Gus lowered her puzzle book again and examined Mia over the top of her glasses. “You heard me, Maria. Don’t forget, Carol is my sister Frances’s only child. I know you two haven’t always seen eye to eye, but she’s my niece, and I love her. I don’t get to see her much anymore. She’s always so busy.”
Mia’s cheeks burned. “I know. And I don’t mean to be selfish or petty. The truth is, Mom and I haven’t talked much in the past few years.”
Gus opened her mouth, then shut it. After a couple of false starts, she began, “Honey, I know things weren’t as they seemed in your home.”
“What do you mean?”
Gus quirked an eyebrow. “Your family always presented the perfect picture. But I could tell you weren’t happy. Neither was your mother.”
“I noticed you don’t mention Blaine.”
“Nor will I.”
Okay then. She’d always suspected Gus and Blaine Turner weren’t on good terms. Now she knew it for a fact.
“I don’t even know how I should begin the conversation. The last time we talked, she made it clear she was disappointed in my choices. She threw several mistakes I’d made in my face. As if she’d been keeping score.” Like Jackson. And the pregnancy.
But she should ask, for Gus’s sake.
Her fingers slowly tapped out her mother’s number.
“The number you’ve called has been disconnected. Please hang up and try again.”
“Her number’s changed. Do you have a new one?” Her fingers hovered over the touchscreen, ready to dial.
“Oh dear. No. No, I don’t. Call Jane. Maybe she’ll be available.”
Mia frowned. It felt wrong that her mother had disconnected her phone and neither she nor her aunt had access to her.
She nodded. Jane was Anne Marie’s older sister. She was a year older than Mia. When Jane answered, Mia put the phone on speaker so Gus could hear the conversation.
“I’m not surprised that Anne Marie ditched her responsibility. I’ll come. But I expect to be paid.”
Gus grimaced at that statement but nodded.
“Of course. I wouldn’t suggest otherwise,” Mia assured her.
They talked over the plan, and a few minutes later, Jane hung up. She’d agreed, although without any sort of enthusiasm. At least Gus wouldn’t be alone.
Gus leaned back in her recliner and shut her eyes.
“I’m going outside for a few.”
“That’s fine, dear.”
Mia walked to the back patio and settled into the swing. She used her feet to gently push off. How had life gotten so complicated?
Her thoughts turned to the foundation. She really needed that money so she could sign up for her class.
She straightened. She had brought a box of papers to the school already. The pamphlet about the foundation might be in it. Even if the website was down, she might be able to call them and get the ball rolling.
Excitement stirred. If all went well, she’d make contact and be on her way to getting the money they owed her. The sooner that happened, the sooner she could open the crisis pregnancy center she’d dreamed of opening since the loss of her own baby so long ago.
Four
Wednesday morning, Jackson and Moses had just finished cleaning out bay one when the siren tripped. The dispatcher’s voice announced a one-car collision with entrapment.
“Let’s go, Doc!” Swanny ran into the bay, a trauma kit swinging from one hand. His blond hair flopped into his eyes. He shoved it aside and dashed to Ambulance 15’s driver’s door. “We’re up!”
