Chapter 2 - THE BURNER
Ava ripped the hose from Tyler’s hands.
“Enough!”
Tyler’s face changed instantly.
The smile vanished.
He ran behind her.
Then shoved her hard between the shoulder blades.
Ava fell into the swimming pool screaming.
Tyler bent over laughing.
“HAHA! IDIOT!”
Emily saw red.
She pointed.
“He did that ON PURPOSE!”
Jessica immediately pulled Tyler behind her.
“He’s TEN!”
Mark rolled his eyes.
“Kids mess around. Get over it.”
Behind them, Tyler stuck his tongue out at Emily.
That was the moment she almost slapped him.
She did not.
Instead, she helped Ava out of the pool.
Ava was furious.
Humiliated.
But unhurt.
The party limped on.
Jessica refused to leave.
Mark opened another beer.
Tyler disappeared into the house.
Emily cleaned the kitchen because activity was safer than argument.
She was drying dishes when she rested one hand briefly against the stovetop.
The burner was off.
She knew it was off.
Tyler entered behind her.
Quiet.
Emily did not see him look at her hand.
Did not see the grin.
Did not see his fingers turn the control knob.
Heat came fast.
Emily screamed.
Yanked her hand away.
“TYLER!”
He laughed.
Then ran behind Jessica.
Emily’s palm was red and painful.
Not seriously burned.
Enough.
“He knew exactly what he was doing!”
Jessica wrapped both arms around Tyler.
“He’s just a child!”
Mark pointed at Emily.
“Stop bullying my son!”
Emily stared.
Tyler looked over Jessica’s shoulder.
And smiled.
Small.
Smug.
Certain.
Emily’s anger disappeared.
That frightened Ava more than the shouting.
“Emily...?”
Emily looked at Tyler.
Then at Jessica.
Then Mark.
A slow smile appeared.
“I’ve got a way to deal with spoiled kids like that.”
Jessica’s eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
Emily picked up a bag of frozen peas and pressed it against her hand.
“It means I’m done arguing with people who don’t believe anything unless it embarrasses them.”
Mark laughed.
“Good luck.”
Emily smiled.
“Thanks.”
May you like
She already knew the first thing she needed.
A camera.
