by Lisa Jordan
Last night’s confrontation looped over and over in her head. No matter how many times she replayed her conversation with Gina, she couldn’t help but feel like she should have done more. She begged Gina to come home with her, but her friend insisted she had no choice.
Since leaving Agape House about a month ago, it hadn’t been as easy for Gina. The last time Zoe talked with her, Gina mentioned the struggles of living with her mother, how her coworkers whispered behind her back, how the girls went to their grandma instead of to her. She believed the kind of people inside The Sassy Cat offered her more grace than the ones who attended church on Sundays.
But Zoe knew they didn’t. They took what she was willing to give away, even her newly found pride and self-respect, but Gina refused to see it that way. And look where it got her.
Now Zoe had Gina’s daughters to consider. The three girls—ten-year-old Savannah, seven-year-old Daisy and four-year-old Lucy—huddled together in the overstuffed floral chair that probably looked great in the ’80s and watched her with large eyes edged with fear. Canned laughter from some program on TV echoed in the background.
How would their lives be affected if her call caused their mother to go back to jail for violating her parole?
She paced, stepping around a pile of crayons dumped by an open coloring book, a half-dressed Barbie doll, an assortment of multicolored rubber bands and a loom that littered the floor, along with empty fast-food wrappers, dirty dishes and a pile of clothes overflowing from a broken clothesbasket.
Gina needed help, and right now, Zoe was the only logical person who could make that happen.
She had no choice. She had to make the call.
She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and tapped Mom’s name in her list of contacts.
“Hello?”
“Mom, I’m at Gina’s. I need you.”
“What’s going on?” A guarded tone filtered through her words.
Zoe glanced at the girls and kept her voice low. “Gina needs help.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Wait...she’s not at the same place. She’s in a trailer across the street from The Sassy Cat.”
“What... Never mind. I’ll find out more once I get there.”
Zoe ended the call and stowed her phone.
Once Gina was sober again, she’d probably be furious, but she had her daughters to consider, too.
Zoe knelt in front of the chair and reached for Savannah’s hands. “Savannah, honey, how long has your mom been sleeping?”
“She wouldn’t wake up when it was time for us to go to school. What’s going to happen to her? Will she go back to jail? It will be all my fault if she does.” Tears rolled down the girl’s face.
“No, sweetie, it won’t. You did the right thing by calling me. I called my mom. She will know what to do.”
“Van, is Mommy going to die?” Lucy folded her hands on the arm of the couch and rested her head on her fingers.
Zoe lifted the little girl, sat on the floor and cuddled Lucy in her lap. She finger-combed a tangle out of Lucy’s matted curls. “Your mommy isn’t feeling very well right now. She’s sick, but she’s not dying.”
Please, God, don’t make a liar out of me.
Daisy sniffed and rubbed a hand over her eyes.
The girls needed to be in school, laughing and playing with their friends. Not stressing about their mother’s fate.
How did they end up in this disgusting trailer, not even fit for wild animals?
“Savannah, where’s your grandma?”
“She and Mom had a big fight, and Mom left. Mom made us go, too. We didn’t want to, but Grandma promised we’d be able to come back to her soon.”
“Why did you call me and not your grandma?”
She shrugged, and then chipped away at the purple nail polish on her thumb. “I don’t know. Mom really likes you. I guess I didn’t want her mad if she woke up and found Grandma here.”
Already at ten, Savannah had learned how to do damage control. That weighed too heavily on Zoe’s shoulders.
Did Griffin do that for her? Did he make excuses to his friends? Did he try to play peacemaker within her family?
“I’m glad you called.” Zoe smiled and patted the girl’s knee.
A knock sounded on the door.
Zoe set Lucy back on the chair, then stood to answer the door. Her mother waited on the narrow metal steps. Zoe stepped aside and let her through.
Dressed in her trademark trousers, white blouse, pearls around her neck and with her hair pulled back in a clip, Mom looked out of place, but that didn’t prevent her from kneeling on the grungy carpet and flinging her arms open.
“Miss Charlotte!” All three girls leaped off the chair and ran into her embrace.
Mom held them tightly against her chest, not caring if their tears and runny noses ruined her clothes. She glanced at Zoe with worried eyes.
“Miss Charlotte, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what to do.” Savannah threw out her arms as a tortured expression marred her pretty face.
Mom rubbed a thumb over her cheek, chasing away a stray tear. “Sweet girl, why are you sorry? You did exactly what you should have.”
“What’s going to happen to Mommy?” Daisy’s quiet voice trailed off as she stared at Gina sprawled on the couch.
“Honey, we will take good care of her.” Zoe’s mother stood and dusted off her pants. She eyed the clock, and then looked back at the girls. “Have you had breakfast yet?”
They shook their heads.
She cupped Savannah’s cheek. “How about if you find your sisters something to eat?”
Her shoulders slumped. “We’re outta milk and cereal.”
“What do you have?”
“Bread and peanut butter.”
“Peanut butter toast is one of my favorites for breakfast. How about helping your sisters get their hands washed? Would you mind making them some toast?”
Savannah shook her head.
“You’re a wonderful helper.”
