Chapter 19
Mazzie
I was standing in the en suite of my room at the Armstrong mansion. Fancy fixtures, pristine glass shower, tile that appeared to come from Italy, and fluffy towels I couldn’t afford. Maybe that would change one day when I was a doctor like Dr. Armstrong.
I leaned in closer to the lighted mirror and touched up my mascara then dusted translucent powder over my cheeks.
After twisting my long black locks up into a messy bun, I examined myself one last time before I went downstairs.
My eyes were bluer today than green since I was wearing a baby-blue tank top.
No signs of the dark circles I’d had up until recently.
I crossed the expansive bathroom and into the bedroom that was straight out of Better Homes & Gardens.
Tufted headboard, white linens, coordinated window treatments surrounded by blue-gray walls, and the sun’s rays streaming in through the sheer curtains, giving the room a golden lighting that made everything look more expensive.
The design definitely contrasted with my bedroom at the rental house where Mom, Kaylee, and I lived.
Here, I felt like a princess and not a pauper.
My phone rang as I was slipping on my sandals. I snatched my cell from the glass-top nightstand. The caller ID announced Brent Furlong.
“Hello, this is Mazzie.” I crossed the plush carpeted floor to the window.
“Ms. Meyers, this is Brent Furlong. I’m your mother’s court-appointed attorney. Your mom gave me your number. Do you have a minute?”
“Yes, sir.”
Resting my hip against the wingback chair, I watched my sister jump off the diving board and into the Olympic-sized pool. I took comfort in knowing that Kaylee didn’t suffer the same sensitivity to chlorine as I did.
“Good.” His voice came across warm and kind.
“I’m working on the details of your mom’s plea deal.
But first let me go over what she’s up against. Since this is her first DWI offense, it’s classified as a misdemeanor, which carries penalties up to a year in prison, fines that could be as high as four thousand dollars, and license suspension.
I can probably talk the judge down to time served.
However, it is a DWI, and the judge on the case does not give any quarter with DWIs. ”
“And my sister?” I asked before he could continue.
“That’s where your mom’s case might take a downturn. Child endangerment is a felony. Considering Kaylee wasn’t harmed, the penalty could be up to two years in state jail. But before I go on, was CPS at the hospital the night of the accident?”
“No, sir. Officer Morrical said he would try to hold off on CPS. Why? Is that a problem?”
“Not entirely,” he said. “The officer should’ve alerted CPS to assess the child’s welfare at the hospital. But that’s not your concern. The good news is Kaylee is with family and friends, and that will help the case.”
I sat down in the chair. “What’s the plea deal?”
He clucked his tongue. “Yes. What I’ll propose is time served for the DWI and six months for child endangerment.
I can’t promise anything here. However, to be proactive, I would like to secure guardianship for Kaylee before I go to the DA and the judge.
I understand both of you are staying with Richard and Catherine Armstrong. ”
“That’s correct.”
“Would they agree to be Kaylee’s guardian, presumably until further notice?
Showing the judge Kaylee is in a good home with a well-established family will keep CPS from intervening.
They might still want to see the home environment, but that shouldn’t be a problem.
I know that Dr. Armstrong is the chief of surgery at Lakemont General. ”
I captured a fingernail between my teeth.
“I can talk to Mrs. Armstrong.” I thought about asking if I could be my sister’s guardian, but I knew I wasn’t financially secure enough to take that on.
As much as I would like to take over Kaylee’s guardianship, though, I wanted to stay the course with my studies. “What would the Armstrongs need to do?”
A dinging sound filtered through the line. “I’ll have papers drawn up outlining the guardianship. Once I have those in place, I can take everything to the powers that be. Any questions for me?”
“Between both charges, what’s the maximum jail time?”
“Worse case: Three years.”
I lost my breath. I wasn’t sure my mother would last that long in jail. “And the fine?”
“As I mentioned, up to four thousand.”
I’d planned on getting my car out of impound, which should be about two hundred dollars, but was my car drivable? If not, then that would be more money. Plus, I still had to pay the rent on the house.
“Thank you, Mr. Furlong. I really appreciate you going to bat for my mom.”
“You’re welcome. Talk to the Armstrongs, and if they agree, have either of them call me.”
No sooner had the call ended than a knock sounded on the bedroom door. “Mazzie.” Mrs. Armstrong’s soft voice came through before she entered. She took one look at me and asked, “What’s wrong?”
I must have shock written all over me. “I just talked to my mom’s lawyer. She could get up to three years in jail.”
She glided over to me, wearing expensive clothes that screamed high society—a soft-yellow ankle-length skirt beneath a white off-the-shoulder top with cream-colored leather flats, and diamond earrings to match the three karats on her wedding finger.
“I’m so sorry.” She sat on the edge of the bed, her green eyes swimming with concern.
“You know you and Kaylee have a home here for as long as necessary.”
I slumped in the chair. “Thank you. But…” How do I ask her to foster Kaylee?
“Talk to me,” she said.
“Mr. Furlong asked if you and Dr. Armstrong would be willing to be Kaylee’s guardian for at least a year.”
“Of course,” she said without hesitation.
