House Without Lies (Lily’s House Book 1)

by Rachel Branton

  I believed her, but she didn’t know how I’d threatened him into signing. Would he tell her? And there was still the other side of the issue—whether or not they’d stay with me. I’d heard horror stories about some foster homes. “Look, I know you mean well, but I’ve heard of so many times where kids keep being sent back into situations that turn out to be dangerous. I just don’t want that to happen to them.”

  “It’s true kids fall into the cracks. I’ve seen parents lie like crazy to get their children back, fooling everyone but the child, and I’ve seen social workers who are too overworked to see through the lies or to check up as often as they should. I’ve even seen children who die before we can help them. But that’s not going to happen here. These girls have you to fight for them. And now they have me.”

  On the surface, her comments were great for Zoey and Bianca, but they were also one more reason not to tell her about the other girls. I wasn’t willing to risk their lives, especially when Halla had barely escaped her father, and I still had no idea what Elsie had been through. “I’m not sure I can even pass any tests that DCS might require.”

  Bea leaned back again with a little sigh. “Fortunately—or unfortunately in some cases—that’s the easy part. It takes about thirty hours of training, but almost anyone can qualify to be a foster parent. And that’s why you’re here, right? To get licensed and learn how you can help the girls—though from what Mario has told me, you are probably a step ahead of most potential foster parents in terms of experience.”

  My stomach clenched as I wondered what else he’d said, but asking would look suspicious. “But I’m single, and my apartment isn’t the best.”

  She shook her head. “That might factor in with young children or children in high demand, but two Hispanic teenagers who want to be placed together aren’t going to be at the top of anyone’s list. As long as they have a place to sleep and food and a bathroom, and it’s not too crowded, it’ll be fine. We will have to do an onsite check, of course.”

  That’s what I was afraid of. Seven girls in a one-bedroom apartment was probably far too many, though we could clean up the fold-out chair beds and hide the other girls during the visit.

  Bea must have read something in my face that told her I was okay with her suggestion. “First let me get the ball rolling with the uncle. Until the state takes custody, there is no issue about the girls staying with you. Your guardianship papers give you all you need. So if you’ll give me their school information, I can drop by and chat with them. It’ll facilitate things if you call the school to let them know.”

  “I can do that.” No doubt she wanted to talk to them about staying with me, and that didn’t worry me. They wouldn’t talk about the other girls.

  “While I’m working it all out, you can concentrate on getting licensed.”

  “Okay.” With the decision made, the tension in my gut eased.

  “So, is there anything else you’d like to discuss?”

  My heart lodged somewhere in my throat. Just how much had Jameson told her? Had he hinted about the other girls? I was so going to kill him. As soon as I had the chance. For now, I needed to answer the social worker, but already my delay would have told her I was hiding something.

  Slowly, I shook my head. “Nothing you can help with.” That much was true. “I do have another girl living with me, but she’s almost eighteen, and she already passed the GED. Her parents kicked her out about a year ago. Her birthday is in less than two months, and she’s very in charge of her own life. She has no desire to see her parents or get involved with the state.” I smiled and added, “But I’ll ask her.”

  Bea studied me for a few seconds before nodding. “Fair enough. You’re probably right on all accounts—as long as she’s not technically a runaway with someone looking for her. Anyway, if she’s working and has a place to stay, a judge would probably emancipate her. Not all seventeen-year-olds are that independent.”

  Saffron hadn’t been either, not when I’d found her. But she was resilient, and she’d come back. She’d learned from her mistakes.

  “I’m glad she has you,” Bea added.

  I hoped she was sincere and wouldn’t show up at the apartment to harass Saffron. At least I hadn’t given her my address, and the court papers listed my previous residence. I hadn’t gotten around to changing the school records either, and I wouldn’t do it until I was sure how things would go with Zoey and Bianca.

  Bea stood and waved the guardianship papers. “Is it okay if I take a copy of these?”

  “Yes.”

