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“And what did you say?”
“Told her he didn’t want her. That she was better off without him.”
Tatum felt a pang for her niece. She and Sutton had lived with a father who didn’t seem to want them around. Nice for Sutton to just spell it out so clearly for her six-year-old.
“We would’ve been better off without Dad,” Sutton reminded her.
“Maybe.” Tatum shoved her hands in her pockets. “Except he did keep a roof over our heads.”
“Can I have the money for Bryony’s dental work?”
Tatum sighed and eyed her sister silently for a moment. “How much do you need?”
“Six hundred.”
“For a filling?”
Sutton nodded.
“Where do you live? With Bill?”
“We’re in Iowa. I told you that.”
“But where? Why can’t I know your address? Why can’t I meet Bill?”
“Are you gonna come and visit me? Is that why you need to know my address?”
“I would love to come and visit you, Sutton.”
“It’s a trailer.” Sutton looked away. “And Bill’s nice, but he’s not working right now. He hurt his back. So, you know, the three of us in that trailer all the time, it’s messy.”
Tatum wondered if Bryony needed the six hundred bucks or if Bill needed it for something.
“How’d you find me?”
Sutton snorted. “White pages look up on my phone.” She swung her gaze around to look at Tatum again. “Why? Is that why you keep moving? To hide from me?”
Just like Sutton to turn things around on her.
“I keep moving to get away from the people I hurt every time you break my heart.”
“You fuckin’ that guy in there?” Sutton quirked an eyebrow at her. “He’s pretty hot.”
Tatum bit her lip. Reminded herself it wouldn’t do any good to continue this conversation, certainly nothing good would come of her talking about Charlie to her sister.
“Are they in Long Grove?” Tatum sniffled.
“No. They’re at Bill’s place.”
“You left your little girl home alone in a different state with a man you’ve known for a few months.”
Sutton took a step backwards. “I get it. I suck at being a mom. I know you’d do it so much fucking better.”
“I would,” Tatum agreed. “I sure as fuck would, Sutton.”
“Do you have the money?” Sutton made a show of examining her fingernails.
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