by Hart, Rebel
“I’ll figure a way around that. I’ve got a friend at school whose parents have already offered to let me use their spare bedroom.”
“Oh?”
I nodded slowly. “I still don’t know if I’m going to take them up on their offer. I mean, I’d have to find a storage unit. Store all my things. Only take what’s necessary. Then, there’s still the plan of what to do after high school. It would make more sense for me to keep selling things, or finding a part-time job now, so I can get a place of my own.”
“What kind of job would you get?”
I snickered. “Hell if I know. Maybe a cashier somewhere. A sandwich maker or a barista.”
“Mmm, I don’t think I can see you in an apron and a hair cap.”
“It would definitely be a sight.”
I sipped my whiskey as night time slowly fell upon us. The beauty of the sunset faded, leaving us with cars rushing by in the distance. The glow of the city rose above our heads, muting a lot of the stars. The ones that did twinkle seemed to almost be laughing. They flashed and blinked. Flickered, as if they were waving down at me.
But suddenly, I heard a chair scraping across the cement.
I looked in front of me and saw my stepmom pulling up her chair. She sat with me, knee to knee, before digging out her cell phone. She set her wine glass down on the ground, and I couldn't help but notice the glow on her face. She looked radiant. Happier than I’d ever seen her before.
Everything about this night was refreshing.
“So I’ve been taking your advice over this past week with selling some things off.”
I paused. “Oh?”
She nodded. “Mm-hmm. I mean, I’m entitled to half of what your father owns, but—”
“Wait, wait, wait, wait. You guys don’t have a prenup?”
She shook her head. “Nope. We don’t.”
I blinked. “Are you serious?”
“Yep. Dead serious.”
“That doesn’t sound like my father at all.”
She snickered. “Like I said, the man I’ve come to see now and the man he used to be when we first got married are two incredibly different people. He didn’t want me signing a prenup. That’s how much he believed in us at the time. I don’t know if he was that generous or I was that stupid. But, given your history with your father…”
“You’re not stupid, Cecilia.”
“Well, I definitely wasn’t this strong of a woman when I first met Howard. I was his puppy. I spoke only when he spoke to me and I was more than happy to accept his expensive handouts in exchange for loyalty. It was masked as love. But I don’t think we ever really loved each other.”
“What do you think happened then?”
She shrugged. “He provided me with a life I never had. Opulence. Expensive things. Wealth. All those concepts that were bad in my childhood he gave freely, and without me even asking. To me? It was romantic. And I fell head over heels for it. But not him.”
I nodded slowly. “Why are you telling me all this?”
“I don’t know. I guess because you have a right to know. Or maybe I don’t want you thinking badly about me. Or maybe I just need to talk about it.”
“I could never think badly of you. Not after all you’ve done for me.”
She smiled. “Well, you’ve done me a great deal of good. You helped me find my voice. Find my strength with your father. And when that happened, I saw the angry side of him. The side that wanted to control me. If I stayed his little toy, he was fine. We were happy. The presents and traveling kept coming. But, in the end, I had to stay that way in order for him to love me. And that isn’t love at all.”
“No, it’s not.”
She drew in a sharp breath. “At any rate, I must’ve been so silent and airheaded in the beginning that he didn’t think I’d ever change. Or leave him. So, yeah. I’m entitled to half of what he has. I’m sure he’ll rake me over the coals to make sure I don’t get it. But all of the things he’s gifted me with are mine. That’s what Miss Nichols told me over the phone today, anyway.”
“So your car?”
“I can sell it.”
“I take it you’ve already sold the clothes you were going to donate?”
She nodded. “And the ones that didn’t sell got taken to the donation place. I want to wait until I get moved out of here to sell the car. But that’s easily sixty grand in my pocket. I still have a ton of jewelry I can sell off. Shoes I know I’ll never wear, even though I’ve kept them for now. And there are some things I insisted we have in this house that your father can’t stand.”
“Like…?”
“Some of the artwork on the walls. The decorative vases. There’s artwork in the attic that should be on display that isn’t. Even three or so of those paintings sold at auction would set me up in this city for almost a year. And that’s if I wanted to keep living as opulently as I am right now.”
My jaw dropped open. “Dad’s got shit like that in the attic? All I found was the china stored up there.”
She giggled. “That attic is expansive. That’s my next project, actually. I won’t take anything off the walls. But, in exchange for that, things that have collected dust in the attic for years are mine to sell. That’s how I’m going to frame my argument. The lawyer advised me to cut up my credit cards, too. Take dated pictures of them. It’s all about covering my ass now in court. Proving that I’m not taking him for all the money in the world.”
“And cutting up your cards to his bank accounts would start to prove that.”
She nodded. “Exactly.”
I sighed. “It’s insane we even have to go to these lengths.”
Her hand settled on my knee. “It is. But I want you to see something.”
She pulled out her phone and started scrolling through it. I furrowed my brow as I watched her. When she handed it to me, I looked at the pictures. Beautiful pictures of what looked like a condo. Or an apartment of some sort.
“Is this what you wanted to talk about tonight?”