“Come on, Lucy and Daisy.” Savannah wrapped her arms around her sisters’ shoulders and led them into the filthy kitchen, where dishes piled in the sink and an open trash bag spilled onto the floor.
Once the girls were out of sight, Mom hurried to the couch and shook Gina’s shoulder, calling her name quietly, yet firmly. When she didn’t respond, she pressed her fingers against the inside of Gina’s wrist. She looked at Zoe with alarm in her eyes. “Her pulse is weak. We need to get her to a hospital right away.”
“Alcohol poisoning?” Zoe kept her voice low so the girls didn’t hear.
“I don’t know. I’m going to call an ambulance, then I’ll get in touch with Gina’s parole officer.” Mom strode over to the door where she dropped her purse and pulled out her phone.
“Is that necessary?”
“Yes. See if you can get ahold of Wilma so she can come and get the girls.” Her mother tapped 911 into her phone and spoke to the dispatcher.
Zoe headed into the kitchen and forced herself not to gag at the smell emanating from the sink. She swallowed several times, then moved into the dining room where Savannah made toast for the girls. “Savannah, honey, do you know Grandma Wilma’s phone number?”
Savannah cut a slice of toast in half and handed one to each of her sisters. “No, she had to get a new phone because Lucy dropped hers in the tub. The number is probably in Mom’s phone, though, but I don’t know where it is.”
“It was an accident, Van.” Lucy’s lower lip trembled.
Zoe caressed the top of the girl’s head. “No worries, sweetie. We’ll find it.” Sure the girls were set, Zoe returned to the living room and relayed the information to her mom. “What about the girls in the meantime?”
“C
all Ian and Agnes. They’re approved for emergency foster care. They can take the girls until we can figure out how to get in touch with Wilma.”
“I’ll see if I can get some clothes and things put together for them. I’m not sure if anything’s clean.”
“We can get a load of clothes washed.” Her eyes surveyed the mess on the floor. “Better yet, don’t worry about it. Agnes keeps clothes on hand for emergencies, and I can pick up a few things for them.”
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Zoe needed to call her brother, but the need to confess her previous involvement propelled her to act before the ambulance arrived. She clutched her phone. “Mom, there’s something you should know. I was at The Sassy Cat last night.”
Mom’s eyes bulged. Her shoulders dropped as she shook her head. “Oh, no, Zoe. Please don’t tell me that.”
Zoe held up a hand and rushed to say, “I didn’t go in. I stayed in the parking lot next to the bar. I wasn’t even on the property.”
“You shouldn’t have been even that close.” Disappointment laced Mom’s voice, which made Zoe regret her actions all the more.
“Gina called and sounded so desperate. I thought if I could talk her into coming home with me, then I could help her.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I didn’t want her to get into trouble.” Now the excuse sounded lame, but truly she meant well. “You don’t know what it’s like, Mom. Going back to jail will wreck her.”
Mom reached for Zoe’s arm. “That’s not up to you.”
“No, maybe not, but I totally understand what she’s going through.”
“But you’re getting your life back on track. You’re so responsible now.”
“And I wanted the same thing for Gina.”
Mom pushed her hair away from her face the same way she had done for Savannah. “It’s not your job to save her. Leave that up to God. It’s your job to love her and to show her grace.”
“But you did...you saved me.” Zoe covered Mom’s hand with her own.
“No, honey, God did. I prayed every night and asked Him to save you, no matter what it took.”
Zoe pulled their hands away from her face and traced Mom’s elegant fingers. “I’m sorry.”
Sirens split the air. Flashing lights swirled through the front window, casting a red glow on the floor.
“I know, honey. The ambulance just pulled in the driveway. Let’s get Gina stabilized, then we’ll get this mess sorted out.” Mom started to pull away.
Zoe grabbed her hand, suddenly desperate to be understood. “No, Mom, I mean I’m sorry for everything.” Her eyes filled as her chest heaved. “That could easily be me lying there. I’m so sorry for what I’ve put you and Dad through.”
“My darling girl, what happened is in the past. Learn from it, and move forward.” Mom pulled her into a quick hug, but broke away when a knock sounded on the door.
Mom hurried to open it. Two EMTs dressed in gray uniforms entered, carrying emergency kits. Their radios squawked.
The girls rushed into the living room, their eyes large and tear-filled. “Is Mommy going to jail?”
“No, sweeties, she’s going to the hospital for a checkup.” Zoe gathered them closed and herded them down the hall to one of the bedrooms. They didn’t need to see Gina strapped to a gurney. She turned on the TV and shifted the girls’ focus to an educational cartoon. She quickly dialed Ian’s number and spoke to Agnes in hushed tones, who promised to come right away.
Her phone trilled, signaling a text—from Sully. She read it:
Free for dinner tonight?
Sorry, something came up. Not sure when I’ll be home. Call u later?
Sure. Hope all is well. Looking forward to talking to you. Miss you. <3
Her heart somersaulted at his last words.
Despite the drama in the living room, she couldn’t help but smile. For the past couple of weeks, they’d spent their evenings watching movies together, taking walks, talking around the campfire and getting to know one another all over again.
