Fallen Woman(36)

Jase could get away with more than I could. She loved him, and he was a man who did no wrong. “Have you made any arrangements for Derrick if something should happen to you?” But even he didn’t get away with that. She dropped his arm in favor of a spatula and smacked him on the hand. “Don’t make me wash yo’ mouth out with soap, boy.”

That was the end of that discussion. Jase had finally ruffled her feathers and fallen from grace. I couldn’t help but snicker, which earned me an evil glance from his steely gray eyes. I stuck my tongue out like a five-year-old, and it felt good. I didn’t have a clue how I’d get Miss Pearl to a doctor, or how I’d pay for it, much less how I’d pay for my own hospital bills, but a moment of silliness temporarily evaporated those worries.

After breakfast, and after the food had been put away and the dishes were done, Jase sat me down in my living room. I could tell by the look on his face this conversation was going to irritate me.

“You know I’m going to ream Willum out, don’t you?”

“Jase—”

“It’s not up for negotiation, Gia. It was his responsibility to take care of you, and obviously, that didn’t happen. And you’re not going out with him again, so I hope his little tart he left you for pans out.”

There was zero point in arguing with him. He’d do what he wanted to do, and I couldn’t sway him. “Fine. But I’m warning him you’re on the warpath and to avoid you.”

“Do what you’ve gotta do, and I’ll do the same. But your safety and well-being far supersede anything he could’ve done. End of story. Now, let’s talk about Miss Pearl.”

I listened intently, but his words cut deep. I knew she was in bad shape, and I knew she needed help, but hearing someone else confirm what I’d already witnessed was like a dagger to the heart.

“I can’t make her go see a doctor.”

“I know, but I do think you should encourage her every chance you get. Even if it’s just the free clinic. But Gia, babe, you need to start preparing yourself and the kids. It may not be next week or even three months from now, but she’s getting progressively worse every time I see her.”

Slowly, I nodded my understanding. I knew he was right, but I felt cheated. This was the only time I’d ever had a motherly or grandmotherly figure in my life—the first time I’d ever felt a sense of family, and she was going to be ripped away from us far too soon. My kids adored her and thought of her as family. “What about Derrick?” His name caught in my throat. I couldn’t stomach the thought of that little boy going to foster care, but I knew I couldn’t take him. I had a hard enough time taking care of my own. He was a good kid; I only hoped the system wouldn’t fail him like it had so many other kids I’d grown up with.

“Does he not have any other family?” he looked confused.

I shook my head as I started to speak. “Not that I know of. Miss Pearl said his mom’s strung out, which is why she has him. And she hasn’t ever indicated there’s a father around. I never hear him talk about anyone else either.”

“So, what, he becomes a ward of the state?”

I shrugged not knowing how to answer his question without the horrible truth. “Yeah, he’ll go into foster care.”

Jase nodded his understanding but didn’t add anything further. This wasn’t a life he knew anything about, and if I had to bet, I’d wager he’d never known anyone who’d faced it, either.





Chapter Nine





The guys had all repeatedly called to check on me over the last few weeks, primarily to find out when I’d be available again, but until I could cover the bruises on my face with makeup or they faded completely, none of them should be seen with me publicly. I’d never want anyone to think one of them had laid a hand on me. I felt awful for Willum—I warned him, but Jase laid into him, and from what I gathered, it wasn’t pretty. He apologized profusely, but regardless of how many times I told him I didn’t blame him, he carried that guilt.

I was fortunate; people at work were kind when I showed up the following Monday looking like I’d been in a bar room brawl. Jase drove me home and picked me up daily, so I didn’t have to take public transportation. I couldn’t count the number of times we argued about his buying me a car, which wasn’t going to happen. I’d get there, but it was going to be on my own, not with a big red bow on it.

Tonight was the first time I was going out again. Honestly, I wasn’t quite ready, but I was desperate for the money. The hospital bills had started to come in, the kids’ birthdays were in a couple of weeks, the twins were starting school, and Emmy had one flare up after another. The list of specialists had grown a mile long, and no one had been able to get her back into remission. No matter how hard I worked, I couldn’t keep up with the continuous influx of bills, and I was sick to death of arguing with the insurance company—so when Holland called, I was desperate and agreed.

Staring at my face in the mirror while touching up my makeup, I tried to put my mind in a place to enjoy the evening. He had another charity function to attend where there would be a lot of highbrow people from around town; there’d be dinner and dancing, a silent auction, and then home. I shouldn’t be dreading it, but he’s just not the guy I wanted to be spending time with. I appreciated the arrangement, but my heart was always cuddled up with someone else.