by Chiah Wilder
“Emily has had seven unexcused absences this month. I have no choice but to turn her over to the school board for habitual truancy.”
“What does that mean?” Belle’s head was spinning.
“It means that Emily will have to go before the Truancy Court. She could end up getting juvenile detention, home arrest, or have a suspended sentence.”
Belle hung her head down. Tears slipped out of her eyes and trickled down her cheeks, dropping onto her hands in her lap. “I don’t know what to say. I thought she was coming to school. I don’t know what more I can do. I’m a single mom and I have to work long hours. I’m doing the best I can to provide for my family, but I feel like I’m giving my daughter up in the process. Can’t you give her another chance? Please don’t turn this over to the courts. I’ll make sure she comes to school. I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back on track.”
“I feel for you, Mrs. Dermot. It’s tough raising children on your own, and even harder when money is tight. The problem is, this is the second warning. I sent a letter home last semester because Emily was missing too much school.”
“A letter? I don’t remember getting a letter.”
The principal opened a file on his desk and pulled out a letter, handing it to Belle. She took it from him and scanned it. Her eyes dropped down to her signature on the letter, and she knew immediately it had been forged. She felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. “That’s not my signature,” she whispered.
“I figured as much. I wish there was something more I could do, Mrs. Dermot, but I am bound by the law. I have no choice but to report your daughter as a habitual truant. I am sorry.” He looked at her, and Belle saw empathy in his eyes.
“What happens now?” she asked him.
“I think you should get your daughter a lawyer. I always recommend that to parents.”
Belle thanked him and left, then headed straight to Cara’s office. After she told Cara about the situation, she leaned back in the chair, saying a prayer that the young attorney could help her and her daughter.
“I can help you with the truancy case, but it isn’t as easy as Emily just getting detention. In some cases, depending a lot on the judge, a truant kid could be removed from the home.”
Sudden coldness hit her to the core as she asked in a shaky, disbelieving voice, “Removed from the home? They would take Emily away from me?”
Cara nodded. “I really wouldn’t have brought that up, but Judge Richter is the one presiding over the truancy cases now. He’s a tough SOB, and his tendency is to blame parents for everything their kids do. Of course, I’ll fight hard for Emily and for you, but she has to be prepared that she may go to detention. I’ll try hard to get home arrest for her, and I’ll fight even harder for her to stay in the home with you. But Judge Richter isn’t going to like the fact that she doesn’t have much supervision in the home due to the number of hours you work.”
“This is insane! I don’t want to work as many hours as I do, but I don’t have a goddamned choice. If I don’t work, I don’t make money. If I don’t make money, we don’t have a house or food. How can he sit there on the bench, acting so high and mighty with his big salary, and pass judgment on parents who work hard to give their children a home? I can’t believe this is happening.”
“I know. He doesn’t get it, but we’re stuck with him. I’ll do my best to fight for you, to explain your situation, and tell him that you have a handle on it now that you’re aware of the problem. I’m not saying he’s going to take Emily away, but I just wanted you to be prepared that it could happen.”
“If he takes Emily from me, where would she go?”
Cara said in a soft voice, “Foster care.”
Breathlessness overtook Belle, and she gripped the sides of her head as if to cover her ears. “Foster care?” She said the two words as though they were dirty, disgusting, and not relevant to her and her family.
“Unless Emily can stay with a family member or friend who can offer supervision. But again, I’m not saying this is going to happen. It’s just a possibility, especially in Judge Richter’s court.”
Spreading her fingers out in a fan against her breastbone, Belle said, “Okay. I just have to think about all this. It’s too much right now to absorb. How much is this going to cost me?”
“Nothing. I’ll do the case pro bono. Leave everything up to me, but make sure that from today on, Emily goes to school every day. If she misses one day without an excuse, there’s not much I can do to help her. You may want to think about an alternative if the judge decides to pull her from the home.”
