Chapter Eighty-Two
Emily
As I pass bags of clothes, hygiene items, and accessories to Bella and Ruby, who’s holding Squirt under her arm while jostling the other items in her free hand, I wave at Mira, who’s driving toward us.
Mira rolls down her window. “Em….” She smiles and clutches her chest with her free hand as the faint hint of exhaust tickles the air. “Thank God you’re okay.”
“Thank you.” I glance at the seat behind mine, finding Grace slowly blinking her eyes open and closed. “I’m coming, baby.”
I slam the door shut and rush around to the driver’s side, where Grace is tucked securely in her baby carrier. The baby carrier that kept her safe during this morning’s ordeal. It seems like another lifetime, or someone else’s lifetime at this point.
Mira shifts her attention to Bella and Ruby as we approach her vehicle. “Hey, girls. Bella, are you and Dom coming over tonight?”
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
“Good.”
Josephine opens her front door, causing the hinges to squeak while bouncing Steven on her hip. “I’d come outside, but Steven just got out of the bath.”
“Em.” Steven grins at us and waves with his entire body as he squirms against Josephine like he’s going to fly to us.
“Steven, they’ll be inside in a minute.” Josephine nods to Mira as Steven’s bottom lip pokes out.
Mira shakes her head. “I’m so glad Jake arrested that jerk.
I remember him from back in school. He was always a jerk to the kids in the lunch line.
There’s a lot you can tell from watching kids getting their trays.
Who the friend groups include. Who dislikes who.
Who’s sneaking around their girlfriend or boyfriend’s back with someone else.
Who’s a drama queen.” Her jaw clenches. “Who the assholes are.”
Mira worked in the cafeteria at school for as long as I can remember. She was always kind to everyone. Even the jerks.
“Don’t get yourself worked up.” Bella joins me beside Mira’s car. “Dom will have my butt if you get upset, and I don’t talk you off the ledge.”
“You’re right, Dear.” She relaxes her shoulders and grabs Bella’s hand. “I don’t know what I’d do without my boys. And now, you.”
I retrieve Grace from the car seat and snuggle her to my chest. I understand that sentiment entirely.
“Ruby, what do you have under your arm?” Josephine asks from the top step.
“Goodies for Mackenzie.” She grins at Josphine. Squirt is sporting a red shirt with the phrase, I Love Bacon, on the back. There’s a string tied around his neck and waist to keep the makeshift garment in place.
“I’m assuming you mean what’s in the bags, and that you aren’t gifting her a pig.”
“I’d never give Squirt away.” Ruby laughs as she scratches the pig’s head.
I kiss the top of Grace’s head, inhaling the faint scent of baby shampoo that remains from this morning’s bath. It’s barely there after all the chaos of the day, but just that tiny whiff is enough to settle my nerves a little.
“I probably stop holding you guys up.” Mira tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and focuses her attention on Bella. “Be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on.”
“What’re you guys working on?” I shift Grace higher in my arms to ease the tension in my upper arms.
“With everything going on, I forgot to tell you, Mira is going to manage Chloe’s Bakery here in town. Jolie’s old place.”
“I saw you there the other day.” I can’t imagine Mira not being at the school, but I’m happy for her. She deserves to do something that excites her more than cardboard-tasting pizza and cold macaroni. “That’s exciting. Do you need help? Jake and I can–”
“Don’t even think about it,” Ruby and Bella say in unison.
Right. Grace and I were held hostage this morning. But it’s so hard to shift off the automatic tug to help everyone out.
We chat for several more minutes as other neighbors pass by, stop, join in the conversation, and eventually, we’re left alone.
“Let’s get this stuff to Mackenzie.” Ruby turns on her heel, and together we climb the front steps.
Josephine stands in front of the door with her foot wedged against the bottom edge. “No pig.”
“Mama.” Steven braces his chubby hand on his hips. “That not nice.”
“Pigs aren’t potty trained,” Josephin says with her foot still braced against the door.
Ruby’s eyes narrow. “Squirt is part of the family. I promise if he makes a mess, I’ll clean it up.”
“This is ridiculous,” she huffs while opening the door and stepping out of the way. “Put him in the kitchen so Steven can play with him.”
“Yes!” Steven slides to the floor and raises his hands toward Ruby. “I take.”
“Now, be careful.” Ruby hands off the pig to him. “He’s still little.”
Before anyone else can say anything, he’s running through the house, giggling and talking to Squirt like he understands everything he’s saying.
“If this leads to me having to purchase a potbellied pig–”
“I’ll tell you how to raise one.” Ruby breezes past us all. “Tell me the way to Mackenzie’s room.”
“Arg,” Josephine growls under her breath, but no one stays mad at Ruby long. “Down the hall, second door. She’s just sitting on the bed, staring at the wall.”
“Can you watch Grace?” I ask Josephine. If it were any other day, I’d have taken Grace to my mother’s house, but I can’t stand the thought of being away from her. At the same time, I don’t want to cause Mackenzie any more pain.
“Of course.” Josephine grabs her from me as if she’s afraid I’m going to change my mind. “I’ve wanted to get my hands on this little girl since you stopped in front of the house.”
“We’ve got this.” Ruby marches down the hallway without looking to see if we’re following as Josephine retreats to the kitchen to keep an eye on Steven and Squirt.
This was my idea, but I don’t mind Ruby taking over. The last thing I want is for Mackenzie to feel like I’m bribing her to keep Grace. She’s been adamant that she wants Grace to be raised by someone else because her life is a wreck, and I believe her.
But I want so much more for her than a life of abuse, terror, and desperation. And if bringing some treats to Mackenzie helps her in any way, I want to do that for her.
Ruby gives one quick wrap of her knuckles on the door and swings it open. “We’re here.”
“What?” Mackenzie stares at us from the middle of the bed with an open mouth. She’s changed into a pair of oversized white sweats and sits cross-legged in the middle of the blue comforter, around her are an assortment of brochures and pamphlets.
“We come bearing gifts.” Bella pushes her way into the room, depositing three white bags on the bed while shoving papers out of the way. “I’m sure this is important stuff, but we have something even more essential.”
“Clothes and markup.” Ruby winks and tosses her bags down to join the ones Bella dropped with a flourish.
“I can’t – “
“Mackenzie.” I step around my friends. “We talked about this at the office.”
After I followed Iris and Mackenzie to the Children’s Division office, my girlfriends showed up.
First, to ensure Grace and I were safe. Then, to praise Mackenzie for saving our lives.
She blew them off, but that will never deter my friends.
They’re mini wrecking balls. Or a Jack Russell Terrier chasing a ball.
“Yes, and I said no.” Mackenzie scrambles off the bed, backing away from the gifts.
“Stop.” Ruby raises her hand to pantomime what she said. “It’s our civic duty as Brookhaven residents to collect necessary items for any and all neighbors in need.”
Bella’s eyes flash as she rests her hands on her hips. “And you need nothing from that house. Unless that something holds sentimental value, and right now, the police have the house barricaded, so you can’t get anything out anyway.”
“And you need clothes that fit. What are you, a size 4?”
“Yes.” Her nose wrinkles. “I think.”
“You think?” Ruby clutches her chest in mock horror. Even though the horror isn’t mock. Ruby and Bella are under no illusion that Chad treated Mackenzie with anything but revulsion and contempt. The fact that she doesn’t know what size she wears isn’t a surprise.
“I’m not sure.” She arches an eyebrow before glancing at the bags. Her body nearly sways toward the bed as some of her resolve wavers.
“Then, let’s do this.” I march over to the dresser and switch on the stereo, spinning the knob until it brings in a local rock station. “It’s time for makeup and a makeover.”