  “Come with me, then. I’ll show you where the copy center is.” She laughed as she waited for me to go through the door. “Actually, it’s a glorified name for a closet with a copy machine in it. But you may need to make copies for activities, so I might as well show you now.”

  Huh? I followed her out, my brain scrambling to keep up.

  “Did Mario tell you that the job requires one evening a week?” Bea looked at me as we walked down the hall.

  “He didn’t say.”

  “Is that going to be a problem with the girls? They’re old enough for you to leave for one evening, I think. Or do you have someone who could stay with them?”

  I stopped walking. “I’m not even sure what you’re talking about. Is that what’s required for the license?”

  She laughed. “Goodness no. I’m talking about a job here at Teen Remake, especially working with our Teens Back to Nature camping program, or Teen Nature for short. I thought you were also here to interview for one of the part-time jobs we have open, but if you’re not interested . . .”

  An image of my job at the cereal factory flashed through my mind. Hair nets and gloves and bits of cereal in my eyes. Machines humming, standing for hours in the same place, reports and more reports. And looming over everything, my father’s expectations.

  “Oh, I’m interested,” I said quickly. “I have another job, but it’s only part time so I could finish college, and I need full time work now.”

  I was actually still on my college work schedule: four hours on Mondays and Wednesdays, and six hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “I can possibly adjust my schedule there, and I have a friend who can stay with the girls, if needed.”

  Bea held out her hand. “Then welcome to the team. You’ll still have to meet with the director here to talk about a schedule, but he often has me screen his applicants, so I don’t anticipate any issues. He’s actually meeting with some parents this morning, or he’d have been in on this meeting.”

  “This is because of the girls, isn’t it? That you’re offering me the job.”

  Her smile widened. “Partially, yes, but also because Mario recommends you so highly. After meeting you, I have to agree that you’ll be great. Half the boys are going to fall in love with you, and half the girls will want to be just like you. Plus, you look like someone the parents will trust. You can do a lot of good here, Lily. We do have a lot of applicants every year, but it’s hard to find people we know will be good.”

  “Don’t the kids have school? How are you even open during the week?”

  “Most attend school, but our programs count for credit, so the kids come here a few times a week like they do for regular classes. There are those who can’t function yet in a regular school, and we have extended programs for them. Teen Nature currently runs from Thursday morning to Saturday night, so they only miss two school days for the camping experience. Kids can participate once every two months, and it has to be approved by their regular teachers, and usually they get credit toward an assignment. The camps are really fun, so most of the kids try hard to make it. When school lets out for the summer, we’ll hold longer camps.”

  One evening a week? I could do that, and having a foot in the door would only help me with the battles I still had ahead for Elsie, Ruth, and Halla. The extra money might mean we could afford a better apartment.

  I was still upset at Jameson for telling Bea about Zoey and Bianca before I had the chance to chec
k her out, but I was grateful too. Trusting him did seem to be taking me in the right direction.

  Bea showed me the copy machine and how to work it. Then she took me to several of the rooms and introduced me to the teens who crowded around us. They liked Bea, and that made me feel excited for what she could do to help my situation.

  We found Jameson in one of the rooms with five teenage boys. They were no longer playing video games, but tossing a foam basketball into a hoop. They waved lazily as they saw us coming. Jameson hurried toward the door, a welcoming smile on his face.

  Bea nudged me and whispered, “Remember what I said about the boys falling in love? Looks like one of them is already halfway there.”

  6

  When I arrived home from work that evening after a grueling six-hour shift, I was surprised to see Ruth running down to the parking lot to meet me. “Someone came by earlier,” she said as we climbed up the stairs. “A woman. I didn’t open the door, of course.”

  “What did she look like?”

  “White woman with blond hair. Older, real pretty. Rich-looking.”

  So not Bea Lundberg. Of course, it couldn’t have been, unless Jameson had given her my address, because on Teen Remake’s employee papers, I’d listed Tessa’s, just in case. “Did she say anything? Leave a note on the door?”

