Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Coke works.”
I grab a can of Diet Coke for myself and his Coke, then walk back to the counter. Taking a seat on one of the stools, he comes to sit next to me.
“How’s working going?” he asks, passing me a fork wrapped in plastic. I almost laugh out loud; we were just making out, and now we’re sitting down to eat together and talking like nothing happened. Is this normal? I’ve never done it before, so maybe.
“Good, just going through e-mails and making calls. You?”
“Alright, I’m just focusing on getting Billie’s car ready and hoping it will motivate her to get her license.”
“Does she want to drive?” I know I did, but I also know that Harmony was not even a little interested in getting her license. She was all too happy to have Mom or Dad drive her everywhere.
“Yeah, and she took the written and passed it with flying colors, but it’s taking her some time to work up the courage to take the road test.”
“I remember how nerve-wracking that is.”
“I think a couple of her friends psyched her out when they took the test and failed, and she’s worried that’s gonna happen to her.”
“The good thing is you can always retake it,” I tell him between bites of food. Seriously, it’s so good I have to stop myself from wiggling in my seat.
“That’s what I told her.”
“What kind of car did you get her?”
“It’s her mom’s old Toyota. I know some parents are cool with getting their kids a new car, but I’ve had way too many parents come into the shop after their kids total their first car that was way too expensive for a teenager in the first place.”
“My first car was a hand-me-down, and it passed through both of my sisters before it was given to me. I loved that car, and honestly, I was just happy that I didn’t need to depend on my parents to drive me around.”
“I’m sure she’ll feel the same, she’s not a kid that is big into labels or name brands, which I’m thankful for since I can barely afford the face products she asks me to buy.”
“Girls are a different breed, even Zuri is starting to get into that stuff, and she’s only ten. I can just imagine how expensive she’s going to be in a few years.”
We share a smile.
God, this feels good, normal, and… My phone starts to ring, cutting off my thoughts. I look down at it on the counter between us and see that it’s coming from a correctional facility in Colorado, which means it’s Sharon. Like someone took a needle and pressed it against my skin, I instantly deflate like a balloon. I don’t want to answer, but she hasn’t called in a while, so I don’t feel like I have a choice but to slide my finger across the screen and put the phone to my ear.
“Hello, this is a call from…” An automated voice comes on, then it goes to Sharon’s voice. “Sharon Herbert, an inmate from the Colorado correctional facility, would you like to accept?”
“Yes,” I say as I feel Logan stare at me.
“Nalia,” Sharon greets.
“Hey, Sharon, how’s it going?”
“I’m still locked up, so how do you think it’s going?” she asks, sounding tired and angry, not a great combination.
“I’m sorry,” I say out of instinct.
“Yeah, well, if I could afford a new lawyer, I might be able to get out of here.” I don’t reply to that. First, I don’t think that any lawyer would be able to get her out, and second, it’s no one’s fault but her own that she’s in there in the first place. It’s not like she didn’t know the consequences of selling drugs. “Where’s Zuri?”
“It’s Monday, she’s at school.”
“Oh,” she mutters. “I’ve been e-mailing her, and I haven’t heard back for over a week now.”
“I’m sure it’s not on purpose, she’s been busy with school and started socc…”
“I would like to hear from my daughter.” She cuts me off. “I know that I allowed you custody, but she’s still my kid.”
“I know.” I feel sick, physically sick. I set down the piece of pita I’m holding and wipe my fingers on my napkin. I don’t look over at Logan, but I feel him get closer. “I promise she’s doing amazing; she loves her school and really likes soccer.”
“Yeah? And let me guess, she also loves your family and Tennessee.” I press my lips together. “I’m starting to have second thoughts about our arrangement, Nalia.”
“What?” My stomach sinks, and Logan tenses.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have allowed you custody, maybe I should have just let CPS take her, that way I could know that she’s okay.”
“You know she’s okay, she’s happy and doing great,” I whisper.
“How do I know? You haven’t told me anything.”
“I just did, and you can call or e-mail me anytime and ask.” I want to remind her that the last time she called, she asked me to get money together for a lawyer, and when I told her I couldn’t do that, she got angry and hung up without really even saying goodbye. And if I recall correctly, during that call, she didn’t even ask about Zuri; she was only worried about herself. I don’t remind her of any of that because this call is already going horribly.