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“She’s my mother, no matter what,” I snap back.
He turns his head momentarily. “Do you want her looked after, or do you want her saved?”
“S-Saved?” I stammer, not understanding what he means.
“I mean, put somewhere safe and helped off the drugs. That sort of saved. Or do you think she’s too far gone. Be honest with me, Shelby. I’ll only do the latter if you believe it will work.”
I think for a moment. Is there any hope of my mother being saved? I’ve tried numerous times, but it’s never worked. But then again, I’ve never had the money to give her the treatment she needs. My father’s death destroyed her, but there have been rare moments when she’s been a mother to me. From brushing my hair before bed every night to the occasional cuddle and chat that we still have even now. It’s a sign to me that she’s not completely lost.
“I think she can be saved. It won’t be easy. She’s got mental issues, but sometimes I see glimpses of my mother still,” I respond.
Eaton nods his head.
He presses a button on the wheel of the luxury car we’re in. It smells brand new and completely clean. It’s a strange odor to me, almost overwhelming.
“Hello,” the deep tone of a masculine voice answers at the other end of the call.
“Maxwell, can you arrange for Miss Jones' mother to be taken from the trailer and treated for her issues, please.”
“Of course. Tonight?”
“Yes, please.”
“What about the man she’s with?”
Eaton looks at me. I shiver as I remember what my mother’s doing right now. I feel sick, and I start rubbing my stomach.
“Deal with him in the manner he treats women,” Eaton responds and hangs up the call.
“What does that mean?” I query.
“Do you want the truth, or do you want the answer that won’t scare you even more than you are right now?” Eaton doesn’t turn to face me as he speaks. He keeps looking forward as he turns the indicator on before turning turn left into, what I guess, is a private airfield.
“He beats my mother.” I remember the numerous times my mother has been left black and blue after being with him. I should be scared because I know Eaton has just asked Maxwell, whoever he is, to beat my mother’s client up. I’m not, though. “I hope it hurts him.”
Eaton pulls the car to a halt in front of a plane. I think it must be a private jet, not that I know much about aircraft. I’ve never flown before, but this plane looks a lot smaller than the passenger jets I’ve seen.
“It will,” Eaton responds.
He doesn’t look at me as he gets out of the car. I sit in silence in the front seat, clutching tightly to my books. They were left in a trash can outside the library in Pharr a few years ago. They describe the anatomy and medical details for dogs, cats, and rabbits. I know them back to front, but I want to keep them with me. I like to dream that one day I’ll help animals.
“Out,” Eaton orders as he opens my door, making me jump.
I scramble quickly to obey his orders. He motions a man over with a flick of his finger. “Take Miss Jones' belongings onto the plane.”
The man tries to take the books from my hands, but I refuse to let go, and we have a brief tug-of-war over them.
“No please. I want to keep them with me.” I cling tightly to the books.
Eaton cracks his neck. His nostrils flare.
“Give me the books, Shelby, or I will forcibly take them from you and burn them.”
“Please, don’t.” I whimper. “Please, I need them.”
“Then give them to me.”
I reluctantly hand over my precious books to Eaton, and he passes them straight to the man he’d beckoned forward. I watch carefully as the man takes them and goes up the steps of the plane before disappearing.