  “No, she just rang and left. She did seem kind of familiar, though. Not sure where I saw her before.”

  “Did she look like Saffron or Halla?” I was going to get a stomach ulcer with all the worry.

  “No. I don’t think so. Maybe.”

  “Well, you did the right thing. Hopefully soon, we won’t have to worry. I talked to a social worker today.”

  We’d reached the landing on the fourth floor, and Ruth stopped walking, her brow furrowing. “About me?”

  “No, honey.” I put my arm around her. She was getting so tall that she’d already passed me by an inch. When had that happened? And her body was much thinner than all the clothes led one to believe. “About Zoey and Bianca. I’m going to get licensed as a foster parent, so I can officially have them as my foster kids. Once that happens, I’ll go talk to your mother and feel her out.”

  Ruth’s brow furrowed and her dark eyes looked sad. “She ain’t gonna sign any papers. Not if she’s still living with that white piece of trash. He wants me there.”

  “Don’t worry. That’s not going to happen. And I don’t plan on talking to him.”

  “I know.” But she frowned as she glanced over my shoulder at the vehicle that was pulling into the lot below. “Hey, isn’t that Mario’s car?”

  Sure enough, it was. “He texted me about stopping by, but I’m surprised he’s here already.”

  His text had acted on me like a huge dose of caffeine, pushing away the tiredness I’d felt for the past two hours. There’d been no time for private talk at Teen Remake before I left for work, and I was eager to have it out with him, or give him a hug. I wasn’t sure which.

  Ruth grinned at my expression. “Maybe he wants to go out with you again.”

  “I’ve got to help Bianca with a report.”

  “Too bad. He is fine on the eyes, I’ll say that much,” Ruth murmured as we waited for him to join us.

  I rolled my eyes, however right she was. “How did work go today?”

  “Good, but that Mrs. Jenkins’ poodle seriously needs an attitude adjustment. Halla had to rescue him from a big dog this morning that was finally sick of his yapping.” She giggled. “You should have seen it. That teeny, tiny rat of a dog, going after a big black lab, or whatever he was. We’re just glad the rat can’t talk or the spoiled little thing would probably tattle on us for not letting him do what he wants, and then we’d get fired.”

  I laughed, but all my attention was on Jameson now, who was coming up the final flight of steps. His grin answered mine as he saw me. He looked good for having spent an entire day at work. Really good. Though at some point he’d changed from the dress slacks and polo to worn jeans and a T-shirt that had seen better days.

  “So,” I said. “What’s up? Your text was kind of cryptic.” Was it too soon to hope he’d ask me out again?

  He reached into a canvas bag he was carrying and pulled out a tool belt. “I thought I’d fix your cupboard, if you don’t mind.”

  “Our cupboard?” I stared at him blankly.

  He glanced at Ruth, who grimaced. “Uh, yeah,” she said. “Been meaning to tell you about that. The other day, Halla and I got messing around in the kitchen, and that cupboard where you keep the extra canned food? Well, it sort of . . . came off.”

  I counted to ten before I responded. I’d lost track of the times I’d told them to stop horsing around in that tiny kitchen. But really, it wasn’t their fault—there wasn’t much room and nowhere for them to play or to work off their energy. “When was this? I haven’t noticed anything.”

  “It was Tuesday when you were at work. Halla and I taped the hinge, but it came off when Mario was helping me wash dishes yesterday.”

  “I see.”

  “You’re not mad, are you?” Ruth gave me a puppy dog look.

  “No, but next time tell me. It’s better to fix it before it gets worse.” Besides, there was no way I could be upset when it meant I got to see Jameson again for the third time today. Still, I didn’t want him to think he had to be taking care of us all the time. We’d been doing fine before he showed up.

  Then again, the world had moved when he’d kissed me—and that hadn’t ever happened that I could remember. Shooting him a quick glance, I saw that he was watching me with a grin that turned my stomach to mush.

