BOUGHT: A Standalone Romance

by Glenna Sinclair

  Not for the first time, I wish my life were normal. If it were, I’d have a mom and dad to talk to, to cheer me on through all of my mishaps. Hell, if I had a normal life I wouldn’t be dealing with a deranged psycho and a temperamental drunk.

  Danger seems to be attracted to my very existence. Ever since I was young, I’ve been the one to fall out of a tree. I was the one who broke her arm. I was the one who fell in love too fast and too severely, with the type of men who seemed determined to break my heart.

  My vision begins to swim as I try to concentrate on walking. I sniffle, choke. Tears well up in me until there’s no going back, no stopping them. Wet, hot tears, coursing down my cheeks, breaking up my vision of the world around me into fractured images. It’s happening again.

  All of those years ago, I’d created façades. I was Kathy, the practical one. Dolly, the sweet one who always had to rely on someone. Angela, the fierce seductress who needed no one. Not for years have I felt like exactly who I’ve always been: Katie, the one who tries to hide it all.

  “Stop it,” I mumble to myself, drawing the attention of a businessman in a too-tight suit. He hurries away, lowering his head and clutching his briefcase a little tighter. “Stop it. You’re better than this. You can’t let it all fall apart.”

  It’s too late for that, though; it is all falling apart. The world I had so carefully crafted is ending, going down in a fiery blaze of the unknown that scares me shitless. I’ve always known what life is: sheltered, hard, easy, sleazy. There have always been stages to my personality and the challenges around me, but now I’m in uncharted territory. It isn’t a good feeling.

  To top it all off, I have nowhere to go. I’ve given up my loft, since I’m running from Nathan and had opted to move in with Connor, but that had been a mistake. He doesn’t know how to keep his foot out of his mouth, doesn’t know how to respect me for who I am. It’s enough to remind me of Nathan, of the ways he tore me down until I felt like less than nothing.

  I am never going to allow that to happen again. I have a son to look after now, and even though Mary is supposed to be leaving, I have a plan to ask her to stay as well. She’s been his mother from the time he was born, and I need all of the help I can get. I stop, reach into my bag, and find a small pack of tissues. Rubbing my eyes dry, I have no doubt that the makeup I was wearing is probably smudged over my skin.

  Where was my car? I wander a bit more before I find it. There’s a sheet of lined paper sticking out from underneath one of my windshield wipers. Snatching it out, I crumple it in my hand before sliding inside. Either it’s from Nathan, or Connor, and I don’t think of Connor as the type to stick pieces of paper beneath the window wipers.

  Nathan.

  I want to push him as far out of my mind and life as humanly possible, but for some reason he keeps coming back. Nathan is a disease. The more I try to get rid of him, the more he digs his way back in. I toss the ball of paper onto the seat beside me.

  There is no way I’m going to open that note, not now. I can’t afford to be vulnerable right now, and I definitely can’t afford to break down right now. Checking my eyes in the mirror, I clean my face up as best I can before I turn the car on. .

  First things first: I need to deposit the considerable check in my purse in the bank. All I need to really polish off the day is for my money to be stolen. That money is going to get Kyle and me a nice place to live, with a cute little attachment for Mary so she can have some privacy. The city is looking less and less appetizing; I’m ready to find a cute little house in the suburbs.

  Never thought I would be thinking things like that. Then again, the only things I’ve been thinking of the last few years have been paying the rent, sending money for Kyle, and keeping my head down. It hasn’t done any good anyway, and I’m running out of my twenties faster and faster, it seems.

  I pull into the bank’s parking lot, happy for once that it’s bustling with people. More people means more coverage, more security. I step out of the car, careful to make sure it’s locked up tightly before I head inside.

  Normally, if I’m not having such a bad day, depositing my checks and cash is my favorite part of the day. The way the banker’s eyes go round holds a certain satisfaction to it. I grew up in a small town, never had much to my name. Now, it’s different. Or at least it had been.

  After helping Connor with his little scheme to help his parents, I decided that I didn’t want to be an escort anymore. I couldn’t have a happy home that way, not constantly worrying whether someone in my child’s life would find out what I do or if it would bring danger back to our doorstep. Having to think about a child is a new experience, but I’m improving. Or at least I hope I am.

