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I wipe away the tears on my cheeks and text Kelly, asking her to bring Hazel home. And then, I look up Erik’s contact info and dial.
“Hey,” he says, his voice warm though he sounds a little winded. “How are you?”
“I’ve been better.”
“Hey, what’s going on? Are you crying?”
I sniffle and say, “A little.”
“You want me to come over?”
“Are you busy?”
“No, I was just tearing out some landscaping in the front yard for my aunt. I can do this anytime. And the at-home health nurse is here, so I can come right now. I’m a sweaty mess, though. If you don’t mind that—”
“I don’t mind.” I close my eyes and another round of tears hits my cheeks. “If we could just sit out back and talk. Would you mind?”
“Text me your address and I’ll leave right now.”
I nod. “Okay. Thanks.”
“I’m really glad you called me. I’ll be there soon.”
We say goodbye and I go into the bathroom to wash my face before he arrives. Even after all the time we’ve spent apart, Erik feels like my best friend again. He was always there to listen, and I don’t think I’ve ever needed that as much as I do right now.FifteenEasyI don’t even make it up to Allie’s front door—she’s waiting for me at the curb, her face streaked with tears as she sinks against me.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I say softly, holding her close. “Whatever it is, it’s gonna be okay.”
“My sister wants to take the kids from me,” she says, sounding absolutely wrecked.
“Oh, shit.” I gesture to the side of her house and say, “You want to walk around back and talk about it?”
She nods and wipes her cheeks. We walk up the driveway of her little bungalow around to the backyard, where a small porch holds a metal table and four chairs.
Allie sits down and I sit next to her, taking one of her hands in mine.
“Can Jenna even do that?” I ask her. “Aren’t you the kids’ legal guardian?”
“I don’t know. I told her she can’t, but she said she’ll take me to court over it. And if she does—”
Allie’s face scrunches as she starts crying again. It kills me to see her so upset.
I squeeze her hand gently. “Saying it is one thing, doing it is another. And even if she does do it, she’s got a hard case to make. You’ve done a great job with the kids.”
“I feel sick. I can’t stop worrying about it. I don’t know what I’d do if she took them from me.”
“Why does she want them all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know.” She gives me an imploring look. “What should I do? There’s nothing else in the world that would make me come unglued like this, and…I just can’t think straight.”
The back screen door swings open and a tall blond girl comes out, giving Allie a death glare.
“You always ruin everything,” she says hotly, her cheeks flushed and eyes red as if she’s been crying.
“Vi, I just need a couple minutes, and then we can talk, okay?” Allie says.
“So this is your famous boyfriend?” Vi glares at me.
“Please go inside and we’ll talk in a little bit,” Allie says.
“You’ll just tell me I can’t go with her. She’s my mother. And she’s your sister, how can you treat her this way? Did you kick her out of the house?”
“Vi?” I say. “Can you just give us a few more minutes?”
“Isn’t this what you always wanted anyway?” Vi cries, looking at Allie. “You had to break up with him to take care of us and now Mom wants us back. Everyone can get what they want!”
Allie looks stunned, like someone slapped her. “Who told you that?” she asks Vi.
“Mom. She doesn’t hide everything from me like you do.”
A car pulls into the part of the driveway that extends the length of the house and Hazel gets out, shouldering a backpack and waving to the driver, who looks like Allie’s friend I met the other night, Kelly.
“Hey, is she gone?” Hazel asks as she approaches.
“Yeah, thanks to Aunt Allie!” Vi angrily yells out and Allie buries her face in her hands.
“Coach Zimmerman, what are you doing here?” Hazel asks.
“Uh…”
Vi interjects. “Aunt Allie called him because she got in a fight with Mom. Mom just wants us to live with her and Aunt Allie won’t let us go.”
“What?” Hazel looks at Allie in horror. “She wants us to live with her?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let it happen,” Allie says.
“Mom’s taking her to court; she told me,” Vi says.
Hazel looks away, trying to hide her frustration.
“I’m old enough to decide for myself!” Vi cries.
“Oh my god,” Allie sighs heavily and meets my eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for.”
Hazel breezes past her sister to go into the house, muttering, “You’re such a drama queen, just like our mother.”
