Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
He had a family. A real family that was just his own.
I had nothing close to that, and I might’ve felt a little pang of jealousy.
Yeah, it surprised the hell out of me, too.
I didn’t like it. I should’ve been happy for Skid. He deserved to be happy, but it seemed like another reminder of what I didn’t have and possibly never would.
Damn. My long night was about to turn into an even longer day.
10
PRESLEY
“Ineed Nana’s ring.”
“Why?”
“I need to sell it.”
Concern marked Mom’s face as she asked, “What in the world are you talking about?”
I walked over and sat down on the sofa, and Mom was quick to follow. I glanced around the living room, and it looked just like it did when I lived there. Same pictures. Same sofa. Even the same lamps.
The house was in the center of a good neighborhood where you didn’t feel the need to always lock the doors. Kids rode their bikes day and night, and people always stopped to chat anytime they were out walking. Even though I hadn’t lived there in years, it still felt like home.
But sadly, it gave me little comfort as I explained, “Lila Kate ran into some trouble and…”
“What are you talking about? What kind of trouble?” she gasped. “Is she okay? Is she hurt?”
“No, Mom. She’s fine. It’s not like that.” I grimaced. “At least, not yet.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means your daughter made some really bad decisions, and because she found herself in the mess of a lifetime, I have to do what I can to fix it. So, I’m asking for Nana’s ring.”
“Why?”
“So, I can sell it.”
“Absolutely not,” she replied, already shaking her head, “That ring is…”
“Mine,” I cut her off. “Nana gave it to me.”
The ring had been tucked away in a little blue velvet box since the day Nana died. I’d always dreamed of wearing it as an engagement ring. I didn’t want to sell it. But I didn’t have a choice. I knew Nana would understand.
It didn’t matter how big or small the problem, my Nana had always promised to be there for me whenever I needed her and giving me that ring was her way of keeping that promise.
I placed my hand on my mother’s as I told her, “I wouldn’t ask if I had any other option.”
Dad was sitting across the room and made a noticeable shift in his chair, but he didn’t say a word. He just sat there, watching me the way he always did when something was wrong. Mom’s back stiffened as she leaned in and asked, “What the hell is going on? What did Lila Kate do?”
“I can’t get into it.” I folded my hands together, hoping she wouldn’t see them shaking as I admitted, “It’s not good. We need money and need it fast.”
“Oh, that doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s not.”
“There has to be another way.”
“I wouldn’t be here if there was.” I sounded utterly defeated as I told her, “I’ve already sold my car, my wedding ring, and anything else I could get my hands on. Lila Kate sold what she could, but it wasn’t enough.”
“You sold your car?”
“I did, but Chrissy from work is letting me borrow her mother’s van until I can afford another one.”
That did it.
Her face went pale.
“No. This is too much. You have to tell me what’s going on.”
“I would if I could, but I can’t. It’s better this way.”
“No, it’s not.” Mom held her hand up, stopping me from interrupting as she said, “This is bad. I can feel it in my bones. You have to tell me what’s going on, and you have to tell me right this instant.”
“I can’t.”
“I don’t want to hear that,” she pushed. “I’m your mother! There’s nothing you can’t tell me.”
“That’s not exactly true.” I pressed my lips together and inhaled a deep breath. “I know you’re worried, but you’re just going to have to trust me on this one and know I’m doing everything I can to help Lila Kate out of this mess.”
Silence settled between us.
I had no idea what she was thinking.
My mother was in her late fifties but looked much younger. She had light-brown hair that she refused to let go gray and usually kept it pulled back in a messy twist. And she had beautiful green eyes that always seemed to notice the cracks in other people but somehow missed the ones forming right in her own home.
She wrote for the local paper for as long as I could remember. She was always chasing the next big story and worked harder than anyone I knew. And she was a good mother. I never once doubted that, but she was driven in a way that made her miss things.
Late-night talks.
Birthdays.
Heartbreaks, big and small.
Successes and failures, unless they were her own.