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Ma toAnnabel and whather hands of me Of course, her disappointment wounded me deeply One day, three months after Annabel had left, I lashed out at her in a way I never would have believedit over with Deacon and Bishop, we had all decided it was best not to tell Mama Beth about my rape As sensitive as she was, it would be too horrific and painful for her to have to endure

But in ot all about that Since I was surviving on a liquid diet, she had brought lunch to my house I never intended to let her in, but she had a key of her own Being her stubborn self, she had come on in and proet et her off my back, I had finally come out to the kitchen

When I peered down at the table, a simple piece of her chocolate cake set me off "What the fuck is that?" I dee and tone "Why, it’s chocolate cake Your favorite"

Once upon a time, it had been my favorite After my attack, I could barely stomach it But to keep the secret and the peace, I would smile and eat it, only to excuse myself and throw it up mo now Lunging forward, I grabbed the cake and took it straight to the trash I slammed it down into the trash can so hard that the plate popped up before falling down

"Nathaniel, what are you doing?" Mama Beth asked in her most concerned voice

"You knohat happened to me because of chocolate cake?"

Mama Beth shook her head "You’re out-of-your-head drunk and notI s right with food, aren’t you, Mama?" I snapped

"Nathaniel, I do not like your tone or your attitude I know things have been strained between us since Annabel left, so I caht hed a little maniacally "One baked cake never cost ered toward her "Do you reo when you asked me to take a cake down to Miss Mae’s?"

"Yes," shein confusion

"Miss Mae wasn’t hoed ed asped in horror, her eyes widening to the size of dinner plates

"The reason Preacher Man left his church and left us? It’s because he blew Kurt’s head off after seeing hiet the look on her face It was an agonizing expression of shock, disbelief, and pain Her hand flew to her mouth as she swayed on her feet "Why didn’t you ever tell ht it was best to keep it a secret"