Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Next Morning
Grabbing my robe, I throw it around me and go in search of coffee. Feet stomping down the stairs causes me to stop and look up. Paige is coming down with her phone in hand, not paying any attention. Sensing me, she finally picks her head up. “Hey, Mom, Layla’s brother just got home from college and their family is having a BBQ. Can I go?”
“Uh…you’re grounded—and you and Layla can’t be alone together.” I pull my robe tighter.
She rolls her eyes.
“Oh my God, please! I’m so bored!” Her right foot does a light stomp. “Her parents are going to be there.”
Biting my bottom lip, I stare at her, thinking. It has been really rough around here lately, and her getting out would be good for her, but Layla is a kid on the road to self-destruction and Paige is riding shotgun. And I can’t let that happen.
“I need to talk to Layla’s mother and make sure she’s okay with babysitting you.”
Paige texts Layla, asking for her mother’s number and reads it off to me.
“No, I want to meet her, Paige,” I clarify and she snaps her head up with a pale color taking over her glowing face.
“Mom, no.” Her voice is soft and filled with embarrassment.
“Yes, I haven’t met her and would like to.” I turn around to get dressed, leaving Paige staring at me with a gaping mouth.
Dressing in a simple shirt and shorts, I walk over to their house with Paige in tow.
Pointing at her, I say, “I swear Paige if you do anything stupid!”
“I won’t!” She groans.
Their front yard is bare of any character or personality, a sun-faded basketball lying next to a small tree that has no leaves.
Stepping up to their house, it’s quiet, no sounds of kids playing or the TV blaring. The smell of bacon still fills the air from what I can only guess was for breakfast. Knocking, I step back and cross my arms. I glance over at Paige, who purses her lips, not thrilled with me coming over.
The door swings open and there she is, Melanie Grady. She’s wearing a loose shirt and sweatpants, her dark hair pulled into a messy ponytail. Despite her lazy attire, she’s pretty, her face clear of any blemishes, her eyes wide and beautiful.
“Hello?” She acts as if she doesn’t know me, which I find odd, seeing as how the whole block is always peeking out of their blinds. Maybe she’s just putting on a front and acting like she hasn’t seen me walking around because it would come off creepy.
“Hi, I’m Rain, Paige’s mom.” Smiling, I look to my daughter and then back to her.
“Oh, hello!” Her face brightens, a smile that hits her eyes. She goes quiet, which I find slightly awkward. I can tell she’s not used to talking to people or entertaining guests.
“Paige said something about a BBQ?” I press for her to talk to me.
“Oh yes, we would love to have her!” She nods, crossing her arms, not saying anything else.
“Just make sure to keep an eye on her, she can be trouble sometimes.” I laugh, trying to imply I’m joking, but I’m not.
“If she’s anything like our Layla, I bet, but she’ll be in good hands.” She tucks a stray hair from her face behind her ear, and shifts her weight onto her left leg, clearing a space for me to see into the house. It’s a mess with toys, juice boxes and furniture covered in kid blankets.
“Perfect,” I reply. Hopefully my threat to Paige will keep her ass in check, because I’m not sure Melanie can handle her rogue moments.
“Come dear, the twins are almost up from their nap.” She waves Paige inside, and I get the feeling she’s ready to end this conversation. This is way more socializing than she’s used to if Tenly is right about Melanie never leaving her house.
“Alright, have fun!”
Going back home, I rub the sleep from my eyes, remembering I haven’t had my coffee yet. Inside, I find Heston standing in the kitchen. I thought he was long gone for work; I didn’t even notice his truck.
“Are we really going to let her go over there?” he asks, without looking up. Something bitter inside me wants to say, “We? You mean, am I? She’s my daughter,” but I don’t.
“I know it’s probably not the smartest thing, but she’ll be with Layla’s parents, how much trouble can they get in?” I’m just trying to pick my battles with her at this point. All the fighting and anger is exhausting.
“Has Cam followed up with his detective work to figure out who I am?” The sarcasm is clear in his voice.
“Not today,” I mutter. “Last I heard, he was talking to one of his cop buddies about looking you up.” Cam is serious about finding skeletons in Heston’s closet, but luckily, he’s found none so far.