The Darkest Hour (KGI #1)(20)

“So I guess you won’t mind if she stays.”

“She’ll need some decent clothes. Maybe you could take her shopping over in Clarksville. Can’t have her running around in Rachel’s castoffs forever.”

Marlene reached over and tucked her hand into his.

RUSTY was sitting on the same bar stool she’d been perched on when Marlene and Frank left an hour earlier. Her posture was tense, her expression ill at ease. She glanced up when they walked in, but ducked her head, refusing to meet their gaze.

Marlene wanted desperately to hug her. The child probably hadn’t had too many of those, but she wasn’t sure Rusty would tolerate it. Her body language screamed back off, don’t touch.

Instead she walked around the bar and set her purse down on the counter. Frank hovered in the background as if he wanted to say something, but then he blew out his breath and walked away, leaving the two women alone.

As if she couldn’t take the silence any longer, Rusty clenched her fists and looked up at Marlene, her eyes screaming defiance. She wore her best I don’t give a shit snarl.

“Well, did you talk to Carl?”

Marlene nodded. “We did.”

Rusty shrugged. “Then I guess he told you that Sheila ran off and that he doesn’t give a damn about me.”

“First rule. Watch your mouth. I don’t take that kind of language from my boys, and I won’t tolerate it from you.”

Her lips curled into a sneer, but she didn’t say anything further.

“I won’t lie to you, Rusty. Carl said exactly what you expected him to say, but I needed to hear it with my own ears. I had to make sure that we weren’t getting into a legal mess by offering you a place to stay.”

“Yeah, well, only way Carl would say he cared was if there was something in it for him. If he thought you had money, he’d use me to get it.”

Marlene sighed. “You don’t have to worry about Carl any longer. I promise you that. There’s still the issue of your mother, but we’ll cross that bridge when and if we come to it. For now, you’re staying here. First thing we’re going to do is go shopping for some decent clothes.”

Rusty looked suspiciously at her, but Marlene ignored her and went on.

“There’s also the matter of school. I’ll expect you to attend and finish your education when it starts in August.”

“School’s boring,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

“For a smart girl like you, I don’t doubt it, but it doesn’t make it any less necessary. You’ll never get into college if you don’t finish high school.”

“College?” She laughed, and it sounded bitter and derisive. “What’s a girl like me going to do at college? I can’t afford it and I’d never get in anyway with my record.”

“Record?”

“Yeah,” she mumbled. “Nothing major. Got sent to Juvie once.”

“What for?”

Her chin came up, and fire blazed in her eyes. “Solicitation.”

Marlene closed her eyes and willed herself not to break down in front of this child. When she opened them again, she saw anger reflected in Rusty’s face. She didn’t appreciate Marlene’s pity.

“Well, what’s done is done. We can’t change the past, but we can darn sure change your future. You’re going to school, and you’re going to work hard. No excuses.”

There was a slight shift and Rusty seemed to wilt a little on her stool. Marlene leaned on the counter and took a chance as she covered Rusty’s hands with her own.

“I don’t doubt you’ve had a hard life and that a lot of people have let you down. You can wallow in that misery and remain a victim, or you can take charge of your destiny and turn it all around. The choice is up to you. I can’t make you do it, and I won’t. Frank and I will provide you with the opportunity, but you have to want better.”

Rusty looked down at Marlene’s hands, her eyes glistening with what looked to be hard fought tears. “Why are you doing this? What’s in it for you?”

“Not everyone does something for what’s in it for them,” Marlene said gently. “Besides, seeing you graduate and go on to college and make something of yourself will be what I get out of it.”

“So I can stay?” she asked hopefully.

“You can stay.”

Marlene picked up her purse again and fished for her car keys. She walked toward the garage door and then turned and pinned Rusty with a stare.

“Well, don’t just sit there, come on.”

Rusty scrambled off the stool and rubbed her hands nervously down her pant legs. “Where we going?”

“To buy you some clothes and shoes. Maybe do something with that hair while we’re at it.”

Rusty frowned and ran her hand defensively over the long strands. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

“Nothing if you don’t mind looking like a pink rooster,” Marlene said dryly. “I know kids these days get strange ideas about fashion, but trust me, that look is never a good idea.”

IT was dark when they pulled back into the drive. Frank met them at the door and took the bags they carried. He did a double take when he caught sight of Rusty.

Marlene beamed and turned to Rusty. “Didn’t I tell you he wouldn’t recognize you?”