Cecilia nodded. “Yes. This is a two-bedroom condo for lease not far from here. Just on the other side of the high school. It’s in a nice area. Has some nice amenities. And they have yearly leases that aren’t going to break the bank.”
“Twelve hundred a month? That’s pretty reasonable.”
“I thought so myself. It’s two-bedroom, two-bathroom, with a shared kitchen and living space. Open concept. Around fifteen hundred square feet. And, it’s got a pool with a deck as well as a gym and a yoga room.”
I grinned. “And you’ll love that yoga room.”
I kept scrolling through the pictures and was amazed at the quality of the place. The building itself was only six or seven years old. The pool looked outstanding. There were tennis courts. A playground for kids. A pool, as well as an indoor hot tub. I couldn’t believe a place like this in California only went for twelve hundred a month. I kept looking for the catch. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“Why is this apartment so cheap?”
Cecilia smiled. “I’m glad you asked. Apparently, we aren’t the only two people your father has pissed off. I got to chatting with the front desk manager as I was calling around to places the other day, and it turns out your father’s gotten into a pretty decent spat with the man who runs it.”
I sighed. “Of course.”
“I didn’t ask for details. All I said was that I was looking for a place to stay. He asked if Howard was coming with me. I said ‘no’. And I guess he read between the lines. The apartment dropped seven hundred bucks on the spot, making it affordable for me.”
I handed her phone back. “Well, I’m really happy you’ve found a place. It really is nice. It suits you.”
She took her phone. “The bathrooms are ensuite, too. So, ultimate privacy.”
“That’s nice.”
“And they’re big. About the same size. So, no one’s sacrificing room size because one of them is a ‘master’ or anything like that.”
/> “Sounds like you’ll really enjoy the place.”
She smiled. “I do. I’m going to look at it Monday. I have a scheduled tour at four-thirty in the afternoon.”
“You deserve this, Cecilia. You really do. Just make sure this front desk manager isn’t giving you this kind of a deal because he’s into you. I’d hate for you to get caught up in that kind of scenario.”
“I promise, he’s not. He and his husband have been proudly married for six years.”
I barked with laughter. “All right. Good. Well, then make sure you check the appliances. Make sure they all work so you aren’t liable for damage you didn’t incur.”
“Well, you could check them out for me. If you're worried about that kind of thing.”
I shrugged. “I don’t mind going with you after school.”
“You're really not getting this, are you?”
I paused. “Getting what?”
She settled her hand on my knee. “I don’t want you to just come look at this place with me, Clinton. I want you to move in with me.”
“Wait, what?”
“I want you to come with me.”
“You do?”
“Yes. This is what I wanted to talk to you about. You might have to help me with some things. Depending on how selling off this stuff goes, I might need help with food and stuff. But, yes. I want you to move into the second bedroom. I want you to have a place to go that at least remotely feels like home.”
I blinked. “Are you being serious right now?”
“We’re family, Clint. Maybe not blood related. But we’re family. And we’re going to need one another. Yes, I’m completely serious. I want you to come with me. If you want to, that is.”
And as I sat there, completely dumbfounded, tears burned behind my eyes.
32
Raelynn
“Welcome to Grady’s Groceries. If I can help you, please let me know.”
“Welcome to Grady’s Groceries!”
“Raisins are on aisle four.”
“No ma’am, we don’t sell peppermint ice cream this early in the year. That hits the shelves two weeks before Thanksgiving.”
“We do have some Halloween decorations! All the way back in the corner, near the bathrooms.”
Even though Sunday afternoons were the busiest, I was glad they called me in. I needed out of the house. Mom had been moping since I came home yesterday. And every time I looked over at her, she started crying again. It was exhausting, and I was running out of sympathy. I couldn't handle her stuff anymore. And it shouldn't be my responsibility. I needed to focus on school and keeping my grades up.
“Ma’am?”
I turned at the sound of the voice. “Yes?”
“Where do you keep paper products?”
“I’m so sorry, we only have reusable products here. But if you’re still looking for plates and silverware, that’s on aisle nine.”
“Is it more expensive?”
I nodded. “It is, yes. But, you’ll only have to buy it once. Unless you back your car over it.”
She giggled. “Well, I don’t plan on doing that. Though I can’t say much for the grandkids.”
“Well, you could make them eat off paper towels. We have earth-friendly ones on the same aisle. Toward the back of the store. That side of it.”
“Thank you for your help, dear.”
“Any time. I’m here to help as much as I can.”
I kept myself busy as the hours ticked by. The sun started to set and my dinner break was coming up. It wasn’t a long break. Thirty minutes, as opposed to the ten-minute breaks I was usually afforded after school. Still, I thought about working through it. Keeping myself busy and keeping my mind preoccupied with other things. But the automatic door opening pulled me from my thoughts.
“Welcome to Grady’s Groceries! My name’s Rae. And if you need anything—”
“Just ask?”
“Clint?”
I looked up and saw him walking toward me, a smile on his face and pep in his step. I furrowed my brow as he came over to my register, then leaned over to kiss me. Captured my lips right in front of everyone without a care in the world.
It made me blush.
