Without D.J.
“Rae!”
I opened my bedroom door. “Yeah, Mom?”
“I’m off to my therapy session. I should be back in a couple of hours. I was thinking of picking up lunch for us.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m graduation dress shopping with Allison today. I’ll see you for dinner!”
“Sounds good.”
“Love you! Have a good time at therapy!”
I heard Mom snickering as she walked out the door. That was another new thing, too. Because of our income status, she qualified for free therapy lessons through the hospital that had treated her. So, twice a week, she was scheduled to go in and talk with someone to help her sift through these issues she clearly still struggled with. I was so proud of her for finally pulling away from all the abusive nonsense and getting her happiness back and starting down a path to find her way in life.
Though another decision would be coming soon. Because eventually, she’d have to get a job.
That’s when the real test would come.
Don’t think about that now. Focus on the present.
I smiled as I slipped out of the dress. It still needed to be hemmed, since Cecilia was a good four inches taller than me. But I had the money to get that done now. Most of the money from selling off that jewelry was stashed in a savings account. But I’d kept a little bit of the money in my own checking account. You know, to have it there in case Mom and I needed something.
Or if I really did need to move in with Allison until graduation.
I got dressed into some jeans and a T-shirt. Then I peeked at the back of my closet. That luggage was still piled up, still half-full of things I knew I’d never use. I did grab a pair of the sunglasses, though. The one pair I did like. They were black, swirled with brown. And the frames were large. They almost covered my face. They were muted, not like the sparkling ones that twinkled at me every time I opened the small suitcase.
These I’d keep for myself.
I gathered my things then headed out the door. Allison had convinced her parents to let her borrow the van for today. So off we went. She pulled into my driveway just as I locked the door behind me. I was excited to go dress shopping with her. I rushed to the van and hopped in, with her exclaiming over my sunglasses.
“Oh, my gosh. Where in the world did you get those?”
I pulled a sparkling pair out of my purse. “Want a pair?”
She gasped. “Rae. Do you have any idea what kind of sunglasses these are?”
I shrugged. “No clue. But I know they’re expensive. So treat them with care.”
“Wait, are you giving these to me? Where on earth did you get them?”
“Oh, do I have some shit to fill you in on.”
“Okay, okay. Hold on. Let me get us out to the main road first.”
She slipped on the sunglasses and giggled like a little girl. I clapped my hands as I laughed, watching the way she enjoyed them. I had a pair set aside for Clint, too. Sunglasses that could easily pass for a men’s pair. All black. A beautiful matte black. With sharp edges and a red streak going down either side of the arms.
I couldn't wait to give them to him Monday at school.
Allison pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the opening of the neighborhood. She drove like an old woman, though. Five under the speed limit, no matter what. I grinned as we made our way onto the main road, getting ourselves into traffic that made Allison white-knuckle the damn steering wheel.
I held off on my storytelling until we got to the mall. But the second she eased into a parking space and turned off the van, I whipped my head around to hers.
“So, last week after I got off work, I went to go check on Clint. You know, his first day back?”
Allison turned to face me. “Yeah? I mean, I take it he was fine. He’s been back at school all week.”
I nodded. “Yep. He was just fine. Apparently, Cecilia’s leaving his father.”