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Marie places the baby in one of the cribs and Louella takes the floor.
“Hi, we haven’t formally met. I’m Zoe, one of the owners. I wanted to pop in to see how you’re settling in.”
“They said it was okay to bring Kieleigh in until I get her in preschool.”
“Of course.”
“Okay. Good. I really need this job. My boyfriend is…well he’s not a good guy and I worry he’ll try to snatch her when I’m not with her. I assure you, though, that my personal problems won’t impede my job here.”
I want to ask her the question burning on the tip of my tongue, only I don’t want to come off intrusive.
“Don’t worry. We have a great security system in place. No one enters without being buzzed in or unless they know the code. I update it every week.”
“Louella explained a little about how things operate. You’ve got a really nice place here.”
“Thank you. I hope you’ll be with us for a while. Previously the women Lily sends are way are only passing through for a short period of time.”
“I hope so, unless that jerk finds us.”
“Do you have a restraining order against him?”
She shakes her head.
“You really should, honey.”
Marie twists her fingers in knots. “I would if they had an address to serve him. Before things got bad, we stayed with friends. Couch surfing. Then we slept in the car for a bit. He kept breaking his promises. I didn’t care what happened to me, but Kieleigh deserved better. He wasn’t always violent. Only when he’d drink.”
I touch her hand. “I had one of those two. I’m glad you got away. It’ll get better. I promise.”
My cell vibrates and I excuse myself to check the message.
Kimber and Kiesha. They want my opinion on a dress.
She’s found something short, shimmery, and silver.
I instruct her to get it if she loves it.
I scroll down to my text from Prodigy.
Zoe: It’s been a busy day. I’d settle for a beer.
The message is read almost as quickly as it was received. The text dots move on the screen.
Prodigy: I’ll see you at seven, beautiful.
I clutch my phone to my chest.
Chapter Nine
I wanted to ask Marie more questions and dig a little deeper. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable or freak her out. I wave bye to her and Louella, promising myself that I’ll put in a call to Lily this week to get a little more background on her. There’s this heavy hunch tightening in my gut. Everything about her story and that little girl screams Adam. I know he’s not the only abusive prick out there.
But I can’t shake this sensation. This buzzing in my ears that’s warning me that I’ve not seen the last of him. Call it intuition or paranoia. There’s a reason he’s in town and I highly doubt it’s seeing our daughters, considering he didn’t recognize Kiesha today. Hell, how could he though? It’s not like he ever tried for visitations once I finally kicked him to the curb.
The only time he ever made contact was to ask for stuff. Like if I had his tools because he wanted to pawn or sell them. And not to give the money to me and the girls for their care.
It was always some sob story about his car not working or needing some new boots for a job he was about to start. Gas money. All of it was lies. He wanted drug or liquor money. I’m convinced he will never grow up. Never take accountability.
I run in one of the gas stations to grab a Mountain Dew Live Wire. Kiesha got me started drinking them back over the summer. I’ve never been big on drinking pop, but this one is addictive and gives me a boost. On the way back to my house, the low tire pressure sensor goes off. Ugh. The last thing I want to do is deal with a flat or have to call someone to change my tire. Though if I have a repeat of the last time I had a flat, my brother may kill me.