With glistening eyes, Belle said in a low voice, “I want to pay you something. I don’t want handouts, and I don’t want to be a charity case. I insist on paying you something.”
“It’s okay, really. You’re paying me for Emily’s other case, so it’s all good. I don’t regard this as a charity case. You have more than enough on your plate right now, Belle, I’m sure you don’t need anything more.”
Taking a tissue from her purse, Belle dabbed the corners of her eyes. She rose to her feet, walked over to Cara, and extended her hand. Cara shook it, and Belle smiled and whispered, “Thank you so much. I appreciate this more than you’ll ever know.” She turned around and left the office.
When she arrived home after work that evening, she saw Emily sitting on the couch, staring at the computer screen.
Belle sat in the chair opposite the couch, and said in an even voice, “I have to talk to you about something.”
Emily jerked her head up, stared at her mother, and shrugged.
“Your principal called me in this morning for a meeting. It seems that you’ve been skipping school. You’ve already skipped seven times this past month.” Belle smoothed out the wrinkle in her uniform. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
Emily’s jaw clenched and her eyes narrowed. “Why should I bother to tell you anything? I can see you already made up your mind, and you’re siding with him.”
“I’m not siding with anyone. I heard his side of the story this morning. Now, I want to hear yours. Have you skipped school?”
“Of course I skipped school. I hate it there! You’re the one who dragged us to Pinewood Springs. You made me give up my friends and our home. When dad was around, things were so much better, but since you took over, everything has gone to shit. I hate it here. I hate my life. I hate you!” Emily jumped up from the couch, ran up the stairs, and slammed her bedroom door.
Belle dashed after her, stopping in front of her door. She knocked. “Open the door, Emily.”
“Just leave me the fuck alone.”
“Emily, I told you to open the door. Now.” Belle stood by the door and heard her daughter sobbing. Her heart broke, but anger also flowed within her. If only she could take Emily in her arms as she used to when she was a young girl and tell her that everything would be all right. It seemed so simple back then: a hug, her fingers through her daughter’s hair, and all was good. How had life changed so drastically? “Emily, I’m still waiting for you to open the door.”
Something large crashed against the door. “I told you to leave me the fuck alone. If you don’t, then I’m breaking everything in the room.”
Before Belle answered, she heard whimpering coming from Ethan’s room. She walked over to his door and knocked on it. There was no answer. Trying the knob, she turned it and entered. Ethan, sitting at the head of his bed, curled up in a ball, shook like a leaf. In that instant, her heart shattered into a million pieces. She dashed over to him and pulled him into her arms. His small arms hugged her waist, and he nestled his head against her chest. As she stroked his head, she whispered, “Shh… It’s going to be okay. Don’t worry about anything; I’ll always be here for you. Your sister and I are just going through a rough patch right now, but it has nothing to do with you. We both love you. It’s all okay.”
Ethan clung to her as she ran her fingers through his hair, rocking back and forth until he fell asleep
. She placed him on his pillow and covered him with his sheets and comforter, happy that he had calmed down and everything was all right with him again.
It’s so unfair to put Ethan through all this stress. I don’t know how to handle Emily. Maybe I can’t control her. Maybe it’s too late for us. I just know I can’t subject Ethan to this anymore. A pang of guilt stabbed her as she realized that, for the past year, it had all been about Emily—helping, placating, and understanding her—while Ethan seemed unscathed, but that night told her a different story. She had to think of Ethan and not only Emily. Not wanting to leave him, she sat in the rocking chair and watched her son sleep.
As the minutes turned into hours, Belle wrestled with the reality that she may lose her daughter to foster care. Holly’s offer of Emily living with her and Darren for the rest of the school year started sounding like a good alternative. The problem was she didn’t know how Emily would respond to it. What if she thought Belle was trying to get rid of her, discard her like a piece of trash? Would she ever understand her mother’s actions, or would she hate her for the rest of her life? Belle wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but she knew she would never give her daughter up to an impersonal system that treated children like collateral. If Emily couldn’t live with her, then she’d live with Holly—someone she knew and cared about.
