Chapter Twelve
“Danny, please tell me this is fixable. And hopefully quickly and efficiently.” I’m standing in the basement of the house on Pearson Street. This blind purchase has become a money pit. A repossession that sells on auction is always a risk.
“Of course, I can fix it. But quickly is another thing.” Danny walks over to the cracks that we didn’t know about when we bought this house on a whim.
He runs his hand along one of them. A long horizontal line stretching across the wall, damp at the edges.
“This isn’t just a patch job. We’re going to have to reinforce this section before it gets any worse.
And we have to take care of the moisture problem down here too. ”
“Do what you have to do so the remodel can continue. Send me the invoices.”
“You got it, bossy lady.” Danny clicks his tongue as he points at me. That’s Danny for you. He’s always calm. It’s nice, but also frustrating.
I dial Steven’s number as I climb the stairs. Danny’s crew are working on the plumbing throughout the house. That’s how they found the water problems in the basement.
“Hey, love,” Steven answers. “I was just about to call you.” His cheerfulness radiates through the phone.
“Where are you? We have some more issues on the Pearson house.” I walk quickly to get out of the house and away from all the noise of the workers. Steven tries to speak but I can’t hear him. “Hold on a second.” I get into the car and start the ignition. The call switches over to the car speaker.
“I’m heading to see Luke. I thought about having him do the kitchen cabinets on the A-frame house. He does good work.”
“He does,” I agree, thinking back to Sam’s cabinets. “Can you meet me at the office in about an hour?”
“Yes,” Steven says. “Allie, whatever it is, we can handle it. We always do.”
“I know. See you later.” I hang up and look at Judy’s message again. She wants the girls to stay with her this weekend. I haven’t replied to her yet. The answer is a big hell no and I don’t know how to say that politely. But I have to for the sake of the girls.
I drive toward the office, not wanting to face any more disasters today.
Still, I need to get this one over with.
I press the call button on the steering wheel.
“Call Judy.” I don’t have anything planned to say.
I’m better in the moment anyway. The only thing I need to do is stay calm when she starts with those snarky comments of hers.
“Allie, so glad you found time to call,” Judy says. “I know how busy you always are.” Her sarcasm is perfectly executed.
“The girls won’t be staying the night with you, Judy. However, I will allow you to take them to dinner, or out shopping.”
Judy scoffs. “You won’t allow them to stay overnight? I have as much right to them as you do, Allie. Maybe you need reminding of that little fact.”
“No,” I say evenly. “You don’t. I’m their legal guardian.”
“You better watch your step. I’ll play nice as long as you do.”
I laugh sarcastically. “You, nice? Now that’s a good one. I’ll tell the girls to call you so you can plan a day out together.”
“How dare you—” Judy starts, but I cut her off with the click of a button. And it feels pretty damn good.
I sit a little straighter in my seat now. I needed to get that off my chest. I didn’t get to say everything I wanted to, but I think I handled it appropriately for my girls. I love the sound of that. My girls. Plus, I don’t like to be threatened. Especially by entitled people like Judy.
* * *
Danny has called me on and off for the last couple of hours to go over what is needed at the Pearson house. It’s been a total headache. I’d like to go home, pour myself a whiskey, and forget this day. But that’ll have to wait until I get the girls from school.
Steven didn’t come back to the office. I waited, but he never showed up.
All I got was a text saying he’d drop by the house later.
Clearly, he’s in lust at the moment and that takes precedence to business.
Luke’s playing hard to get, and it’s driving Steven crazy.
He’s never had to work so hard for a guy.
His looks and charm usually win over everyone. He’s met his match with Luke.
The pickup line is becoming easier to navigate. The key is to get here early. I park in front of the school, being one of the first cars to arrive. I’m starting to finally get the hang of this parenting thing. Well, for school pickup, at least.
Pulling out my phone, I cycle through my emails. One less thing to do later. I disregard anything that doesn’t need immediate attention. As I’m reading through the home inspection report for Lorrie’s house, I hear the bell ring.
Maisie’s one of the first kids out. Her face lights up when she sees me. She waves bye to one of her friends before hopping into the front seat. She tosses her backpack under her feet and buckles up.
“How was your day?” I ask, pulling out from the school.
“It was good. We got to watch a movie before we left. Guess which one?”
“Umm…” I look over at her. “Frozen?”
“No!” She giggles, knowing we’ve seen that movie so many times that I could actually quote parts of it. “Because of Winn-Dixie!”
