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Now it was Tuesday again, and I couldn’t wait to see my baby. She wanted to take Trey to day care because they were doing school pictures like a real school. We would probably love to have them later, so I didn’t argue. Shiloh dropped Theo off on her way to the shop, and he was knocked out on the living room couch while Vick and I finished getting ready for the day.

“You not taking a lunch today?” I yelled out to Victor as I opened the refrigerator.

This school year, he wanted to start packing his own lunch, so I made sure he had plenty of easy-to-pack options. I even had a slew of those little salads and fruit cups for him to toss in his lunch bag if he wanted to. His lunch bag wasn’t in the refrigerator, which made me wonder if he forgot to pack it.

“We’re having a pizza party at school for doing good on our spelling test.”

“Oh, OK, that’s good.”

Someone knocked on the door, making me frown as I crossed the kitchen and headed to the front door. I opened the door and almost burst into flames when I found Trisha standing on the other side. Her clothes were dirty and disheveled, and she was clearly high.

“What are you doing here, Trish? I told you about popping up here like this.” I closed the door behind me because I didn’t want Victor to see her like that.

“Ain’t my son here? You don’t put me out when my son here. You said I can see him anytime.”

“I know, Trisha, but I’m about to take him to school.”

“I’m not trying to start no shit. I need some help, Quint,” she requested.

“I told you. I’m not giving you any money.”

She shook her head and waved her hands in front of me. “Not money. Real help like you keep talking about.”

“What do you need, Trish?” I asked.

“You said you can find me a place to get cleaned up, right? I’m ready. I want to be in my son’s life.”

“Dad!” Victor called from inside the house.

I was torn between whether to answer him or let him look for me while I tried to get rid of his mom. I didn’t have the chance to make a decision before he tore the front door open. She tugged at her shirt, trying to gather herself before he could notice how she looked.

“Mama!” he yelled, rushing over and throwing his arms around her.

“Hey, baby boy. You headed to school?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am. Can you ride with my daddy to take me?”

“I don’t know if I should do that. I look a mess.”

“What’s wrong? What happened to your clothes?” Victor inquired.

“I been out working a few days. I haven’t had time to clean myself up.”

“Does that mean you’re not sick anymore?” he quizzed, looking up at her with enough hope in his eyes to shatter me.

“I’m still a little sick, but I want you to know that I’m working on getting better. I want to be able to come around and see you more,” she told him.

“Yes!” Victor cheered.

“I need to get him to school, but come back in about an hour so we can talk about getting you well,” I told her.

“Why can’t she go with us?” Victor asked.

“He’s right. I don’t want to go around nobody looking a mess.” Trish agreed.

“You don’t have to get out of the car.”

“I don’t feel like going anywhere, Vick. I’m sick, remember,” Trish said before I could reply.