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“I need more methadone.”
“I’ll make a note of that for your doctor,” Ana Lucia says, jotting something onto her clipboard. “Well, why don’t we go ahead and start?” Ana Lucia says, checking her watch, as if she’s concerned about the time. “We are here today as a requirement of your court-mandated rehabilitation. I think it’s first important to acknowledge the sacrifices made to make this happen.”
“Sacrifice? Pffft.” Momma shakes her head and looks at her feet.
With the window behind her, her fried blond tresses look more like a halo than hair. She looks gaunt and her skin is tinged gray.
“Your daughter flew a long way to be here. She’s here for you.” Ana Lucia tries her best to ease the tension.
“I’m here, Momma. You can talk to me,” I say with a shudder as the air conditioning kicks on.
“You want me to talk?” She chews on the side of her thumb, still not looking at me as her knee shakes. “You really want to hear what I have to say?”
I shrug and Ana Lucia raises a hand.
“Why don’t we scale it back a moment and start with something small. It might be nice to simply acknowledge that the other person is here today. So, I will start.” She turns to face my mom. “Mona, I acknowledge that you are here today, and I thank you for being present.”
Momma arches an eyebrow as Ana Lucia smiles at her and then looks to me.
“Why don’t you go next, Megan?”
I take a deep breath. I’ve seen this movie before. I know how this is going to end. But it doesn’t make me want to try it any less.
“Momma,” I say, my voice shaking as I shiver. “I’m glad that you’re here today. Thank you for being present.”
Ana Lucia grins as if she’s just brokered world peace. Momma looks from Ana Lucia to me and back again. She sits up, ready to ‘acknowledge’ me in whatever way she’s going to when the door opens.
“Sorry I’m late.”
My shoulders stiffen at the sound of Kyle’s voice, but as he approaches, it’s as if the room narrows in on him and I can’t move.
“Hey there, baby girl,” he says, shooting me a wink as he smacks his gum. Time hasn’t been kind to him, but from the looks of it, neither has his lifestyle. His leathery, tanned skin is pockmarked and when he grins, his teeth are yellowed and I see at least one gray cavity between his teeth.
“Where have you been?” Momma asks him, her gaze laser-focused on him.
He approaches and tugs on a piece of hair before sitting in the chair between us.
“And you must be Kyle?” Ana Lucia says with a broad smile.
“Yes, ma’am,” he says, sticking his hands in his pockets and leaning back in his chair, man spreading like only a truly mediocre man can. He is closer than I realize, close enough to nudge my knee with his.
“Looking good, Megsy,” he says with a wink.
I try to open my mouth and tell him not to call me that. Tell him to go stuff himself and leave me the fuck alone. But all I can do is turn my legs so they’re not within reach. I wrap my arms around my stomach as the adults talk and I try to keep my shit together.
“Megan?” Ana Lucia asks, concern on her face. “Do you have any questions about the process?”
I blink up at her, feeling Kyle’s shit brown eyes laser focused on me. No, not me. On my breasts. I shiver and it has nothing to do with the room temperature.
“Megan?” Ana Lucia repeats.
“What’s he doing here?” I ask.
Ana Lucia blinks, looking startled. Her gaze flickers over to Momma and back. “Oh, well…”
“You mean you didn’t tell her the good news, baby?” Kyle says, flashing a matte silver ring on his left hand.
“Oh, you know how good news gets confused with her,” Momma says, waving him off playfully with her left hand.