“Wow, what’s gotten into you?”
He smiled. “Any chance you’ve got a break coming up soon?”
“If you give me fifteen minutes, I’m about to hit my dinner break.”
“Perfect. Fancying some coffee?”
“‘Fancying’? Who are you and what have you done with my boyfriend?”
He chuckled. “I’ll hang around outside while you finish up.”
I kept stealing glances at him out the window as he stood there. Whistling. With his hands in the pockets of his jeans. Every time he peeked over his shoulder, he winked at me. Like he didn’t have a care in the world. It made me smile, and puzzled me at the same time. What the hell had put him in such a good mood?
“Rae!”
“Yeah?”
“Time for your dinner break. Wrap it up and shut it down. You’ve got thirty minutes.”
I rang up my last customer and turned off my light. I made my way outside and threaded my arm through Clint’s, watching as he smiled down at me. A playful wink, a nod of his head, and away we went. Toward the coffee shop next door that he had practically claimed as his second home.
“Dare I ask what’s got you in such a good mood?”
He chuckled. “Let’s get some coffee first. You hungry?”
I sighed. “Starving.”
“What can I get for you two this afternoon?” the cashier asked.
Clint nodded. “Yes. I’d like two large caramel coffees made with rosewater, two of your ham and cheese sandwiches, two cinnamon rolls, two apples, and two packages of chips.”
The girl behind the counter smiled. “What kind of chips?”
I looked up at Clint. “Doritos for me.”
He nodded. “And salt and vinegar kettle chips for me.”
The cashier rang it all up. “Will that be all for this evening?”
Clint slid his wallet out. “Yes, it is. We’ll be sitting here, too. Thank you.”
We paid and got our stuff, then he escorted me over to a table in the corner. Near the window. Where the sun shone and lit up the table in front of us. He divvied out the food, pampering me in ways I’d never experienced with him. He opened up my chips and handed them to me. Passed me my sandwich, but unwrapped half of it first. I narrowed my eyes at him as he hummed to himself. I’d never seen Clint this happy in all the time I’d known him.
“Okay. Spit it out.”
Clint’s eyes met mine. “What?”
I snickered. “What do you mean, ‘what?’ Spit it out. What’s happened? What do I not know?”
He grinned. “Cecilia’s moving out.”
I blinked. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“You’re happy Cecilia’s moving out.”
“I am, yes. She’s found a great place on the other side of the high school. About ten minutes down the road. The front desk manager gave her a great price on the place.”
“And that’s why you’re whistling.”
“What’s wrong with whistling?”
“Other than the fact that I didn’t know you could do it? Nothing. I just figured—”
“I mean, she’s asked me to move with her, but you know. Semantics.”
I paused. “She’s what?”
He started laughing as my hands flew to my mouth. I shot out of my chair and threw myself at him, wrapping him up in the biggest hug imaginable. I kissed his face. His neck. His shoulder. Tears rushed my eyes and I swallowed them down.
“She really asked you to go with her?”
He nodded against the crook of my neck. “She really did.”
“Oh, Clint. I’m so fucking happy for you.”
I felt him sniffle and it broke my heart. I slid into his lap as he wrapped his arms around me. I stroked my hand through his hair, whi
ch seemed to be growing longer by the second. I was so overwhelmed with happiness. With relief. I almost couldn't contain myself as I blinked back batches of tears.
I kissed his ear. “I’m so happy for you.”
“She really asked me to go with her, Rae. Like, legitimately.”
I rested against him as he held me close and shook underneath me. I was so thankful for Cecilia. Thankful that the two of them had grown so close over these past few weeks. Clint needed a fucking adult in his life that gave a shit about him. Who genuinely wanted him around. I knew how worthless he felt on a day-to-day basis. How pointless and unloved he felt by the adults around him. His father. The teachers at school. The principal, for crying out loud. He deserved Cecilia’s love, and so much more.
“When do you guys move?”
He lifted his head. “I don’t know. We’re going to look at the place tomorrow after school. I guess we’ll sign the lease there if we like it well enough.”
“And you say it’s not far from here?”
“Nope. I’ll still be able to finish out my senior year here. Though I’ll have to ride the bus or something.”
I snickered. “That’s crazy talk. I’m sure Allison and Michael and I can start picking you up or something. I’ll talk to them about it.”
“I don’t want you guys to go out of your—”
I cupped my hand over his mouth. “We’re your friends. We love you. Hush.”
He furrowed his brow. “You… you love me?”
I nodded. “We all do.”
And as his eyes searched mine, I felt my heart stop in my chest.
“Well, I love you guys, too.”
I grinned. “All of us?”
He captured my lips in his before he slid me to my feet. His hands held my hips as our lips sat languidly together. A soft, genuine kiss. One that preached our truth even though we still couldn't say it.
Though, I hoped one day I’d build up the courage to tell him how much I loved him.
He patted the back of my thigh, then I went to sit back down. He kept grinning at me as I ate my sandwich, sipped my coffee and crunched on my chips. His feet slid against mine underneath the table where we sat. And I felt like one of those girls in the movies Mom always watched.