“I was following you. Well, I was waiting outside of the Miller’s house hoping to apologize and then you guys skidded, and I waited to see if you needed help, but then I felt weird for following you. Then I saw you running with a terrified look on your face and when you didn’t come back out of the church, I was worried. I came looking for you once Mr. Miller left with Father Wright. Are you okay, did he do something to you?”
“No, I’m fine. Can you just drive me home? Please Becks, I just want to forget this whole weekend. I need none of it to have happened. Please?!” I beg and plead with him to just let it all go.
“If that’s what you want, Katie. Come on.”
Becks drives me the short distance home. He wanted to come in and sit with me, but I can’t be around anyone right now. He said he understood but made me promise to call, or text him later, so that he knows I am okay.
I feel bad about blowing him off, and I know he shouldn’t be driving in this nasty snow, but I am selfish. Flopping down in my mom’s favorite chair by the window, I shiver. This house is even colder than normal with the power out. I think I am still in shock about Mr. Miller acting the way he did. I never expected him to look at me in that way. He has been my dentist for the past four years or so. I thought he hired me to watch Chase because he thought I was a good kid. I can remember him saying that to his wife the first time they let me watch Chase.
Trying not to feel sorry for myself, I get up and start looking for matches. My mother keeps plenty of candles throughout the house. After finding some in the kitchen, I light a few candles and grab a blanket. Wrapping the quilt around myself, right now I am wishing I hadn’t returned that ugly Snuggie Deloris bought me for my Christmas present. It would be perfect right now. Shoot, I should probably check on her. She is old and alone.
I throw the quilt down in the chair and slip my boots back on. When I get to my gate, I notice Becks is still sitting out here in his car. I tap on his window. “Go home, Becks.”
“Just wanted to make sure you are okay. I thought Mr. Miller might show up.” His teeth are chattering.
“I told you nothing happened. I was just freaked out by the storm and the car skidding. I was running to get out of the cold.”
“Then why were you hiding in the confessional?”
“Let it go, Becks and go home. I’m going to go check on Mrs. Jennings. I’ll text you tomorrow. Okay?” He reluctantly concedes and slowly drives away.
After seeing that my neighbor is okay, I go home and read by candlelight until I fall asleep. Happy Fecking Valentine’s Day.
Chapter 7
The humming of the baseboard heater in the living room is thrumming in my ear. The smell of bacon wafting through my nostrils wakes me from my sleep. I twist and crack my back, feeling stiff from sleeping in the chair. Still half asleep, I wander into the kitchen to see my mother cooking. She never cooks at home. She says she has to see food enough at the diner, she doesn’t want to look at it at home too. She must have had a great date last night. She never buys bacon either. She says it is too expensive.
“This was on the porch for you this morning.” My mom reaches a manila envelope to me from the top of the refrigerator. “Breakfast will be ready in about twenty minutes. I was waiting to wake you. You just looked so cute curled up in my chair. Reminded me of when you were three, you loved sleeping in my chair.” My mom is being all nostalgic and overly sweet, it’s creepy.
“Um thanks,” I mumble, taking the envelope and going to my room to open it.
I lay across my bed on my stomach as I open the envelope, spilling its contents onto my bedspread. Holy shit! There is five-hundred dollars inside. I unfold the letter.
Katie,
My deepest apologies. I am truly sorry for last night. Enclosed is what we would have paid you for the rest of the school year for watching Chase. I know things at home aren’t easy for you. Should you change your mind, please call me at this number 555-2445. It is my private emergency line for patients. I want to see you succeed.
J
> I think I am going to be sick. I feel cheap. How does my mother take money from men like him and still have a smile on her face? The only good thing about the money is at least I don’t have to worry about money for a while. I have been wanting to save up for a car or a ticket out of here. This makes a great start. As happy as I am about the one good thing, my shitty weekend continues. My mother is back to smothering me, wanting to spend the day together since we are snowed in. She wants us to give each other mani-pedis, as we used to. My day only gets worse from there.
Once my cell phone has charged, I have twenty missed calls and text messages from Penny.I call her immediately without checking her messages. Something must have happened last night with Aaron. Either they went all the way, or she has realized what a jerk he is.
She sends my call direct to voicemail. I hang up and call her back. What’s her problem? After two tries, she picks up. “Don’t ever call me again. You are a whore just like your no good mother. I hate you, Katie,” She screams in my ear before hanging up on me.
I hold my phone out as tears sting my eyes. What did she mean I am a whore just like my mother?
I scroll through the messages she sent me last night.
Penny: Did you screw my boyfriend. Did you fuck Aaron?!
Penny: I hate you, Katie! I can’t believe you fucked my boyfriend.
Penny: My mom was right. You are just like your mother. Nothing but whores.
Penny: I actually felt sorry for you all these years, but you just wanted what I had. You always wanted my life, you and your whore mother. I know all about the two of you. Becks told me about you and a married man. Aaron wasn’t good enough, so you went after an older man with a family too, you are nasty.
The messages continue with her calling me a whore. Why didn’t I ever tell her the truth about Aaron? I don’t know what to say to her. If I say no, that makes me a liar. If I say yes, I lose my best friend. Why is she saying this and what did Becks say to her about Mr. Miller? And what in the hell does she know about my mom? I feel sick. The room is spinning.