he replies.

“I’m their daughter.” I reply, waiting for his reaction.

He laughs and shakes his head. “Hilarious.”

“I’m not joking, sir. I’m Kindra Mason.”

“Hey! Joe! The Masons have no kids, right?” The man looks at a gentleman sitting a few chairs away.

“Not that I’m aware. They’ve never mentioned a kid, I’ve never seen any.” The other man shakes his head.

He looks back to me, “well missy, are you just here crashing their B-B-Q for some free food?”

My jaw drops, “I don’t need this bullshit. I don’t need to prove anything to you guys.” I stand up and walk back inside the house, past my mother in the kitchen and out the front door while muttering to myself, not paying attention to anyone that calls my name.

“Kindra! Kindra! Where are you going?” I hear my mother calling behind me. I turn around and face her just in front of my car.

“Who am I to you?” I whirl around and ask her with tears streaming down my cheeks.

“You’re my daughter, honey. You know that.” She tries to step closer, with her hands out as I hold my hand out stopping her.

“I call bullshit to that! How do you explain where I’ve been all these years? Two men in that house had no clue that you have a child. They accused me of party-crashing for the free food. What the hell have you told people all this time?”

“Nothing. We told them nothing, and no one ever asked. People assumed that you went away to college. But we said nothing.” She replies, looking at the sidewalk. “I’m not saying it was ever the right thing, but it’s just happened that way.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I shake my head and turn, walk around my car and open the door.

“It goes both ways, you know. You could have come home at any time.”

“From what I’ve seen, it doesn’t look that way.”

17

Rogan

I walk into Hooligan’s and Kindra is at the bar with several empty shot glasses lined up in front of her. I shake my head and head her way. If she’s drinking alone, there’s no good reason as to why.

Halfway there, a hand lands on my shoulder and I turn to see Grant.

“Hey man,” I greet him.

“I could be wrong, but that’s Kindra, right? Your girl?” he asks.

“Yeah, that’s Kindra,” I say, not correcting him.

“My brothers and I have been here for a few hours now, and she’s put down pretty much an entire bottle. God knows that I don’t want to send her to the drunk tank tonight. Can you get your lady under control?”

“You got it,” I salute and turn on my heel in her direction.

She’d just taken a shot and slammed it down.

“I think I’ll have another bartender,” she slurs, not noticing me at her side.

He walks over and grabs the bottle of clear liquid and sees me. He freezes his motions and I shake my head.

“Uh, I think I need to wash some more shot glasses, I’ll be right back, ma’am.” He says nervously.

Since Kindra hasn’t swayed my way yet, I catch him. “Shots of water for the lady.” Then I place my hand on Kindra’s arm.

She flinches and raises her arm as if she was about to hit me until she turns her head and our eyes lock.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

“I came in for a drink before heading home. Where were you tonight? I didn’t see you.”

“I had today off. Spent it getting yelled at for amounting to nothing from my father, yet again.” She holds up the shot that she isn’t aware is water and owns it.

No reaction. She’s toast.

“Why do you keep trying to get him to give a shit? He’s never supported you, and if he’s not going to now, then he likely will never.”

“But one of the reasons that I came back here was to prove to them that I made something out of myself. I became someone that they would be proud of.”

Another shot glass of water is placed in front of her. Her fingers wrap around it, then she leans her head back, and pours the shot down her throat.

“These shots are beginning to have no flavor.” She shakes her head.

“Maybe that’s a reason why you should stop drinking,” I tell her.

“What’s the fun in that? Hey, can I ask you a question?”

I nod.

“What did you ever see in me?” She hiccups.

“Listen, don’t let anyone dull your shine, sweetheart. Don’t allow your dad to belittle your accomplishments.”

“I may be drunk, but I know that you didn’t answer me,” she sniffs.

“Kindra, I saw everything in you, still do.” I tell her gently while brushing a stray hair out of her face. “Come on, let’s get you home.” I turn to the bartender to settle her bill.

She stands up, and she’s a lot drunker than I thought. She grabs the bar to