Belle bent over and grabbed the afghan on top of the trunk at the foot of Ethan’s bad, wrapping it around her shoulders. She leaned her head against the rocking chair and closed her eyes, welcoming the darkness sleep brought.
Chapter Seven
Friday night had finally arrived, and Belle was excited to go out and have a night on her own. After work, she took Ethan to his friend Luke’s house for a sleepover and dropped Emily off at Chelsea’s house, where she’d spend the night. Belle spoke to Chelsea’s parents just to make sure everything was legitimate so worrying about Emily wouldn’t ruin her night.
Satisfied that her kids were settled in, Belle rushed home to get ready before Holly came to pick her up. After showering and applying her makeup, Belle put on a black skirt a couple of inches above her knee, a black fitted sweater with silver metallic threads running through it, and mid-calf black boots with round silver studs, buckles, and a chunky three-inch heel. She checked herself out in the full-length mirror on her closet door and thought she didn’t look half bad. It’d been a long time since she’d dressed up to go out on the town. Having a free night felt like going on a vacation to her, and she may need a couple of margaritas to loosen her up, but she planned on having a good time. When she heard Holly’s car horn, she fluffed up her hair, grabbed her evening bag, and went out to meet her.
Belle could see the bright yellow sign with the black lettering which read Burgers & Beer Joint a couple blocks before Holly turned into the restaurant’s parking lot. The lot was almost full, and several people milled in front of the restaurant. Belle and Holly entered through oversized glass doors, and the heat from the kitchen surrounded them. The restaurant looked like a modern, urban eatery, with its glossed oak hardwood floors and red brick walls. Rich brown leather booths and wooden tables were scattered around the restaurant. Large planters of green plants and dried branches added warmth to the place. A long, wooden bar, complemented by bronzed barstools with rust leather cushions, was the focal point. There were ten beer taps pouring the best locally brewed beers from Colorado and New Mexico. Overhead, classic rock tunes played, drowned out by the din of chatter, clanging pots and pans, and raucous laughter.
The place was packed, and the wait was thirty minutes. Belle and Holly went to the bar and ordered a couple of beers. After she took a sip from her mug, Belle looked around the restaurant. “This doesn’t look much like a beer joint. When you told me were going to a beer and burger joint, I expected some hole in the wall.” Belle laughed. “This is the fanciest burger joint I’ve ever been to.”
“I know. The name gives you a different impression from the inside. This is a new place. Just opened three months ago. I heard the burgers are awesome.”
Half an hour later, Belle and Holly were shown to their table. Holly ordered a simple cheeseburger, and Belle ordered one of the signature burgers made with cream cheese and sliced pickled jalapeños.
“Scorpion called me today, and he talked a lot about you. You know, I think my brother has the hots for you.” Holly brought her beer to her lips.
“Isn’t it weird for you to call your brother ‘Scorpion’ when he’s been ‘Craig’ your whole life?”
“At first, it was, but he’s been going by Scorpion for a long time now.” She shrugged. “I guess I’m just used to it. Anyway, my brother can be a sweet guy. I know he comes off as being a badass, but he can be nice to the people he cares about. I know he really wants to get to know you better.”
Belle wasn’t sure what to say, so she took a slow, long pull on her beer as she formed her answer in her head. “I’m sure your brother is very nice.” Not. I think he’s a real jerk. “But I’m not interested in dating anyone right now. I have so much going on with work and my kids that I don’t have any energy left over for anything else. The timing just isn’t right.”
Holly stared at Belle, making her feel uncomfortable. She fidgeted in her chair and pretended to be engrossed in reading the label on the beer bottle. “You know, you’re going to have to get over trying to be Superwoman. There’s nothing wrong with having some time to yourself and going out with a nice guy. My brother’s really into you, and you could do worse, believe me.”