I jumped off the chair and threw myself at Bailey’s mom, blubbering against her white top.
She rubbed my back. “Oh, honey. I hate that you have the world on your shoulders. I’m here to help.”
I straightened, dashing tears from my face. “Thank you so much. But I want to earn my keep around here or at least pay for food.”
Standing, she flicked her dainty fingers through my hair. “Nonsense. I will not accept any of that. What I would like you to do is go downstairs and let that hunk of a football player take you to dinner.”
I laughed through tears. “Lucas is here? He’s early. But we’re not going to dinner. He’s taking me over to my mom’s house. I need to grab things and figure out the bills.”
She gave me a warm smile. “What do I need to do for Mr. Furlong?”
I filled her in on the entire conversation I’d had with him.
After I finished, she said, “Send me his info. I’ll call him. From here, you let me worry about the rest.”
I hugged her tightly, squeezing the life out of her. “You’re an angel, Mrs. Armstrong.”
“Don’t make me cry. Now, freshen up, and go have a good time with Lucas.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Relief flooded through my veins. “I want to give Kaylee the good news before I leave, if you’re sure.” I needed a second confirmation despite how resolute Mrs. Armstrong had been. After all, it was a big ask.
“Darlin’, I have no reservations about fostering Kaylee. I absolutely adore her as if she were my own child. As I do you. I don’t want you to bring this up again.” Her motherly tone put me in my place. “And, Mazzie, call me Catherine, please.”
“Okay,” I said as she walked out.
I was over the moon that CPS would no longer be a concern and that Kaylee would be able to be a kid and thrive with people I trusted rather than strangers.
One problem off my plate. But it was the most important one that I’d been losing sleep over.
I had no control over what the judge would rule in my mom’s case, although I felt at fault that I hadn’t had my phone beside me the night of the accident.
If I hadn’t been in the throes of sex, my mom might not be in jail.
You can’t blame yourself. And you can’t change what happened.
I shoved down my guilt, freshened up, and made my way downstairs. I found my sister in dry clothes, sucking on a lollipop and sitting on the sofa in the elegant living room, chatting up Lucas about football.
Warmth spread through my chest that she adored him and that he seemed to feel the same way about her. After the homecoming game, which had been four days ago, she’d been studying up on football.
Lucas rose like the gentleman he was and hiked his gaze up and down my body.
Goose bumps blanketed me, and I felt like a queen in his presence.
He kissed me quickly on the lips then whispered in my ear. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.” He wore jeans that hugged his strong thighs and a white golf shirt that showed off his trinity tattoo. His blond locks were perfectly messy. “Do you mind if I talk to Kaylee before we go?”
“I’ll be in my truck. I need to make a call anyway. Kaylee, next time we can talk about the rules of the game.”
Kaylee pulled the lollipop out of her mouth. “Hey, Lucas, please don’t hurt my sister.”
He slapped a hand over his heart. “I would never.”
“Good. Because if you do, I’ll have to hurt you.” She sealed her threat, shaking her lollipop at him.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Lucas assured her.
Like me, Kaylee despised the men who hadn’t treated my mother properly. I hated that she was learning the dark side of life at her age, but on the other hand, she was growing a thick skin, and the way the world was, she needed to be prepared.
As Lucas strode out of the room, I sat down next to Kaylee. “Lucas is taking me over to the house. I’ll pick up the rest of your things because… What if Mrs. Armstrong fostered you until Mom’s case is resolved?”
She reared back. “For real? You mean I can stay here?”
Her happiness instantly hit me. “Mrs. Armstrong has agreed to sign the papers with Mom’s lawyer to be your guardian for the time being.”
She squealed then frowned. “But what about Mom? Does she have to stay in jail?”
I kissed her head. “I don’t know, lil’ sis. I want Mom to be okay. But it’s up to a judge what happens to her.”
“I miss her, Mazzie. But I don’t miss the nights she drowns her sorrows in booze. I wish she would be the mom we both want.”
“Me too. But here’s the deal. Mrs. Armstrong is going to be in charge of you. I am, too, but you need to obey her.”
Kaylee wasn’t a wild kid or a rebel. She minded her manners.
Still, I had to set the tone. “If she gives you chores, do them. Follow her orders. We are both guests here, no matter what. But I start my new job in a couple of days, so I’ll be working most weekends again.”
“And hanging out with Lucas.” She giggled. “He really is good for you, Mazzie. I love seeing you happy.”
“Can I tell you a secret? I’m a little scared.”
“He’s not like Mom’s guys. So don’t put him in that bad man category.”
I gave her a big sisterly hug. “I love you so stinking much, and you’re going to make me cry.”
“I love you too. You shouldn’t keep the hottie waiting, though.”
I giggled and kissed her. “I’ll see you later.”
My heart was full that my sister would be taken care of and I didn’t have to worry so much about her.
As I walked out of the house, Lucas was standing by the passenger door of his truck. “Your chariot awaits.” His grin was blinding.
Each step I took felt like I was walking out of the darkness and into the light.
I wished upon a star that my sister was right that Lucas wasn’t like all the men who’d shaped our view of the opposite sex.