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“Not yet. I was hoping…” —to avoid having to humble myself…again. Even the thought of what had happened to force her to move back home the last time made her cringe with shame.
Jane rattled on. “And you know you really don’t like my boyfriend anyway. You two probably wouldn’t get along and I’d just…Well, I hope you understand, hon.”
Sure, hon. I understand, hon. I’ve always been there for you and when you suddenly get a life, you don’t have time for your old friends. I get it. Ungrateful bitch. That was what she got for taking Jane under her wing a few years before. Ever since she’d gotten a life and started hanging out with some of the other single people in Divine, unrepentant losers, she didn’t have time for Tabitha, or room, evidently.
“Well, I have to go, Tabitha. I wish you luck finding a place to live. It’s too bad you lost your job over that…misunderstanding.”
“You sound like you don’t believe me, Jane. It really was a misunderstanding.”
“Sure, sure. Why don’t you try your mom? She has that big house. Sure, she’s…your mom, but at least she’d have room in her house for your cats and all your stuff. Until you can find your own place, of course. I’m sure it’ll all work out. Hey, you should come visit the quilter’s group sometime. The ladies ask about you from time to time.”
With a sneer, Tabitha said, “I don’t have time for quilting these days. I’m too busy with Keep Divine Pure, and my blog and newsletter, to worry about crafting.” She also detested listening to those ladies go on about their husbands, families, and grandbabies.
“Well…all right then. You…be well, Tabitha.”
“You take care of yourself, Jane,” Tabitha ground out before ending the call. Thankless bitch.
Well, that left only one other option.
Tabitha clenched her teeth as she looked at the touch screen on her phone. She really didn’t want to call that number but it looked like she had no choice. No job and no money meant she couldn’t pay her rent, which meant moving home until she found another job. Mr. Whiskers meowed plaintively as he rubbed against the leg of her green sweatpants. She dialed the number, praying for patience. This call wasn’t nearly as easy for her to make as Jane made it out to be.
“Hello?”
“Mom?”
“Eh? Oh, hello, Tabitha,” her mother said on the line, her elderly voice as strong as ever. “How are you?”
“Listen, Mom. I’ve lost my job and I need to move home.”
“Oh, good Lord! What now?” her mother shouted into the phone.
Shit.
* * * *
Hank held his cell phone away to protect his hearing from the shrill squeal on the other end of the phone but he could still hear Dr. Emma Rivers from a distance. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Hank, you’re the best. With you signed on, I’ll be able to talk some of the other big cheeses in Divine into participating. Do you think you can assemble your own team?”
“Another guy and a woman? Sure, no problem, Doc.”
Son, what have you gotten yourself into?
“The Wheelchair Drag Race Charity Relay is going to be a huge help to the Hill Country Boy’s Ranch, Hank. With Chance and Clayton Carlisle donating the use of the land, the funds they’ve raised so far, and the money from the relay and the Downtown Wassail Fest, they’ll be able to break ground next year. Thank you.”
Hank smiled. The gratitude in her voice choked him up a little but the warm fuzzies came to a screeching halt when she reminded him of one of the details in the relay race. “Do you need help getting your costumes ready?”
Wheelchair racing…in drag. Awesome. “No, doc. I have someone who can help me put a costume together.”
“You’re not gonna flake on me, are you?” Emma replied with a giggle. “Remember, all those boys are counting on you.”
“Don’t worry about that. This is for a good cause. By the way, I know some other guys who I’m willing to bet would like to get involved, too.”
“Who?”
“Cody, Heath, and Spencer. They were raised in the foster care system. I’ll call them for you and if they’re interested, I’ll give them your number.”