“It’s just not the right time.” Belle was grateful that their food arrived at that moment, since it diverted her friend’s attention.
The burgers were delicious, and Belle couldn’t figure out what seasoning she tasted that made hers more than just a juicy hamburger. She wished she could go into the kitchen and ask the chef, but she’d bet he wouldn’t divulge his secret. As they finished their meal, Belle had to order the raspberry velvet cheesecake sundae, because it just sounded so good. When the waitress placed it in front of her, she dug in, savoring the richness of cheesecake and vanilla ice cream with a burst of raspberry. Holly helped her with the last few bites.
“This meal was fantastic. I’m so glad we came here. I’m going to call Luke’s and Chelsea’s parents just to check in and make sure the kids are okay.”
Belle spoke briefly to both sets of parents, happy that everything was going all right. For the first time in a long time, she relaxed. She glanced around the restaurant, looking at the patrons and noticing many of them were coupled, a stab of loneliness gripping her momentarily. She missed the intimacy and fun of being a couple.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to the ladies’ room,” said Holly. “Don’t let them take away the dessert. I’m not done with it yet.” She smiled and left the table.
While Belle waited for Holly to return, the waiter brought over a strawberry margarita, and before she could say anything, he said, “Compliments of the gentleman at the bar.”
Belle slowly turned around and her eyes met Banger’s. Her pulse raced as a wide grin spread across her face. He tipped his beer bottle to her, smiled, and winked at her. Nodding, she raised her glass to him. Damn, he’s hot in his denim and leather. He exuded danger—that sense of the feral barely concealed below the surface. His impossibly handsome face, lean and muscular physique, and blond hair pulled back in a ponytail gave her a rush that went straight between her legs. The silver arrow earring dangling from his ear shimmered under the lights. For a split second, she yearned to go over to him, lean close, and lick his earlobe, and feel the earring hit against her chin. They held each other’s gazes, and the connection she felt when she looked at him was stronger than ever. The current that ran between them was like a live wire, electrifying her skin. It was like they were the only two people in the restaurant, his stare boring into her, and her body tingling and misbehaving.
“The bathroom is so cool. The stall doors and walls are bronze and copper. An awesome effect. I’ve
never seen anything like it.” Holly flopped down in her chair and motioned the waiter over.
Belle broke the stare between her and Banger, turning her head and focusing on what Holly was saying. As Holly continued to gush about the bathroom, Belle tuned her out. She could feel Banger’s eyes on her, and the thrill of knowing he was watching her made her tremble. When the waiter came over, Holly ordered another drink and Belle scooted her chair back, saying, “I’ve got to see this bathroom you keep talking about. I’ll be right back.” She stood up and glanced at the bar, disappointment setting in when she saw Banger was gone, and his seat was taken by a young man who had his girlfriend on his lap.
After checking out the bronze and copper décor of the ladies’ room, she reapplied her lipstick and exited. As she walked back to her table, an arm looped around her waist. “You look pretty tonight,” a gravelly voice said next to her ear.
Recognizing Banger’s voice, Belle placed her hand on top of his, smiled, and half-turned, her eyes latching onto his. “Thanks for the drink. Are you here alone?” The minute she asked the question, she regretted it. She didn’t want him to think she cared as much as she did.
His low chuckle washed over her. “Yeah, I’m here alone. Here with your best friend?”
She bobbed her head up and down. He pulled her closer against him, tightening his arms around her waist, and she loved the feel of him, and his crisp, fresh scent. But people kept bumping into them, since they were standing at the entrance to the hallway leading to the bathrooms.
“I think we’re in the way.” She laughed. “You want to join us?”
“Lead the way.”
When they arrived at the table, Belle saw Holly’s surprised look, and she also noticed how her friend raked her eyes over Banger. Belle’s muscles tightened, and she possessively placed her hands around his bicep. Smiling, he turned his head and kissed her cheek. He pulled her chair out, and Belle sat down then gestured the waiter for another round of drinks.
