Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 60978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Ms. Jans pressed her palms against her eyes, taking deep shuddering breaths. When she lowered her hands, her face was composed again, though her eyes remained red-rimmed and glistening.
“I’m just tired, Lily-bug,” she said, reaching out to smooth her daughter’s hair back from her forehead. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
The lie hung in the air between them, necessary but transparent. Even Lily could tell, her small face solemn as she reached out her uninjured hand to pat her mother’s arm.
“Don’t be sad, Mommy,” she said. “Cash can sing to you too. It helps.”
Ms. Jans laughed, a broken sound dangerously close to a sob. She glanced up at me, embarrassment coloring her cheeks as she remembered my presence.
“I’m so sorry,” she said quietly. “You don’t need to be involved in this mess. Thank you for being kind to Lily.”
The smart move would have been to have nodded, wished them well, and walked away. Would have guaranteed I stayed out on parole and with this fucking job intact. But the defeat in her eyes reminded me too much of my own mother, fighting a system designed to work against her, and I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to turn away.
This small, fierce woman fighting for her daughter pulled at me. I really thought any soft part of my heart had died in that fucking bar fight years ago. So, as much as I knew I needed to leave, I couldn’t.
“Her dad in the picture? Is there anyone you need me to call for you?”
She shook her head. “No. Her father” -- she gave me a hesitant look --”is in prison. At least, the last I knew. And no. There’s no one.”
“I can give you a minute,” I said, my hand on the door. “But I’ll be right outside. I’ll be available if you need an extra set of hands.”
“No,” Ms. Jans said, surprising me. She wiped her eyes quickly with the back of her hand. “Actually, I…” She glanced at Lily, then back at me. “Could you stay? Just for a few minutes.”
I stepped fully into the room, keeping the door open. I kept my gaze on the woman as she kept her head down. Finally, she took a breath. “I just need a couple minutes where I know I’m not going to get blindsided by myself.”
“Mommy’s sad because the lady thinks she hurts me,” Lily announced with blunt honesty. “But Mommy never hurts me.”
“Look,” I said, addressing Lily’s mother. “I might be able to help,” I said, the words surprising me as much as her. “I know a lawyer who specializes in family cases. She works with the women’s shelter my club protects.” I gestured to my cut, the Kiss of Death patch prominent on the leather. “She helps them navigate the system, fights for them when no one else will.”
Ms. Jans stiffened, her spine straightening. “I don’t need charity. We’re managing.”
“This isn’t charity,” I said, leaning forward slightly. “Lana, the lawyer, she doesn’t do handouts. But she knows how to fight the system on its own terms. And she might know doctors who could help, specialists who could look at Lily’s case.”
“Why would you help us? You don’t even know us.” Suspicion edged her voice, not unreasonable given her circumstances.
“Because Ms.-Winters-social-worker already wrote me into her report,” I said with a shrug, only partially lying. “Might as well earn my mention.”
The real reason was more complicated, tied to memories of my mother’s struggles, to the look in Lily’s eyes when she’d asked for a song, to something in this woman’s fierce determination resonated with me. But those weren’t things I could easily put into words, especially to a stranger.
Ms. Jans opened her mouth, likely to refuse again, when Lily suddenly extended her small hand toward me. Her thin fingers reached across the space between us, the stuffed rabbit clutched in her grip.
“This is Mr. Flopsy,” she said solemnly. “He helps me be brave when I’m scared. Maybe he can help you not be scared too.”
I looked at the ratty stuffed animal, then at Lily’s earnest face. With careful movements, I took the rabbit from her, aware of the significance of being entrusted with something so precious.
“That’s very kind of you, Lily,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended. “But I think you need Mr. Flopsy more than I do right now.”
“You can borrow him,” she insisted. “Until you come back.” Oh, the kid was good. I might have grinned at her if she didn’t look so earnest and hopeful.
Ms. Jans watched this exchange. The wariness in her eyes didn’t disappear completely, but it softened to a more cautious consideration. “Your lawyer friend,” she said finally, her voice quiet but steady. “Would she really be willing to talk to me? No strings attached?”
“Lana doesn’t do strings,” I replied. “She helps because she can. I can tell you from experience she’s a good person to have on your side.” I pulled my cell phone from my pocket. “I can call her now if you want. Just to talk. You don’t have to decide anything today.”