  “They make these places as cheap as they can,” he said. “But it won’t take long to fix. The screws have just stripped the channel they’re in. I’ll put in some wood putty and tomorrow we can screw it back in. Good as new. Or better, probably.”

  “Well, thank you.” I led them to the apartment, where Ruth had left the door slightly ajar. That made me nervous with Elsie so concerned about being found, but I’d talk to Ruth about it later.

  All the girls were home, except Saffron, who had sent me a text about a hot date that she promised to keep at arm’s length. I knew she meant it; she’d learned a hard lesson that was still fresh, and she’d gone through five guys in just the last month because they demanded more than she was ready to give. I was proud of her for that.

  While Jameson went to work removing the cupboard door, I went to check on Elsie, who was reading, and then started Bianca on her paper, letting her use my laptop that was normally off limits when I wasn’t home to supervise.

  “Well, everyone, listen up,” I said, finally joining Jameson in the kitchen. “I have an announcement to make.” I waited until the girls looked at me or clustered around, even Elsie, who’d decided to emerge from the bedroom. “I am now working part time at Teen Remake, mostly for their camping program, but also one half day each week at their regular offices. The only catch is I have to be away one evening a week. That means I’ll work noon to ten on Fridays.”

  A disappointed chorus of “Aaaaaw” met my announcement.

  “Don’t worry,” I said. “We’ll switch our movie night to Saturday. I also have to work four hours Thursday and Saturday mornings, to get in the eighteen hours they’re allowing me, but it’ll be a lot more money coming in overall. I don’t begin until next week.”

  The girls were satisfied with that and became more excited when I told them about Bea and training to be a foster parent. “But for the record,” Zoey said, “if it doesn’t work out, we’re running away again.”

  “It’ll work out,” I assured her.

  Zoey and Halla wandered back to the living room where Bianca was tapping on my computer. Elsie and Ruth stayed close. “Maybe your house dream is going to come true,” Elsie said, low enough for only me to hear. I smiled at her.

  “What about your other job?” Jameson asked from where he knelt on the floor with his screwdriver.

  I shrugged. “There
is some job security being the boss’s daughter, even if he’s not exactly happy with my choice of degree, but the days don’t overlap except on Thursdays. I get off at Teen Remake at noon and have until one to get to the factory. I will have to drop off Ruth and Halla at their jobs a little sooner on Thursdays, or have my sister do it.”

  “I’m good with that,” Ruth said, settling at the small round table, a book in hand. “Tessa’s nice.”

  I was more worried about what to do with Elsie on Thursdays. I’d have four hours at Teen Remake, training hours that hadn’t been optional, and six at the factory. Saffron would be working by then, and with the other girls gone most of the day doing errands for their older ladies, Elsie would be alone. Twelve was plenty old enough to stay by herself, but she wasn’t just any twelve-year-old, and I didn’t like it.

  Maybe Makay would have room in her schedule to pop in and check on her. Or Ruth and Halla could take her along on their jobs. Or if things worked out with the foster parenting and Teen Remake, I could cut Thursday afternoons at the factory altogether. I’d do that in a heartbeat, but not until I had another way to pay for food and rent.

  Jameson began stuffing putty inside the stripped holes. I’d fixed another cupboard once before using paper glue and the ends of a couple matchsticks—a tip I’d read about in a novel—but this certainly looked more professional, though once the hinge was back on, no one would see it. Finally satisfied, he stood the cupboard door up against the wall to dry and put his spatula back in his tool belt, now around his waist. There was something compelling about him in those old jeans and that belt. Sexy and manly. It was so cliché I had to roll my eyes at myself.

  “What,” he said, sounding slightly offended.

  “Nothing.” I turned away and started looking through the other cupboards, hoping to hide the color flushing my face. “Guess we need to find something for dinner.”

  “I’ll be heading out, then,” he said, still with that wounded tone.

  I didn’t want him going away offended. “You could stay.” The words were out before I could stop them. I’d only just met him, and I didn’t want to push things any faster than I already had. I quickly resolved to be less eager.