“Of course he will honey, but Carmen he shouldn’t be laying his hands on you when he’s angry.”
“He doesn’t mean anything,” Carmen argued.
“Carmen, he could hurt you. Does he lose his temper often?” The girl instantly became guarded. Winter took that as a definite yes.
“He was just mad because he caught me staring at those bikers, he was jealous.”
“It doesn’t matter what the reason was, he doesn’t have the right to hurt you.”
“Look Ms. Simmons, Jake was just angry at me for doing something I shouldn’t be doing. I made a mistake. Where is he?”
Winter saw her trying to find him in the crowd, but she wanted to get Carmen out of there before he returned. She didn’t have as much faith as Carmen that his temper had calmed down.
“Why don’t I take you home and he can call you later?” The girl did not want to leave, but Winter ushered Carmen to her car despite her protests of leaving Jake behind. She only lived a block away from her, so she was able to reach the small house without asking for directions.
Following her to the door of her house, she could tell Carmen just wanted her to leave. “Are your parents home?” Winter asked.
The girl thought about lying. All the years of experience of dealing with teenagers enabled Winter to push the doorbell with confidence that her parents were home.
“I was going to go in,” Carmen lied.
Before Winter could answer, Carmen’s mother answered the door.
“Carmen? Ms. Simmons?” The woman was obviously surprised to find her daughter’s principal on her front porch.
“Mrs. Jones, can I come in and speak to you and your husband for a few minutes?” Winter requested politely.
The door opened wider, allowing her entrance with a sullen Carmen following reluctantly behind.
Winter tactfully explained what had happened at the church picnic once both parents were present. Carmen’s parents were understandably upset when Winter explained what had occurred between the young couple. Winter left soon afterwards, feeling it best if she left the family to deal with Carmen privately, praying they would be more successful in convincing the girl that Jake had a serious problem.
Winter could only hope that the girl would wise up before someone was hurt.
***
Winter shut off the vacuum, pulling the plug from the wall. She was about to put it back in the closet when she heard the doorbell ring. She opened the door without thinking and was immediately sorry.
“Go away.” She tried to slam the door in Viper’s face, but his hand caught the door, forcing it to open wider and he brushed past her as he walked inside. Winter was getting tired of Viper thinking he could just barge his way into her home.
“Don’t you check before you open the door?”
“I will from now on. Get out.”
“I want to talk to you.”
“As I told you the last time, we have nothing to talk about.”
Viper’s face-hardened, he was angry already and she was making him angrier by refusing to listen to what he had to say.
“What were you thinking to confront that punk?”
“I was thinking I might save Lily from getting hurt.”
“He was never going to get a hand on Lily.”
“Really? I have news for you, tattoo guy wasn’t going to reach her in time. Jake was about to punch her for throwing that horseshoe and he didn’t care she was holding a baby.”
“Shade?”
“Is he the one covered in tattoos?”
“Yes.”
Winter shrugged, “Anyway, it worked out. I took Carmen home, had a talk with her parents who were unaware their sixteen year old daughter was dating a scumbag who lays his hands on her when he gets angry. It’s now their problem to solve. Now will you leave?”
“You’re wrong if you think it’s over. That punk has a real problem. Make sure you stay out of it and let the family deal with him.” Winter’s jaw tightened. Viper stood in her living room, ordering her around, and not listening, just like old times. She turned her back and went to the phone, dialing the Sheriff’s office.
“Maggie, this is Winter Simmons. I have an intruder at my home.”
Viper’s eyebrows rose as he listened. His arms folded across his chest.
“Thank you.” Winter hung up the phone. “Now will you leave?”