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“What time does she get out?”
“I’m not really sure.”
“Can we call her?”
“My phone is dead.”
Lacey gets off the couch and takes my phone from the end table. She presses the screen, and the stupid thing lights up. “It’s working.”
Yay, me. I know I should tell her no, for my own sanity, but I can’t. She’s an innocent child caught in the stupid game of life. She’s not going to understand why Thea isn’t a part of our lives anymore, nor do I have the heart to tell her. Lacey isn’t going to grasp the magnitude of what Thea did or how it affects her.
“Later,” I tell her as I reach for my phone. A sharp pain shoots through my ribs and I grimace.
“Oh, no, Uncle Ky.”
“I’m okay.”
Lacey pouts and I beckon her forward. She gingerly crawls into my lap and nestles her head against my chest. “Do you want to watch a movie?”
She nods.
I press play on her DVD player and Aladdin comes to life. I wish she’d pick another movie and not one about a guy who has nothing going for him, except for being in love with the princess. That’s how I feel about me and Thea. She’s the princess and I’m the thief. I suppose this makes Lacey my monkey.
It dawns on me that Ally isn’t here, which doesn’t make sense. “Where’s your mom?”
Lacey shrugs and I look down to see her sucking on her thumb. I’ve suggested to Ally she do something about the thumb sucking, but Ally refuses, saying something about how Lacey needs to figure it out on her own. I don’t agree, but Lacey isn’t mine and Ally puts her foot down if I try to parent too much. I gently push Lacey’s hand away from her mouth. She doesn’t protest, which is good.
“Did your mom pick you up from school?”
“Yes.”
“Did she leave after she dropped you off?”
Lacey shakes her head. “She’s on the phone.”
I glance toward the window, as if I have X-ray vision and can see outside. I’m sure there’s a new boyfriend on the other end, someone else to take time away from Lacey and Ally’s job. Every day, I wish Ally was independent and nothing like our mother.
The door opens and Ally comes in. She’s carrying some boxes with her, reminding me they have to move soon. They still haven’t found a place to live, at least one they can afford, and it’s looking like I’m going to have to move with them, which means I need more hours at the bar. Which means . . . well a laundry list of shit I won’t be able to do.
Ally sits down on the couch and sighs.
“How was work?”
“Not good. Made a whole forty bucks in tips.”
“That’s forty more than you had this morning.”
“Yep, paid some of my phone bill so at least it won’t get turned off.” Ally covers her face and I know she’s trying to fight back the tears. It would be easier for her to work at night, in a bar or bigger restaurant where she can make a couple hundred in tips. But it’ll also mean paying a babysitter, which is going to defeat the purpose. Single parents don’t have it easy.
I think about the check Adam Nelson gave me and how I left it on the table at the house. That money will go a long way to help out Ally, but the thought of cashing it turns my stomach. I don’t want that smug bastard to think he owns me. He doesn’t. I can make my own money, somehow.
There’s a knock at the door. Ally and I stare at each other with nervous trepidation. No one comes here, ever. Ally doesn’t invite anyone over, and I’ve never brought anyone here. There’s another knock.
Lacey sighs and crawls off my lap. Before I realize what she’s doing her hand is on the doorknob and she’s pulling the door open. Ally is right behind her but not fast enough. Lacey says, “Hi,” but Ally stands there, looking from whoever is on the other side to me.
“May I come in?” The female voice is unfamiliar to me, but not to Ally. She looks back at me, as if I’m supposed to do or say something.
“Um . . . my brother. He’s not feeling very well right now. Maybe another time?”
