"What about Molly and Becky? I'm supposed to take them with me too?"
"Let someone else take care of them. They're your cousins for Christ's sake. You act like they're your children."
"They're my responsibility. I promised to take care of them until they were old enough to look after themselves."
"So what are you saying? You're not coming with me because of them? You're going to throw everything away for them?"
"It's not just about them. You should have told me about this beforehand. I thought after what happened before you'd stop trying to run my life." She stomped down the porch steps to the driveway. "You might have changed on the outside but you're still the same inside."
"Sam, wait. Come back. Let's talk about this."
"There's nothing more to talk about. I can't trust you."
Joseph ran after her, intercepting her before she reached Mr. Pryde's car. He tried to put an arm around her, but she seized his wrist and pulled the arm back until Joseph winced. She wanted to keep pulling until she heard the snap of bone; she wanted to hurt him, make him cry for his selfishness. No more violence, she told herself, thinking of three years ago when she'd broken Prudence's arm and beaten her friend bloody. She let go of Joseph's arm. "I'll be back in time for the party. There's no need to ruin this for Prudence." She held up a finger before he said anything. "After that I'm leaving."
"Sam, please, don't do this. I love you."
She bit down on her lip to keep from crying. "If you really loved me you wouldn't have done this. Have fun in California," she said. She pushed him away so she could get into the car. He stood there a moment before coming around to pound on her window, pleading with her to stop.
She refused to look at him. She turned up the radio to drown out the sound of his apologies. I don't love him, she told herself as she backed out the driveway. He's as much of a selfish jerk as when he was taking that potion.
She reached the end of the driveway and then hit the accelerator. Only after Joseph faded from the rearview mirror did she allow herself to let out the tears she'd been holding back.