  The blonde with a pinched face slides me my receipt. I pocket it before stepping back outside. Looking both ways, I make my way to the car only when I’m sure that Nathan is nowhere sneaking around. The old paranoia has made its way back to sit firmly in my chest. Great.

  I pull out my phone before I pull up what I’ve been researching. There are houses that are both beautiful and inexpensive enough I wouldn’t have to pay them off forever. I want something manageable, something affordable in case things go south while I’m searching for a job.

  As I pull back out into traffic, that thought sticks in my mind. What if I’m not good at anything else? The last time I held a “real” job I was sixteen years old, working as a part-time bag girl at the grocery store. My resume can be summed up in just a couple words: “cashier” and “classified.”

  I almost jump out of my skin when my phone begins to ring. Fumbling for it, I see that it’s Mary. She and Kyle are back at the hotel, safe and sound. I told them to stay put until I pick them up, but with all of the excitement, I forgot.

  So much for being a good mom. I exit the freeway and head back in the opposite direction. When I’m on course for their hotel, I dial Mary back.

  “I’m so sorry! It’s been a crazy day.”

  Mary chuckles, but is cut short with a deep, raspy cough. “Don’t be sorry. We’re just fine. It turns out that I was a little tired anyway, so I took a nap.”

  “I’m glad I didn’t screw up too badly,” I say, feeling relief flood my body. “I’m on my way to pick you two up now.”

  “I’ll wake Kyle out of his videogame-induced coma,” she says, laughing. “That boy and his technology.”

  “Hey, Mary,” I call before she can hang up. “Did you think about what I said last night?”

  There’s silence on the other line. I asked Mary to move in with Kyle and me. She was only supposed to be in town to drop him off and help him get adjusted to living with me, and then she was going to leave Kyle with me. Mary’s mother had never accepted the fact that Kyle was adopted, and he isn’t welcome in her home while she’s going to be taking care of Mary. The silence on the other end finally breaks.

  “We’ll talk about it when you get here. Just park the car and I’ll come down by myself.”

  I nod. “Okay. See you in fifteen minutes.”

  That doesn’t sound very promising. I’m not just asking Mary to stay because I don’t want to be left alone with a child when I’ve had not a drop of prior training. No, I have come to like Mary since she’s been here. She’s what a mother is supposed to be. On top of that, Kyle adores her. I don’t want him to think that I’m ripping her away from him or trying to fill her place. Most of all, I want them both to be happy.

  I pull up in front of the hotel and call Mary. Stepping out of the car, I smoke a cigarette quickly so she won’t have to be around the smoke when she comes down. Having lung cancer had taken its toll on Mary, and she’s toting around an oxygen tank more and more. Still, she has a smile on her face as she walks to the car.

  When I first saw Mary recently, she was sick and frail. Nothing like the fashionable, exuberant woman that I’d chosen to adopt my son. The medicine is doing a number on her, but I’ve always thought it’s more than that. She lost her husband, and the stress of trying to support
both herself and Kyle while dealing with her mother must have been a nightmare. In the last few weeks, though, she has begun to flourish. Her hair is pinned into a neat bun, she’s dabbed on a little makeup, and the yellow sundress she wears moves delicately around her legs. I quickly snub the cigarette out under my toe before blowing the smoke in the opposite direction.

  “You look amazing,” I say with a smile.

  Mary blushes. “Well, we’re going out. I figured I’d dress up a little.”

  She slips inside of the car, leaving the tank outside so she doesn’t have to wrestle it into my small car. I do the same, enjoying the warm arm and the sun. Sighing, she turns to me. My throat is tight. Of course I want to hear what she has to say, but I’m nervous too.

  “I don’t know if I can stay here,” she says finally.

  “Why not?”

  Mary shakes her head. “I’m going to die. I don’t want Kyle around when I do. That will hit him so hard, and I’m afraid that he’d never recover from it.”

