Chapter 7 - The Scene
My mother’s frail, pathetic facade shattered in an instant.
When she realized tears and guilt were no longer working, the real Diane Wells took over.
"You arrogant, cold-hearted monster!" she shrieked, slamming her hand down on my glass display case. Several customers gasped. "We raised you! We fed you! You owe everything you have to us! You think you’re better than us because you married some tech money and opened a stupid shop?!"
Clarissa chimed in, shouting over her crying toddler. "Everyone look at her! Look at the great Athena Wells! Letting her elderly parents get thrown out on the street while she counts her cash! You're a sick person!"
I didn't yell. I didn't raise my voice.
I reached into my apron pocket, pulled out my phone, and pressed three digits: 9-1-1.
I put the phone on speaker.
"Portland Police Dispatch, what is your emergency?" the officer’s voice echoed clearly through the bakery.
"Hello," I said smoothly into the mic. "I am the owner of Ruth’s Bakery on 4th Avenue. I have three individuals trespassing in my shop, screaming at customers, and threatening my staff. I need officers dispatched immediately."
My mother’s mouth fell open. "You... you’re calling the cops on your own mother?!"
"Officers are en route, ma'am," the dispatcher replied. "Stay on the line."
"You have two minutes to leave before the police arrive," I told my mother, looking her dead in the eyes. "And if you step foot on my property again, I will file a permanent restraining order against all three of you."
My father looked at the customers staring at them with disgust and phone cameras raised, recording every second of their breakdown.
"Diane... let's go," Gerald whispered, his voice broken, tugging at my mother’s coat. "Let's go. She means it."
"You'll burn in hell for this, Athena!" Clarissa screamed, turning on her heel and marching out the door, her baby crying hysterically.
My mother stared at me for one last second—her eyes filled with deep, poisonous hatred—before turning and hurrying out into the rain.
I stood there, holding my phone, as the door chimed shut behind them.
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I took a deep, slow breath. My chest didn't feel heavy.
It felt weightless.
