Don't Let Me Fall(8)

“I am not,” Jacky said talking to me like I’m a child.

“You kind of do,” Remy said tilting his head.

Jacky gave him another sharp look and that’s how we spent our time together. No boyfriends or friends talk made its way into the conversation except for Micha. He did come by

before Jacky and Remy showed up. Dad came by earlier before work and said he’d try to come by later today but he couldn’t. Matthew had baseball practice and needed a ride.

“Hey, Becka, can we talk?” Jacky asked grabbing her purse and standing up.

No one ever likes to hear those words.

So I know it’s not good.

I stood up and glanced at Remy but he was avoiding my gaze. He instead dealt Kelsey cards and started to play a game of Asshole. My sister swears like a trucker because she grew up

around us. It’s perfectly fine.

I followed Jacky outside and crossed my arms over my chest when a cute male nurse walked by and did a double take of me. I would have said he checked out Jacky but he didn’t even

glance at her. Those dark eyes were fully on me and only me. God, I wish I was invisible.

“What’s up?” I asked.

She crossed and uncrossed her arms until she let them fall at her sides. “Did you talk to Dad lately?” she asked.

“Uh…” I tried. Not really. I just knock on his door and when he doesn’t answer, I go to my room. I barely saw him this morning as I left for school so…

“About Mom?” Jacky asked sounding serious.

Mom? No.

“What about her?” I asked.

Jacky was quiet for a long time and since she’s never quiet, this is not good. Oh, shit. What’s happening now?!

“Jacqueline,” I said. She hates when people call her that, who knows why, so that got her to look at me and start talking.

“Mom wants to have custody of Kelsey.” I nodded. Okay, Mom and Dad share custody of both Matthew and Kelsey. “Sole custody. Like she wants Kels to move into her house with

whatever his name is and live there.”

“What?!” I said a little too loudly. “That’s not happening. Kels hates what’s his face.” I don’t even know his name. That’s how much he matters to me.

“Yeah, Dad’s not having it,” Jacky said. “And he doesn’t want to tell Matty because well…Mom just wants Kels.”

What a f-ucking bitch!

“He turns eighteen in two months,” I said trying to defend my brother a bit. Maybe Mom doesn’t want him but I do. I love him even though we’re not that close.

“Yeah…” Jacky said staring at the floor.

We stayed quiet for a few seconds until I thought about it. “Wait, Mom wants custody. That means Kels is getting better?” I asked with a smile on my face. She’s going to be okay.

f-uck, this is good news. I thought we wouldn’t know until a few more months.

“No…Rebeckah…” Jacky’s voice broke and so did my heart. “If Kels doesn’t–” Please don’t say it, I begged with my eyes. “Kels is worth a lot.”

And just like that, I snapped.

I know Mom and Dad had life insurance policies put on us when we were born but once we turned eighteen, it stopped. We’re adults. Not children. Matt and Kelsey still have theirs.

And Matt’s ends in two months.

“I have to go,” I said on autopilot.

I walked back into Kelsey’s room and grabbed my sweater. The way Remy is looking at me tells me he knows about this. I appreciate him being discreet.

“Hey, I have to go. Homework,” I said kissing Kelsey on the cheek.

“No, don’t go,” she said with big round puppy-dog eyes.

“You told me to graduate. That involves doing homework,” I said. “I’m only doing what you want.” Her pout went away and she smiled.

“Okay, come back soon.”

“Always.”

I gave Remy a goodbye hug because he’s basically already family, he just needs to marry my sister already. Jacky tried to plead with me to stay but I can’t. I have to talk to

someone. And as much I don’t want to, I have to.

I took the train and bus to my mom’s house which is thirty minutes from ours. Once I rang the doorbell and didn’t get an answer, I banged on the door like a mad woman.

The boyfriend answered…only in a towel. I think its gross how he’s around Jacky’s age. Mom should be disgusted that she’s f-ucking someone who could be her son.

“Is Diana here?” I asked, annoyed. Mom doesn’t get the luxury of being called Mom to her face. She left so so does the right to the name.

“She’s in bed.”

“Robert?” I asked. I know it’s an R name.

“Roger,” he said leaning against the doorjamb.

“Right, Roger. Tell Diana that she’s not getting custody. We both know you don’t want a kid around. She’ll listen to you. She kind of doesn’t have a mind of her own. Can you do

that for me?” I asked, disgusted as I noticed he was checking me out. The * had the audacity to stare at my body as I talked. And it’s not lost on me how he’s twitching

under his towel. “Hello. Robert?!” I said snapping my fingers.