  It’s my turn to shake my head. “Kyle is strong, really strong. What do you think is going to happen when you just disappear? How is he going to feel when he gets older and knows that he never went to your funeral or got to spend your last moments together? Please, I’m not just asking for me. Kyle deserves better, from both of us.”

  Mary is tearing up. I reach into my purse and hand her a tissue. Silent, I give her a moment to collect herself.

  “I’m scared,” she finally whispers.

  I chuckle. “I am too.”

  We sit outside for a while longer discussing the arrangements that will have to be made. In the end, though, I convince her that staying in California is best. By the time we have hashed everything out, we’re both looking relieved. Her phone rings.

  “Oh, yes. Just lock up and come downstairs so we can go, honey.”

  “Wait!” I yell a little too loudly, scaring Mary. “Sorry. It’s just that I’ll go up and get him. You can never be too careful.”

  Mary looks me up and down. I haven’t told her about seeing Nathan up close yet; I haven’t wanted her to worry. I know it’s a conversation that needs to happen soon, but now is not the time for it. She turns back to her phone.

  “Angela’s coming up to get you. Hang tight.”

  I step out of the car, closing the door before I help get the oxygen tank in the car. When I go into the hotel, I peek around every corner before I jog up the stairs to the correct floor. Knocking on the door, I can hear the sounds of simulated sirens and gunshots through the door. After knocking several more times, Kyle comes to the door.

  “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you,” he says, looking at me sheepishly.

  I laugh. “I figured as much. Come on, your mom’s downstairs waiting.”

  “Where are we going?” he asks as he closes the door and follows behind me.

  “House hunting. I know you have to be sick of this hotel by now.”

  Kyle nods. “Yeah, I could go for my own room.”

  I laugh as we ride the elevator down to the first floor. We step out, and I glance around the room nervously. Once I’m sure the coast is clear, we move outside to the car. Mary smiles at us from the front seat.

  “All set?” I ask, glancing up into the rearview mirror at Kyle.

  “Yep,” he calls back before he’s immersed in his game again.

  I nod as I pull out of the parking lot to join the thickening traffic again. Feeling a bit lighter than I was feeling before, I’m excited. Knowing that Mary will stay with us helps me relax considerably. I’ll have a teammate, someone to help me navigate the treacherous waters of being a mom.

  We traverse all over town looking at houses, imagining where we would put our beds, furniture, and decorations, and what we’d do with the extra space. Kyle wants a basketball hoop so he can practice. Mary just wants a shady spot to garden. I want a big bedroom with an attached bathroom. After all, I’m never more at home than I am in the bathtub with a glass of wine and a good book.

  None of our options are perfect though. We keep looking. After an impromptu lunch, we stopped at our last house for the day. Instantly, we know it’s the one. The house is a cottage style in a soft peach hue with white trim. The long walkway is done in red brick. Once we reach a white fence, we walked underneath a black trellis covered with purple climbing flowers. Mary runs a hand over them eagerly.

  After I let us inside, we stare at the place in awe. The house is naturally cool, with softly painted walls. The kitchen is perfect, neat, with an island in the middle and tall barstools in front of them. There is a separate dining room that holds sliding double doors leading out to the backyard. Mary quickly loses interest in the house itself and wanders out into the garden in the backyard while Kyle and I continue to explore. There are four bedrooms in all, and the master bedroom even has an attached bathroom with a large Jacuzzi tub. I wonder if I’m in heaven.

  “What do you think?” I ask Kyle.

  “It doesn’t have a basketball hoop.”

  I laugh. “We could fix that easily enough.”

  Kyle nods. “Then I like it. Can we have a pool?”

  “Sure.”

  “And a dog?”

  I raise an eyebrow at him. “Who’s taking care of this dog?”

  “I am! Come on, it’ll be so cool. He can guard the house, and I could take him for walks and let him sleep in my bed…”

  “You know you have to ask your mom first, right?”

  Kyle pouts. “You’re both my mom. Having two moms is hard,” he mumbles, walking off to talk to Mary.

