Bumpy Roads - A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery (Book 11) (The Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery Series) by Terri Reid Page B

food into her mouth without attempting
any conversation with Mary.  
    Picking up a glass of ice water, Mary walked over to the
table and sat across from her daughter. “So, how was school today?” she asked
politely, sipping slowly on the water.
    Clarissa looked down at her plate and continued to eat,
ignoring Mary.
    “It’s about time we did some shopping for spring and summer
clothes, don’t you think?” Mary asked. “I think you could probably use some new
shoes too.”
    Shoving an oversized helping of macaroni and cheese into her
mouth, Clarissa nearly choked, rather than answer the question.
    Mary took another sip of water and acted as if she didn’t
realize Clarissa was being rude. “I’m so glad you changed your mind about the
dinner,” she said brightly. “It seems as though you were starving. Would you
like a little more?”
    Clarissa set down her fork, glared at Mary across the table
and then darted from the room and upthe stairs. Sighing, Mary
collected up the empty plate and utensils and took them over to the sink.
    “I would have gotten my bottom spanked for that kind of
behavior,” Mike said, appearing next to the counter. He looked down at the
casserole and smiled. “Now that looks, excuse the pun, heavenly.”
    “Thanks,” Mary replied, stepping over and taking one more
taste. “It really tastes good too. And I don’t seem to be able to resist it.”
    “So, why didn’t you?” he asked.
    “Why didn’t I what? Tan her hide?” Mary replied with a
smile.
    “Yeah, or stand her in the corner, or give her a time out,
or whatever it is parents do these days.”
    Giving up, Mary pulled a bowl from the cabinet, filled it
with the macaroni and cheese and brought it over to the table.   She sat down and took a bite before replying.
“Today I sat with a woman who learned that her daughter had been killed eight
years ago,” Mary said. “She had a feeling it had happened, but today I had the
distinct privilege of confirming that for her. Killing any hope she might have
had lingering in her heart.”
    Mike leaned over and placed his hand over hers. “Mary, I’m
sorry.”
    She shrugged, wiping a stray tear away. “Well, anyway, I
guess Clarissa’s temper tantrum didn’t seem to be that big of a deal,
considering,” she said. “And it must be tough for her to adjust, once again, to
our new household.”
    She took another bite and then smiled. “Besides, I’m the
stepmother,” she said. “I think it’s my duty to be exceptionally nice and
remove the stigma that has been perpetrated by storytellers for generations.”
    Smiling, Mike nodded. “I’m sure stepmothers all over the
world are thanking you for your patience. But have you considered what lesson
she learned tonight?”
    Mary took another bite and contemplated his comment.
Finally, she spoke, “Well, let’s see…she was rude and demanding and didn’t want
to eat what I had made for her.   I was
polite and firm and didn’t let her bully me or make me angry.   She ended up eating what I had cooked and I
didn’t let her bother me.   I think she
learned that polite and firm wins.”
    Mike wasn’t convinced. “I don’t know, Mary,” he said.
“Something tells me she has not even begun to fight.”
    “Mike, don’t worry,” Mary said. “I’m sure everything will be
fine.”

Chapter Twenty-six

 
    Driving slowly through the streets of Freeport, he checked
his review mirror a number of times. So far no one seemed to be following him,
but he had been spooked by the meeting with the Chief of Police all day.   Did he
know something more than he let on, he wondered. Was he just waiting for someone to show fear?
    He pulled to a stop at an intersection, waiting for the
light to turn green and thought about the little girl waiting for him in his
basement and, for a moment, the worries of the day disappeared.   He slowly moistened his lips with his tongue,
anticipating how she would taste. His hands gripped the steering