Chapter 5

I pulleddown two doubles at Twisty Cone over the next few weekends and picked up some night shifts, too, in addition to homework, music, and martial arts. I was beyond exhausted and barely able to keep my eyes open as I plodded through classes.

I was grateful my martial arts classes were free. Mom was friends with one of the guys there, and I did small jobs for him to earn my spot. It was a good system, and I didn’t want to screw it up. Discipline was important when it came to my studies there. And to be fair, elsewhere in my life.

“You look terrible.” Tia sat beside me on the couch.

“I’m tired,” I answered, my eyes closed.

She was quiet for a moment. “Thank you, Anson.”

I cracked my eyelids open and peered at her. “What for?”

“For all you do. I don’t think I’ve really told you before. I just want you to know. Both you and Mom.”

I gave her a tired smile. “I’d do anything for you guys. You know that.”

She fiddled with a string hanging off her oversized sweater.

“I wish you didn’t have to. It makes me sad sometimes. Mom is always gone working. So are you now. It’s just Trent and me, and even he’s saying stuff about trying to figure out how to make money. It makes me feel. . . I don’t know.” She sighed.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “What’s it make you feel?”

She shrugged. “Kind of in the way. Like if I weren’t around everyone wouldn’t have to work so hard. It would be one less person.”

“Hey.” I reached out and tugged her against my body. “Don’t talk like that. We love you, and you being here isn’t a problem. Never say that again. Never think it, OK?”

She nodded against my chest. “I’m scared.”

“I know,” I murmured. “I am, too, but it’ll be OK. I promise.”

She wound her arms around me and held on tightly for a long time. I hugged her back, hoping beyond anything for a miracle. We only had a week left before rent was due. We’d already disconnected our TV, and my phone had been shut off. We were borrowing internet from a neighbor who’d left his wi-fi open, so at least we had that going for us. For how long, I had no idea, but I was grateful for it just the same.

But we knew how this would go down. Pay the rent or get booted out. I knew my mom well enough to know she wouldn’t make them evict us. We’d be out of here within the week.

I’d already packed my bags. So had Trent and Tia. It was just a waiting game at this point. Mom was adamant that we not pay anything at all and save what we had to move on because if we paid it and drained what small savings we had, we’d be screwed for next month because there was no way we’d be able to keep working the way we were. I’d do my damn best, though, but I knew she didn’t want that.

Instead, I’d seen her going over the paper, searching for a place for us to stay. So far, we’d narrowed it down to a cheap hotel a few blocks over. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to it, but we’d all squeeze into one room if we had to.

The door burst open, and Mom came into the room, her hair windswept and fear in her eyes. I released Tia, got to my feet, and followed her into the kitchen, where she was frantically pulling open cupboard doors.

“Mom? What’s wrong?”

She didn’t answer me, opting to continue opening doors. She pulled pots and pans out, along with plates and everything else we had.

“We need to pack. We need to go. Now,” she said, pushing past me and going to her bedroom.

I followed her, confused about what the hell was happening.

“Mom? Hey, what’s going on?”

She was in her bedroom stuffing the last of her clothes into a bag, her hands shaking.

“Angel, make sure your brother and sister are ready to go. Now.”

“Mom.” I grabbed her hands and forced her to stop. “Just talk to me. You’re freaking me out.”

She exhaled and sank onto the mattress she shared with Tia.

“I-I was seen today. By some men I didn’t want to see me. They knew who I was. I-I really need to get you guys out of here.”

“Who? What men?”

She shook her head. “I can’t say. I-I’ll tell you once we’re away, OK? Just, please?”

I studied her for a moment. “We’re not going to go anywhere. Where would we go? This is the safest place for us. I get my check tomorrow. Let me get my check first, and then we’ll leave this entire state behind and start over, OK? One night. We’ll be fine. We’ll keep the door locked. I have a short shift tomorrow. I’ll call out, collect my check, and come right home. Just keep the doors locked. Pack while I’m gone, OK? We’ll get out of here the moment I’m back.”

She breathed out and nodded her head. “OK. That’s a good plan. OK.” She ran her hands down her thighs, still visibly trembling.

“Mom, just tell me what’s going on.”

“I will once we’re out of here. Let’s just get things packed, OK? Let’s focus on that, and then once we’re out of here, I’ll tell you everything.”

“OK.” I reached out and hugged her. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered, sniffling.

I released her, got up, and went to the door, my heart pounding with worry.

“Mom?”

Yeah?”

“I promise I’ll get us out of this. Whatever it is.”

She swallowed and gave me a shaky, sad smile.

“I know you will, Angel. I know.”

I left her in the room and went to mine, where I told Trent something was up.

He gathered what he had left to pack, and we walked the bags to the front door and placed them there. We didn’t have much, so at least that wouldn’t be an issue. Tia joined us a few minutes later with her bag, worry in her eyes.

“I’m really scared,” she said thickly.

Trent reached out and hugged her, offering her some comfort as Mom came back into the living room with two small bags. She dropped them at the door and wound her arms around Trent and Tia.

I joined them, my fear ramping up.

Something was definitely more wrong than I thought.