Page 91 of Wanted

“Franklynn.”

That name said in that craggy voice settles like a rock in my stomach. I turn around woodenly, searching for the source.

“Mom? What are you doing here?”

Oh my god. She looks… she looks terrible. I slowly close my eyes as if she’ll be gone when I open them. I’m not that lucky. She looks at me expectantly, but I don’t know what she might be waiting for.

Looking at my mother is like peering into a mirror eighty years in the future, despite the fact she’s only fifty-two. Years of substance abuse haven’t been kind to her. We’re nearly the same height, with the same brown eyes and straight nose, hers droopy with age. Where my hair is fair, hers used to be a dark brown, but now the dry strands are nearly entirely gray.

Those walls Jude’s unintentionally broken down build back up in her presence until all I feel when I look at her is pity.

Jude stiffens at my side, following my line of sight to the people exiting the adoption tent. Only then do I register that she isn’t alone.

Because of course she freaking isn’t. Only one person from my past knew I was in this town, and for the second time he’s managed to track me down.

Dillon stands beside her, looking nearly as bad as my mother. His naturally coiled red hair falls flat against his head. His skin appears more pallid than ever. Dark purple circles ring his eyes, as if he hasn’t had a good nights sleep in months. He stands stooped with his hands shoved into the pockets of his dirty, dark blue jeans. The ways he’s transformed in a short couple of weeks are startling.

But then he smiles an arrogant grin, proving he hasn’t really changed, and I feel nothing but pity for him.

“What are you doing here?” I ask again, walking away from the picnic table near the Powell kids until she and Dillon follow. We stop a couple of feet away on the sidewalk. Far enough from the tent not to interfere with the adoption event, yet close enough for Bree and Whitney to witness.

“I couldn’t remember how to get ahold of you.” Her eyes dart around the street. She smiles, showcasing a missing top right tooth.

“Why would you need to get ahold of me?”

“It’s your dad. He isn’t well.”

“What do you mean he isn’t well? Is he dying?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“I-I’m not sure. He’s been sick for a while, and we don’t have any money for the doctor. The clinic refuses to see him because of too many unpaid bills.”

A pit opens up beneath my ribs.

“Then take him to a hospital.”

“They just turn him away.”

“That’s what happens when you spend twenty years going there to score pills.”

“Please, Franklynn. I need your help.”

“I can’t help you, Mom.” I sigh, forcing away the sadness threatening me. “Why can’t you help? You managed to drive her all the way here,” I direct at Dillon. If he wanted to insert himself into my family business, then he has some things to answer for.

He holds up both hands in a placating gesture. “I don’t have any money either.”

“What happened to the fancy new job you were heading off to?”

A fire flares to life in his eyes. “The job fell through because of you.”

“Me?” I step forward, and Jude clamps his hand around my wrist. His touch sears a warning into my skin. “That job had nothing to do with me. It was all your plan.”

“It had everything to do with you!” Dillon explodes, surging closer.

Jude promptly puts himself in Dillon’s path and moves me behind him.

“Close enough, Dillybar.”

He curls his lip at Jude. “It’s Dillon. Who the fuck are you?”

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