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The sun was going down, but other than the waning light, she saw nothing of the color. No, the alley was already getting dark, and she heard sirens and truck brakes, car horns and loud bangs. The smell of the dumpster down below her…
Devon glanced at her phone and noted the texts she’d received during her interview. Her mom and Dara, Logan and Zoey—
Oz.
She clicked on them one by one, reading complaints that she’d left without saying goodbye followed by well wishes for her interview. For her happiness. All of the texts ended with love and she felt that love through the digital device.
She’d also missed a call and a video call from Oz, and when she checked her voicemail, she found a message from him as well.
Hey, Devon, I stopped by the house yesterday morning because I wanted to tell you… I wanted to tell you that I’m here for you. Always. Good luck with the interview and with Ted, with everything. I, uh, wish you all the best. Knock ’em dead.”
The messaged ended with a click, and Devon lowered the phone and stared out toward the street once again.
When she thought of friends she could contact in New York right now, no one came to mind. Most were acquaintances at best. Not people she could share her problems with and ask for advice. More than anything, they’d probably tell her to work while she could and then stick around for the ride as Ted rose among the political set. That was more important to people who planned their divorce before planning their wedding.
And the interview today? It had gone well. It was a good position in the network, one that could lead to more in time.
So why hadn’t she accepted it immediately?
She picked up her phone and hit Dara’s number. Her sister picked up on the second ring.
“Hey, how’d it go?”
Devon pressed her fingers to her forehead and rubbed, unable to stop the migraine forming. Her father, her mother, Oz, Ted—
“Dev? You okay?”
She inhaled and shook her head. “No,” she said softly, voice thick.
“Oh, no. You didn’t get the job?”
“I did.”
“O-kay,” Dara said, drawing out the word, “so what’s up? What’s wrong?”
“I think… I think it’s just all hitting me.”
“Well, that’s understandable. We haven’t had much time to process things with everything going on with Mama. It’s okay. It’s understandable.”
“Then why aren’t you…?”
“Maybe because in the business I’m in, not a lot surprises me anymore.”
“You sound jaded.”
“I suppose I am. But, hey, it’s a good living, I like what I do—I just don’t necessarily like the people I’m asked to investigate, you know?”
“Have you investigated… Dad?” Silence followed the question, and Devon stared out at the rapidly darkening alley. “I knew there was a reason you distanced yourself. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Dev—”
“How bad was it?”
“I’m not going to bash the dead. It won’t do any good. Oh, hey, I’ve got good news, too,” Dara said before she went on to explain about the settlement with the lawsuit.
“That’s great.”
“I know, right? I think Mama’s about float away she’s so happy. You should see her.”
