Forbidden Fruit by Erica Spindler Page A

the room, Glory could see that she was shaking.
    Glory swallowed hard, fear rising in her like a tidal wave. The book slid from her hands and hit the floor, falling open to the naked David. “Mama, I didn’t—”
    â€œWhore,” her mother interrupted, advancing on her. “Dirty, little slut.”
    Glory shook her head. She had only ever seen her mother look at her this way deep in the night, while she stood beside the bed staring down at her. She had never heard her speak those words before. They sounded ugly and they frightened her.
    â€œMama,” she whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks, “I wasn’t doing anything. I didn’t mean—”
    Hope grabbed Glory’s arm and yanked her off the chair. Glory landed on her knees, and her mother jerked her upright. Pain shot through her shoulder, and she cried out.
    At her cry, Hope’s rage seemed to escalate instead of diminish. She closed her hands around Glory’s upper arms and shook her so hard her teeth rattled. “I will not allow such pernicious behavior in my house! Do you hear me? It’s evil and dirty. I will not allow it!”
    â€œMama…I didn’t mean to. I didn’t…it was Danny’s idea…He made me do it…he made me…Please, Mama…please…”
    Danny, his shorts down around his thighs, began to cry, too, loud wails of despair.
    Mrs. Cooper rushed into the library. “Madam, what’s—” She stopped, taking in the scene, her expression dismayed. “Oh, dear,” she said, hurrying forward. “Danny, love, what have you yourself gotten into?”
    Danny’s tears became howls. “Didn’t do it, Granny! Wasn’t me! Wasn’t!”
    Hope spun around, her hand raised as if to slap him. Mrs. Cooper darted between them. She pulled up Danny’s pants and gathered him into her arms. “Calm down, Mrs. St. Germaine. Children will be children. They were merely curious and no harm’s been done.”
    â€œGet out!” Hope raged. “And take that…vile little beast with you. I never want to see either of you again. Is that clear?”
    Mrs. Cooper reeled back, her expression stunned. “But, madam, certainly you don’t mean—”
    â€œBut I do.” She took a step toward the older woman, eyes narrowed. “Get out, now. Get out, for ‘God’s servant is an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. With eyes like blazing fire, he will strike down her children.’ ”
    Mrs. Cooper paled. She took another step back, then turned and ran, Danny howling in her arms. Glory watched them go, a sense of horror stealing over her. This time, she had done something really bad. This time, her mother wouldn’t forgive her. Not ever. She began to shake.
    Her mother turned to her, her expression suddenly, terrifyingly calm. “Now then, Glory, come with me.”
    Glory shook her head, frozen to the spot with fear, trembling so violently she could hardly stand.
    Bright spots of color burned her mother’s cheeks. “Very well.” She curled her fingers around Glory’s arm and half led, half dragged her out of the library and up the stairs. Hope took her to her bedroom, but not to the corner, as Glory expected, but to her private bathroom. She shut and locked the door behind them.
    Glory scurried to the corner and huddled in it, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her mother went to the tub and shoved aside the frilly pink shower curtain, bent and twisted the faucets on. A moment later, steam billowed from the tub into the air.
    â€œMama,” Glory whispered, “I’ll be good. I promise, I will. I’ll be good.”
    â€œYou’ve sinned against the Lord. You must be punished. You must be cleansed.” Hope turned to her then, the expression in her eyes straight out of Glory’s nightmares. “Get in the tub.”
    Glory shook her head,