*****
Her mom’s car pulled out of the driveway with Jacob and Kayla in the back seat and Sierra in the passenger seat. Katelyn backed away from the window and figured she had at least 40 minutes before her mom would return. She had no intention of being home when she returned. Katelyn had refused to get in the car. Her mom finally left with a look that held a promised fight.
Katelyn called Jen’s phone. It was still early, before 11, but maybe she’d answer. She did. “What?”
“Mom’s on her way over to Ames to drop off the Sierra and Colton at school. She’s got your kids, too. I think she’s planning a drop in.” Katelyn didn’t know that for sure, but it was somewhat gratifying to put a little panic in her sister’s life. For all that Katelyn did for Jenny’s kids, Jenny deserved a little stress.
“Shit,” Jen already sounded in action over the phone. “We gotta clean this place up.”
“You and Jodi party last night?”
“Naw, hold on,” Jenny turned her voice away from the phone and talked to someone harshly, but Katelyn heard it all. “Get up. You gotta go. Come on, wake the fuck up!
“When did she leave?” Jenny ended with a barely stifled burp.
“Just now. I think she’s after Jodi. She never called or showed back up for the kids.”
“She wasn’t here. Shit, I don’t know if Jodi’s even here now?” Katelyn heard cans being cleared in the background.
“Um, Jen?”
“What? I gotta go. This place is a shithole.”
“Jen, I need a place to go. Stuff’s going on and mom’s pissed because I’m not at school. I just don’t need her shit right now. Do you have wheels?”
“Naw, man. Those was Jimmy’s wheels. And that mother fucker Austin hasn’t given me any child support in two months.”
“Jen, please.”
A few muttered curses filled the moments of decision. “Awright. Hold on.” This time there was muffled crinkling as Jenny talked to whoever was with her. Katelyn bit her nail.
“Yeah, be ready in 15 minutes. We’re getting’ out of here before mom gets here.”
Katelyn tried Tim two more times before Jenny and her driver honked in the driveway. Katelyn took a jacket and her handbag. She’d come back later for her uniform before her shift. Her books sat where she left them the previous night on the chair in her room. Katelyn didn’t bring home the notes and books to study for tomorrow’s exams. She knew she wasn’t helping herself, but there was no way Katelyn was going to school today.
Pick-me-up Page 40