They’ve both changed a lot since college, but Zoe had no problem remembering the old Caleb. This older, more mature Caleb had improved with age. He was the exact kind of guy she’d always wanted in her life.
Was her heart willing to take the risk?
* * *
Supposedly go-karting was like riding a bike, except he hadn’t gone go-karting in over ten years. Not since that night at college with Zoe for her birthday.
Tonight, he wanted to put a smile on Zoe’s face. When she showed up at his door, upset about a friend in trouble, it was all he could do not to pull her into his arms and kiss her sadness away. Maybe he would have if Sarah and the girls hadn’t been there.
After introducing Zoe to Sarah quickly, his sister offered to watch the girls while he spent some time with Zoe, but she cautioned him to be careful. He cautioned her to chill out. And trust him. He knew what he was doing.
“So the loser buys the ice cream?” Zoe slid into the red go-kart in front of his.
“That’s been the tradition, if you count one time as tradition.”
“Works for me. Eat my dust, Sullivan.”
“You talk tough, James. We’ll see when you’re paying for my triple scoop.”
Lakeside Pins & Spins had very few customers, but since it was a weeknight, he wasn’t surprised. The indoor recreation park boasted a go-kart track, bowling alley, arcade and a small pizza place and ice cream shop. Apparently, on weekends, especially during the colder months, the place was a zoo.
Colorful racing sponsors decorated the red walls. The stench of fuel exhaust lingered in the air. Bright overhead lights illuminated the smooth track.
The track attendant wearing shorts and a red-and-yellow jersey stepped alongside his go-kart and yanked on the pull cord to start the engine. Then he moved ahead and started Zoe’s.
Their engines roared, echoing off the high ceilings and sounding like twenty running lawn mowers parked in his living room.
Zoe pulled out of the gate and accelerated onto the track. He pressed his foot on the gas and raced past her, giving her a thumbs-up as he went by.
Taking his eyes off the track for a moment, he didn’t see the turn in time to ease off the accelerator. He stepped on the brake a little too sharply and spun around. She veered around him, laughing as she rushed past him.
The sound took him back to the days of midnight pizza runs, walking Zoe home after tutoring, and celebrating her successful exams with ice cream. Back when life was less complicated.
For a moment, he paused to remember the night he had taken Zoe go-karting after Kyle ditched her on her birthday to sneak around with someone else. Despite his roommate’s attempts at secrecy, Zoe had found out. Wanting to cheer her up, especially on her birthday, he suggested going for a walk. His fresh-faced friend hadn’t known he had fallen in love with her. He’d kept that secret to himself.
Her ponytail had been pulled through a bright pink hat, and she’d worn a light gray fitted T-shirt. They had walked into town and ended up at an indoor go-kart track. He’d always admired her sense of adventure, her willingness to try something new.
Afterward, he’d bought her ice cream. They’d walked home, and it was all he could do not to kiss her good-night. Despite how he felt, he wasn’t about to make a move on his friend’s girl, even if his friend had behaved like a jerk.
Zoe zoomed past again, pulling him out of the past. “Come on, slowpoke!”
He righted his go-kart and pressed the accelerator.
They spent the next fifteen minutes looping the track, trying to outrace one another.
They returned their go-karts to the attendants, then headed for the ice cream shop. Zoe licked her chocolate-ripple cone with a smirk on her face while C
aleb paid for their ice cream.
He didn’t mind losing to her.
He grabbed a napkin and wiped chocolate off the corner of her mouth. He would have preferred kissing it off, but he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
Grabbing her hand, he pulled her toward the door. “Let’s head outside. I need to air out my brain after smelling those fumes.”
They left the shop and walked through the lobby of the recreation park.
Zoe stopped and turned back to face the shop. “You know what? I’m going to run back to grab a bottle of water. Want one?”
“Sure.” He reached for his wallet.
She put a hand on his arm. “I got it.”
She disappeared inside the ice cream shop. He sat on the bench next to the doorway to the bowling alley. The thunderous crashes of balls against pins echoed out into the lobby. The scent of grilled hot dogs caused his stomach to gurgle, despite the cookie-dough cone in his hand.
He didn’t even think to ask Zoe if she had eaten. Maybe they should grab a quick bite.
“Sullivan, what are you doing here, man?”
Caleb looked up to find his neighbors Shawn and Pam Turner and their daughter Ashlyn exiting the bowling alley.
Caleb’s eyes darted toward the ice cream shop. He willed Zoe to stay inside. He didn’t need Pam’s claws to mark up her heart again. Since the dog-training class, he’d kept his distance from his neighbors. “I’m here with a friend. What about you guys?”
“I had the night off, so we decided to play a couple of games.” Shawn jerked his head toward the bowling alley.
Pam looked over Caleb’s shoulder and sighed. “Oh, not again. I’ve spent months avoiding that woman, and now I’ve seen her twice in the same month.”
Caleb turned, and his heart sank. Zoe came out of the ice cream shop carrying two bottles of water.
Zoe caught them watching her. Her feet slowed, and instead of coming toward them, she changed course and headed for the front door.