sound from the steering wheel.
He finally spoke when she looked at him again. âLook, since Iâm going to be gone a few days, why donât you do something for yourself?â
âMaybe.â
âWell at least think about it. Why donât you use one of the many credit cards I give you and go get your hair done or something? Maybe get your feet done and your nails.â
She tried to keep her mouth closed but she couldnât believe he was acting as if she had all the time in the world to do things for herself.
âMaybe if you were home more and did some of the things with the kids, I would have time to do something, like get my hair done,â
âLook, donât start this shit again.â
âWhat shit? I am only telling you that I donât have time since you are always out and about,â She said as she turned her face towards the window.
âLook, just cool down and letâs have some fun tonight for a change.â He continued driving but she heard him mumbling under his breath.
Then he started talking again, âSee when I try and do something nice for your ungrateful ass, you gotta act all snotty and shit.â
âUngrateful? What is that supposed to mean? Just because I say that I wish you spent more time with the kids Iâm ungrateful? I am not sure how that equates.â
âYou know what the hell I mean. I always tell you to go and do some shit for yourself and then you try and turn it around on me. Just forget I said anything.â
Sometimes silence is golden, but not in the case of the two of them. Silence from Kevin meant he was fuming and hell was about to be open. He pulled the car into an empty parking lot, and sure enough hell opened up and swallowed her.
He pushed the gearshift into park and leaned over almost into her seat.
âWho the fuck do you think you are? I ainât your mothafucking child. I am a grown man and married to the most selfish bitch I have ever known. I give your ass every goddamn thing a woman wants. A truck; that need I remind you, you donât have to pay for or even worry about puttinggas in, a damn house worth more than you could ever hope to make in a lifetime, goddamn credit cards that you donât have to pay for, but miraculously they have no balances every fucking month, and those damn bank accounts with balances any ordinary bitch would appreciate. But do you? You complain every goddamn day. I am so sick of hearing you complain. I donât think you could function if you couldnât complain at least five times a damn day. You are such a selfish, ungrateful bitch.â
She lost it. He had hit a nerve by calling her the one thing that she hated the most.
âI am not! I am not! I hate you!â she screamed and suddenly she found herself swinging at him and she became incoherent. Her words rushed from her mouth like open floodgates at the river.
âYou call me selfish? Youâre the selfish one! Always worried about your damn self. No one else! Itâs always what Kevin wants, what Kevin needs! I ask for simple shit. Like for you to love me! For you to care about me! But you canât do that, can you! If you cared for me half as much as your stupid business, then maybe I wouldnât complain! I hate you! I hate you!â
She tried to open the doors of the car and failed. She knew they were locked and hoped that he would release her from her prison.
âLet me out of here!â she screamed when it was clear that he wasnât going to release her. She turned and saw the anger building on his face and the tears started to fall from her eyes. âLet me out of here!â
âCheryl! Calm the fuck down!â he yelled back at her.
âI hate you, I hate you, I hate you!â were the only words that she could say.
âCheryl! Look you need to get a hold of yourself! Stop it!â he said as he grabbed her and then he slapped her.
âLook, you really need to
Skeleton Key, Konstanz Silverbow