“Oh!” I say, not expecting that. “Did you like it?”
“I loved it!” she says, excitedly.
“I’m so glad, honey.” I turn into the high school line.
Maisie’s enthusiasm fades a bit. “I just wish Mom and Dad were here to watch it with me.”
I reach over and take her little hand in mine. “Me too, baby. Me, too.”
Maisie looks at me, a smile starting to form again. “Sometimes I feel them,” she says. “Maybe they did watch it with me. Think they could have?”
“Oh, absolutely,” I say, feeling a lump in my throat. I swallow it down. “I know they’re both watching over you and Kara every minute of every day. They love you so much, baby girl.” Maisie leans her face against my arm as a smile touches her lips.
The high school line is never busy. Most of the kids drive at this point. Just shy of fifteen, Kara is close to getting her permit. I begin looking for her before parking next to the lawn where all the kids hang out after school. She isn’t anywhere to be seen.
“Do you see your sister?” I ask Maisie. She sits up, scanning the area for Kara.
“Maybe she’s still inside or forgot something.” Maisie’s hopefulness is sweet, but I have a bad feeling.
“Maybe.” I dial Kara’s cell phone before remembering I took it from her. “Shit,” I say, drawing Maisie’s attention. “Let’s hang out here for a couple of minutes, see if she comes out.”
“I’ll help watch for her.” Maisie pulls her feet up in the seat and turns to face the side window.
It’s odd that Kara isn’t waiting for us like normal.
The high school gets out about five minutes before the elementary school, but Annie would pick up Maisie first to give Kara time to socialize with her friends.
That’s why I’ve been doing it this way. Both the girls told me to do it this way as well.
Five more minutes pass and no Kara. That’s plenty of time for her to be out. “Come on, Maisie.” I motion for her to get out. “Let’s go see what’s going on.”
On our way inside, a girl around Kara’s age hollers over to Maisie and waves. Maisie waves back.
“Do you know her?” I ask.
“That’s Kara’s friend Beth. They used to cheer together.”
“Let’s go talk to her first. Maybe she knows something.” We start over toward the dark-haired girl. She’s talking to her friends. “Beth,” I call her name politely. “Could I talk to you for a moment, please?” I don’t want to embarrass Kara, but I’m worried.
Beth looks at me in confusion as she slowly walks my way. “Hi,” she says, cautiously.
“I’m Kara’s aunt. She lives with me now.” Beth seems more at ease knowing who I am. “Have you seen her since school let out?”
Beth shakes her head. “I’ve got last period study hall with her, but she wasn’t there today.”
Panic sets in. Has she even been at school today? “Did you see her before that?”
“I saw her at lunch, and in passing between classes before study hall.” Beth backs away.
“I’m sure she was in school somewhere and I didn’t see her.
” She seems to realize that maybe Kara’s going to be in trouble now.
“I’ve got to go. Sorry.” She walks toward the parking lot as a boy rushes up to her side.
He glances back at me while talking to Beth.
I take Maisie’s hand, guiding her inside the school, only to be told by the office that she’s been marked present all day, even though she can’t fully be accounted for in study hall. I’m beyond pissed. When I get back to the car, I call Sam as I drive.
“Hi there,” Sam says. I can almost hear the smile in her voice.
“Is Kara with Olivia?” I get right to the point, needing answers, because the worry won’t subside until I find her.
“No. What’s wrong?” Her tone changes immediately.
I blow out a frustrated breath. “She wasn’t at school when Maisie and I got there. She wasn’t in her last class according to a friend. She doesn’t have a phone because I took it from her. I’m on my way home now and praying she’s there.”
The phone rattles on Sam’s end like she’s moving around. “I’m putting my shoes on now. I’ll help find her.”
“Wait,” I say, pulling onto the road near our neighborhood. “I see her. Let me call you back.”
Kara’s on the sidewalk walking in the direction of the house. My anger flares. I pull ahead of her and to the side of the road, park and get out. “What the hell are you doing?” I barge toward her. “Where have you been?”
Kara stops walking to glare at me. “I had a friend drop me at the end of the road since you were late picking me up.”
“Late my ass! Come up with a better excuse next time. You don’t get to just leave school with whoever you want, whenever you want. That’s not how the world works for a fourteen-year-old.”
“Whatever,” Kara says, stomping toward the car and climbing in the back.
I get back in the car to drive the short distance home. I glance back at Kara. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“What. Ever.” Kara rolls her eyes.