“Because I plan to use their life lessons against them.” She splayed her hands across the photos. “I’m going to teach all of them—including our fathers—Mama’s lesson: actions carry consequences.”
Karma might be a bitch, but it had nothing on Mia. This summer was going to be interesting.
***
Green: I know it’s the holidays, but are you available?
Data: I’m always available for you.
As soon as she hit send, she cringed.
Green: Interesting. I hadn’t realized we’d arrived at that point in our relationship.
Data: I’m available for WORK. You know what I meant.
Green: Hmm… I think it might’ve been a Freudian slip.
Data: And I think your ego is too big. What kind of job?
Green: I’ll send you photos. I need you to dig up some dirt.
Data: Oooo… Blackmail. Intriguing.
Green: I said nothing about blackmail.
Data: It was in the subtext. I read between the lines.
Green: It’s all right for you to read between the lines but I’m not allowed?
Data: Glad we’re clear. :)
She waited for the link to pop up and scanned the information he sent.
Data: What’s your timeline?
Green: Soon. But given the holidays, I can wait the week.
Data: Got it. I’ll let you know when I have info.
Audrey closed her laptop with a smile. Things usually quieted down for her over the holidays. She was grateful to have anything pop up, and the fact that Mr. Green had a job was all the better. The man always paid well, and at this point, she needed every penny she could get. After shoving her computer in her bag, she bundled up against the cold for her walk to the bus stop.
Before leaving the apartment, she glanced at her bedroom door. She’d been living here with Misty for almost three months, but over the last couple of weeks, she’d had the feeling that her room wasn’t secure. Misty said she hadn’t stepped foot in the room since Audrey moved in, but her roommate often had guests. The sleazy kind she brought home from her job at the strip club.
Her equipment was all she had of value and most of Misty’s “dates” wouldn’t have a clue what to do with any of it; she just didn’t want creepy guys touching her stuff, so until she came up with a better lock, she carried her laptop with her. She patted her pocket to double-check that her present for Gram was still there. This was their first Christmas apart. Not really apart, but not living together. Three months ago she’d made the painful decision to sell everything she had and pour every penny into getting Gram the care she needed.
Audrey couldn’t take care of her anymore.
The assisted living facility cost more than Audrey made, but Gram deserved the best care possible. So here she was on Christmas Eve trekking on the bus in twenty-degree weather to share Christmas with Gram. The dark sky made it feel closer to midnight than dinnertime.
Horizons looked like any other residence on the outside. Kind of stately but bland. Inside, they at least put in some effort to be festive. They had a Christmas tree in the corner of the lobby as well as a menorah on the reception desk. Audrey signed in without chatting with the receptionist and went straight to Gram’s room.
Room. That was funny. Gram actually had more of an apartment than she did. Gram’s place had a small kitchen as well as a living room—bedroom combo. Gram answered the door.
“Audrey? What are you doing here?”
“Hi, Gram. How are you? I thought we’d spend Christmas Eve together like we do every year.”
“I don’t know that I’m done being mad at you for sticking me here,” Gram said as she walked away from the door.