***
“Where did you get a gun?”
My mind is racing as I look from Ralph to Chrissy to Winston, considering our options. I contemplate bolting from the car, but Chrissy’s in labor — she can’t run, let alone get Winnie out by herself. Hell, I’m not even sure how fast she can walk, at this point. And then there’s the small matter of the gun in my face.
“I saiddrive.” He jostles the gun at me again.
“Or what?” I ask, my eyes wide. “You’llshootme?”
His scowl deepens. “Gemma, I’m not fucking around.”
“Okay, I know you’re intent on your revenge, and I ruined your life, and you hate me.Yada, yada, yada.Whatever. It’s going to have to wait, because we’re literally on our way to the hospital right now. This is a real emergency, Ralph, and you’re kind of messing things up for us.”
“Thisis Ralph?” Chrissy shrieks. “No wonder you never wanted to introduce him.”
Ralph turns incredulous eyes to the backseat. “What did you say to me, bitch?”
Chrissy doesn’t bat an eye at the gun suddenly pointing in her direction. She looks at me, cool as a cucumber, and says, “You never told me he doesn’t shower.”
I wrinkle my nose, taking in the unwashed stench coming off Ralph. He looks dirty and his clothes are rumpled, like he’s been living on the streets for the past few days. “Actually, this is a new development. He had standard man-child hygiene habits, while we were dating.”
“Ah, yes. Thepants-never-need-to-be-washed,shaving-is-a-weekly-activity,manscaping-is-a-mythtype.” She nods sagely. “I know them well.”
“Exactly.”
“SHUT UP!” Ralph yells, causing both our heads to snap in his direction. His eyes narrow on me. “Drive the fucking car, Gemma, or I swear to god…”
“Ralph, come on. We both know you’re not going to hurt me.”
“You don’t know anything, bitch.”
“Can we watch the language?” Chrissy asks. “I’ve got a one-year-old back here. Very impressionable age. I don’t want his first word to be cocksucker.”
Ralph’s eyes darken, and his arm swivels sharply, so the gun is pointing straight at Winnie.
“Ralph…” I whisper.
“Shut up!”
The gun shakes.
Winnie’s eyes are wide, watching the mouth of the gun like it’s a spinning toy on his mobile.
Chrissy and I both go dead silent.
“You don’t think I’ll hurt you, but what about him, huh? Still sure I won’t hurt anyone?No?” Ralph’s voice is low with anger. “Thendrive the fucking car,before I decide to stop being so nice.”
I meet Chrissy’s eyes and, for the first time, I see a flash of fear in their depths. So, I grab the shifter, pull out into traffic, and I drive the fucking car.
***
“Where are we going?” I ask, my voice quiet.
Ralph doesn’t say anything. His knees are jumping up and down to a beat only he can hear. With each nervous jitter, the gun in his hand bounces a little more.
“Ralph. Please.” I try again. “Where are we going?”
“Shut up.”