“I was thinking about doing something, and I want your opinion.”
“Oh, what is it?”
She shrugged one shoulder, suddenly nervous to verbalize her thoughts. She grabbed the soap. “I was thinking about maybe, uh, getting my GED.”
There was a long pause behind her. The only sound was the hum of the refrigerator. The silence stretched long enough to make the little flicker of excitement in her chest start to dim. She let out a breath when Grammy finally spoke. “Why would you do that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t see the point.”
Her shoulders tightened. Matty looked at the reflection in the dark window before her, the pair behind her showing up in the glass. “Because I don’t have a high school diploma.”
“Why do you need it? I don’t have one. Half our family don’t, and we’re all doing all right.”
“I don’t want to do just all right.”
“What are you talking about? You got a good job. A place to stay too.”
She rolled her eyes as she rinsed off one of the bowls to place it in the dish drainer. “I just got lucky with both of those. Between my felony charge and no diploma, the only reason I have either is because of my boss and Kerrie. Tyler had to pull some serious strings to get me on. What if I lost the job? I wouldn’t be able to find another like it. And Kerrie was nice enough to overlook my background. Do you know how hard it is to get an apartment with a felony?”
“It’s not like you can fix that.”
Matty tried her best not to toss the next bowl in the dish drainer out of frustration. “But I can. My charge was a low-level drug charge. I can get it expunged at five years, and that will be in two months. Kerrie said she would help me with the paperwork, and it would only cost $100. Once I get that fixed and I have my GED, I won’t have to worry as much. I could apply for jobs anywhere.”
“Just feels like a waste of time to me. You’re doing just fine.” Grammy waved a hand like the whole thing was settled. “How is the day center going, Kenny? Are you still liking it?” she asked, changing the subject so easily it made Matty’s heart hurt.
They didn’t stay very long after that. Once again, Matty left the house feeling frustrated, but this time, shame mixed with it. She had come in hoping, however foolishly, for a little support. Instead, Grammy had made it sound like wanting more for herself was pointless. Like it was silly to even try. By the time she pulled away from the house, the old doubt had already started creeping back in.
Maybe Grams was right. Maybe there was no point.
Chapter nine
Chapter Nine
“Your parole officer is requesting that you go to a transitional residence after this.”
“I don’t want to do that. I have a job lined up after this. I can go back home.”
Reese reached into the top drawer of her desk, pulling out a mini chocolate. She held one up. “Want one?”
Her client, Wade, nodded, taking the offered candy.
The richness of the chocolate melted on her tongue as she looked over his file on the computer. He was her second client, and it was almost time for him to graduate from the program. The month had gone by at a rapid pace. “I understand that you feel like you’re just sitting on your hands. It’s been a whole month away from your life, but what has changed in your living situation in that time?”
He frowned, his scruffy face contorting in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, what has changed? You’ve been here, working on yourself, and that’s fantastic. I really think you’ve taken this seriously. However, you’re going to go right back into the same environment. The same place you were actively using in. The same triggers will be there. The same people. The same living room you would sit in for hours tinkering with toasters and push mowers. Do you remember that feeling? How will you feel walking back into that house? Imagine walking in right now. The smell. The feel of the floor under your feet. Is it clean? Have all the drug paraphernalia been discarded? Will a buddy swing by when it gets out you’re home, and how will you answer that door to temptation?”
She might as well have slapped him in the face if his slack-jawed expression was anything to go by.
Softening her voice, she leaned forward, folding her hands on her desk. “I think you know that’s not a good place to go straight back to. That’s where the transitional housingcomes in. It will better prepare you to gain your life back. They’ll help you find work, get back on your feet, and all while being in a safe environment.”
“You know those places can be shit, right?”
“Yep, but I have a list of ones Kerrie recommends, and she’s been doing this a really long time.”
“How am I supposed to pay for that?”