  I have to stop the hot tears colleting in my eyes. I will not cry, I will not cry, I will to cry. Although he’s been calling me Angela, it’s nice to know that he thinks of me as him mom. It’s at this moment that I realize something: it doesn’t matter what else happens. As long as I have Mary and Kyle, everything will be okay.

  I wish I could say that’s a wonderful feeling, that it makes all of the panic and worry dissolve. It helps a little, but it doesn’t matter whether it does or not. I will keep fighting for them no matter what happens.

  Strange. It seems as though overnight I had no one, except Zoey of course, and now a little family seems to be forming around me quickly. I glance around at the house again and nod. This is it. This is the one.

  Kyle is walking back over with Mary. “Mom says you guys have to talk about it.”

  I glance at Mary with a smile. “I think that’s exactly what needs to happen. Come on, let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?” Kyle asks.

  I place my arm around his shoulder as I lead him back to the car. “To put a dent in my bank account. We’re buying this house.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Two weeks later, the house has its doors and windows flung open. Mary is sitting on the floor, carefully unpacking a bag that contains her books. Her mother hadn’t been happy that she was staying, but she sent her stuff quickly just to get it out of her house. Kyle runs through, carrying a box of his video games to his room.

  I sigh. My life is coming together again. There has been no sign of Nathan since that first day, and I’m beginning to find relief. Maybe he went back home. Maybe he won’t find me out here. Still paranoid, I always check my surroundings when leaving the city. It may be crazy, but there’s no measure too big to avoid having him back in my life.

  Glancing around, I can really say that I’m happy. Except, I can’t get Connor out of my head. I think about him often and find myself missing him. All I can think about are his eyes, glancing into mine. The way that we had laughed when he let down his walls and was himself for once.

  “Go see him,” Zoey has chimed more than once. “Besides, you can’t avoid him forever. All of your stuff is at his house.”

  I stubbornly shook my head. “I don’t want to see Connor. Not until I can trust that he won’t hurt me.”

  Zoey sighed in exasperation, but shrugged. “Have it your way. Just don’t bring him up again if you’re not plannin
g on doing anything about it.”

  I had been so pissed at Zoey that we didn’t talk for three days. Part of me knows that she’s right, and I should just face him. However, I’m terrified. Connor has stopped calling, stopped texting. What if he doesn’t even want to see me anymore?

  “Go see him,” Mary says.

  “What are you talking about?” I ask with a frown on my face. “Go see who?”

  Mary cocks an eyebrow. “You know who I’m talking about. Stop being stubborn.”

  “How do you even know what I’m thinking?”

  “You only get that look in your eye when you’re thinking about him,” Mary says, a small smile on her lips that looks tempered with sadness.

  “Fine,” I say finally, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’ll go see him. Tomorrow.”

  “Today. Now, in fact. Kyle and I don’t need any help. Besides, you brought the car for us, so if we do need to go anyway, we’ll be fine on our own.”

  “What about—”

  “I’ll be careful,” she says pointedly.

  I nod. A few days ago, I finally told Mary about Nathan. The only reason I’d finally let it out was because we’d run into a man that looked very much like him and I knew that Mary at least had to know. Neither of us has told Kyle; we don’t want to freak him out. Sighing, I push my fingers through my hair.

  “Maybe I should call him first. What if he’s with someone or something?” I mumble.

  Mary laughs. “You’re so see-through. Go. See. Him. Now! Get out of our hair.”

  I laugh at Mary and shake my head. “Okay, okay! I’m going.”

  Once I reach my bedroom, the old jitters come back. There’s a lot about Connor that I still don’t know, but the bad sides of him are bad indeed. The way he drinks, the way he likes to be in control, the way his tongue could cut to the bone of my very existence…I don’t know if he’s any good for me. Still, I feel the longing. I want to feel his hand brush against my face, his lips graze my mouth, my arm wrapped around his. I miss every part of him.

  Opening my closet, I push through my clothes. There isn’t much, since, as Mary said, my clothes are still at his house. I opt for a pair of dark blue jeans, a purple sweater, and my sneakers. Maybe if I dress like this, I’ll be less tempted to end up in his bedroom. I pull my hair up into a ponytail before I grab my bag and head back out to the living room.