Chapter 3

THREE

I had spentthe rest of the day stuffing my limited belongings into a trash bag and tying it up. Grabbing the thinned-out stack of cash from underneath the mattress, I made my way to a thrift store on the wealthier side of town. Rich people throw the nicest, barely worn designer things in their local Goodwill collection bins. It was worth the two-dollar bus ride.

The dusty scent of Goodwill slapped me in the face as soon as I walked in, but within seconds, I was padding through hangers that had beautiful designer pieces I had only learned about through fashion magazines I'd dig out of retail trash bins.

I needed an all-white outfit, but wasn't having any luck until I turned, about to leave, and noticed a stunning jumpsuit. Pinching my lips to the side, I lifted it off the rack. The material was smooth like butter, and I was certain I could fit into it. All I needed now were some white shoes, a few hair clips and ties, and maybe pop into a drugstore for tweezers, powder, and mascara. Brushing the tag of the outfit, I saw someone had scribbled their name on the back: Navy Mian. Shrugging, I walked to check out.

The teenage boy behind the register was too busy texting and didn't acknowledge me, not even when I placed my items on the counter. Clearing my throat, he huffed as if I was such an inconvenience for shopping at the store.

"There's a small rip on the leg of the jumpsuit. I'd like twenty percent off." I pointed out the tear—the one I had created by jamming my nail into the delicate threading, knowing it would be a sure-fire way to have some more money knocked off it.

"Ten is the best I can do, sis." He took a long slurp of his gas station soda before lifting his phone again.

"Fifteen, and I don't tell your store manager that you're looking at porn on your phone." I shrugged as his mouth dropped.

"Fine." He rang up my items and sure enough, when he told me the total, he had given me the twenty percent off I had initially asked for.

Clutching my bag, I pushed through the doors and scrunched my nose. The scent of something delicious was floating around, and my stomach rumbled. I didn't have enough money left over for food, so I'd have to stick to the vending machine fare tonight.

Sulking, I walked to the drugstore and quickly grabbed some powder, lipstick, and mascara from a clearance bin. The powder was two shades too dark for my skin, and the lipstick would definitely look orange on me. Sliding the mascara and lipstick into my Goodwill grocery bag and glancing around nervously, I went to the cashier and quickly checked out the powder.

"Havin' a good day, sweetie?" The older woman behind the counter smiled brightly.

"Mm-hmm…" I averted my gaze. Something about her made me feel nervous. Maybe it was the way her wrinkles sunk in by her eyes when she smiled, or the Southern drawl… or maybe it was the pearls around her neck.

Maybe it was the way she was a stranger, but also completely familiar.

My heart began pounding against my chest. "You live around here, honey?" she asked as she slowly bagged the small powder compact.

"Why?" I looked up at her with rage pooling inside me.

She was immediately taken aback by my tone. "I'm… I'm sorry, sweetie. I didn't mean to pry." She ripped the receipt and handed it to me.

"Southern hospitality doesn't excuse you from being a nosey old hag," I spat out before rushing out of the store.

The day was disappearing quickly, and I was thankful. Having a job interview tomorrow gave me something to look forward to and a sliver of hope that I wouldn't be bound to park benches, an occasional night in a cheap motel or fearful of when my next meal would be.

I walked as much as I physically could, and the sun was setting. I knew I'd have to call a car, but I only had a twenty left. Looking around, I stood by the side of the road and stuck my thumb out.

Did this really work to hitch hike? It was worth a try, considering I didn't want to spend the last dollars I had on a bus ride.

An hour flew by, and no one stopped. Some idiot guys hollered at me with their heads hanging out of the window, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes and hum the lyrics to "No Scrub" by TLC. That made me smile—something I rarely did. It was the first song I had ever heard in America. The entire time I thought the singer was talking about a dish sponge.

Finally, a car did stop, and it was a woman. That didn't put me at ease, considering it was a woman with a trusting face that ultimately aided in wrecking my life.

"Hey, are you okay?" She had her emergency lights on, and when I cautiously walked closer, I got a better look at her.

She couldn't be more than thirty, and when I peeked in the backseat, I saw a toddler in a car seat, giggling at their tablet.

"I lost my wallet and phone, and really need to get back to east Charlotte… I'm staying at the Super 7 Motel." I looked down at my worn-out dollar Old Navy flip-flops.

The cold air conditioning blasting in her car provided a moment of solace as the summer heat still beat down, even though the sun had already set.

"It's a little out of my way, but I'd feel terrible if I didn't help. Come on in." She looked slightly uneasy and glanced back at the sleepy child in the backseat.

"Thank you." I quickly opened the door and slid in. The soft beige leather interior was stunning, and the scent of jasmine floated inside.

"I'm Raina, and that's my son, Kai." She offered a small smile at me.

"I'm Demi." I nodded and wiggled my fingers at the uninterested toddler. She didn't begin to drive and just sat there looking at me. Furrowing my brows, I opened my hands and asked, "Is something wrong?" I tried to conceal the irritation churning through me. Here this young mom was, wearing her expensive Lululemon athleisure, probably second-guessing why she let me in her luxury car.

"Buckle up, please." She pointed at my seatbelt. I couldn't help but laugh.

I shook my head and bit back the overly large grin that was surfacing on my face.

She let out a loud laugh and nodded. "I am such a mom. I'm only twenty-nine, but once I had this little guy… it's like I aged a few decades, and now being a mom is all I know. Well, that, and I'm a pretty good dermatologist." She brushed her hand against her smooth cheek.

"Isn't that like a skin doctor?" I asked curiously as I clipped my buckle.

"Sure is." She looked over her shoulder, checked her mirrors, and carefully pulled back into traffic.

"I have a job interview tomorrow. Any tips of how I can magically look less like, oh, I dunno, a girl who stays at Motel 7 and more like… well, you?" I asked softly while I fidgeted my fingers, feeling embarrassed.

She took a quick look at me but kept her hands at ten and two while driving.

"You know what…? Do you want to come over to our place for dinner?" She rolled her lips together and kept driving.

"Hot food?" I asked excitedly.

She smiled. "Yes, hot food."

And just like that, she turned her car onto the highway and headed in the opposite direction of the shitty motel I was staying at and back toward the richer side of Charlotte.

"You're not like a suburban serial killer mommy, right?" I let out a small, nervous laugh.

Once we took the exit and got to a stoplight, she reached into the side pocket of her door and tugged out her wallet. Opening it, she showed me her driver's license and a business card.

Raina Kumar, M.D.

South Charlotte Dermatology

"I promise, I'm not a suburban serial killer mommy." She patted my hand and I looked back at her before looking over my shoulder over at Kai, the little boy who was drifting to sleep.

"Sorry, I'm just…" I started to speak as she made another turn.

"Demi, you absolutely should ask those questions. It's a dangerous world."

Before I knew it, we pulled up to a giant, intricately carved gate and my lips parted in shock. Raina punched in a code and suddenly, they creaked open, somewhat scratching against the smooth pavement. The sound sending chills across my arms.

We drove through a canopy of trees that lined neatly trimmed lawns with elaborate floral displays framing the most stunning houses I'd ever seen in my life.

"Holy…" I breathed as I took in the massive mansions. It was a world of its own. A minute later, Raina turned into the driveway of a gorgeous stucco house that was lit up by floodlights.

"This is your house?" I looked over at Raina, who was getting Kai out of his carseat.

"I mean, just until the real owners come back from their trip to London," Raina replied, her face completely stoic.

Freezing in the driveway, I looked at her until she broke out into laughter.

"Demi, I'm joking. We live here. Full time, I promise."