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“You’ll never take him from me,” Nova ground out. “You know that, right?”
“Nova, you’re a child. I’d never give guardianship of my child to another child. That’s ridiculous.”
Nova was shaking as she glared at her mother, her entire body so stiff and brittle that as I pulled her toward the front door, I was a little worried I’d hurt her.
“I’ve been taking care of Bird since I waseight years old, you heinous bitch,” Nova hissed as I practically carried her away.
“I don’t want to involve the police, but I will,” Ava muttered, brushing her hands down her shirt and pulling her purse strap higher on her shoulder.
“Bullshit,” I shot back, unable to keep my mouth shut anymore. “You involve the police, they might find your stash.”
“Excuse me?”
“Get the fuck off my property,” I barked, herding Ash and Nova into the house.
“The gall,” Ash spat as I closed the door behind us.
“Bird?” Nova called. “Where are you?”
“Bedroom,” he replied, coming out of the guest room.
“You’re not going to lunch with Ava,” Nova bit out.
It occurred to me suddenly that any time we’d discussed Ava in the past, Nova had always called her mom. She’d only started calling her Ava after she’d shown up the week before.
“Good,” Bird replied. “I didn’t want to.”
“If she tries to make you go anywhere with her, don’t get in her car, okay?”
“When is she going to try and take me?” Bird asked nervously.
“She’s not,” Nova said, slashing her hand through the air. “I’m just saying if she invites you somewhere and me and Nana aren’t with you, don’t go.”
“Does she want me to live with her?” Bird asked quietly. “Is that why you were yellin’?”
My stomach sank as I took him in. He was trying to be nonchalant, crossing his arms over his chest and keeping his voice steady, but all you had to do was look at his face to see the fear and the hope, and the confusion. He was happy that his mom was showing an interest—what eleven-year-old kid wouldn’t be—but he was terrified, too.
As Nova tried to explain things to him, I quietly went out the front door. Ava was standing next to her car, smoking a cigarette. She watched me silently as I made my way toward her.
“How much?”
“What?”
“How much will it take for you to sign some papers and leave them alone?” I asked, my mind racing with different ways I could make some fast cash.
“You’re trying to pay me off?” she spat.
“Not sure why you’re here,” I said reasonably, watching her face. “But it sure as hell isn’t to take Bird to actually raise him.”
“You don’t know what I want.”
“Then tell me, and we’ll work something out.”
“I remember you, you know,” she said, taking a puff of her cigarette. “I saw you a few times when you were little.”
“Cool.” I had no idea where she was going with the change in conversation.
“Didn’t figure you’d grow up to follow my daughter around like a puppy,” she said with a shrug.
