I raised my hand to do it again, but Louis caught my wrist and shoved me hard. I went sprawling to the floor.
The back of my skull cracked against the wall with a dull, sickening thud.
Kathy wiped the smile off her face in an instant. Her voice turned thin and trembling.
"Daphne, I was just trying to help you prune the flowers. Why are you so hostile toward me?"
"Louis and I are really just friends now. That's all we are. Please stop being so jealous, okay?"
Louis held her in his arms and looked down at me, his eyes cold and flat.
"Daphne, do you have to act like such a vicious shrew? You're disgusting."
I fought through the splitting pain in my head and pulled myself to my feet. I walked toward the balcony.
When I saw that every last rose was gone, something inside me snapped.
I grabbed the pruning shears and went looking for Kathy.
Louis stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
"Get out of my way! She destroyed the roses my mother left me. I'll kill her!"
Kathy dabbed at her tears, but in the space where Louis couldn't see, she flashed me a taunting little smile.
I knocked Louis's hand aside, lunging for that woman, ready to cut that lying mouth to ribbons.