Page 66 of Iron Will

“Um… I thought we’d be more comfortable talking at my house,” I stammer, stalling for time. “Plus, it’s almost lunch time. Do you want to come over for grilled cheese or something? I could take you and Paisley over to the school after that.”

“Yeah!” Paisley yells from behind us, clearly enthused about the grilled cheese part.

I laugh. “Well, that’s a yes from the back seat. You good with that?”

“Sure,” Bethany agrees with a smile. “It’ll be fun to see where you live.”

I find myself driving slower than usual. Probably because subconsciously, I’m trying to prolong the inevitable.I’ll tell Bethany after lunch. Or maybe after we’ve dropped off Paisley.

Bethany launches into an animated account of getting back their things from the motel manager as I drive. “So first, he says he threw all our stuff in the Dumpster. Then, while I was trying to get him to tell me how many days I owed him for, he lets it slip that he was planning to sell some of our stuff to make up the money I owed. So of course, I say, ‘Wait a minute, so you mean to tell me you’ve got my stuff after all? I am not paying you one penny until you bring it out here and I see that every single thing is there!’ So then, he realized he’d better give me my sh… stuff. Cause it sure as heck isn’t worth hundreds of dollars, no matter where he tries to sell it!”

I’m listening with half an ear. “What a jerk,” I mumble.

“You’re tellin’ me. Frankly, I got the feeling he was trying to work up the guts to ask about me payin’ him back inother ways, if you get my drift.” Bethany’s eyes flit back to Paisley. “What a loser,” she finishes, disgusted.

“So, did you settle up with him?” I ask.

Bethany shrugs. “I gave him two-hundred dollars and told him to take it or leave it. It cleared out my checking account, but at least I’m finished with him.”

We’ve arrived at my house. I pull into the driveway, then help Paisley out of the back seat as her mom continues chattering. I leave the box of my stuff in the trunk for now. I can get it after I’ve dropped Paisley off at school and taken Bethany wherever she needs to go.

I can only blame my troubled thoughts and Bethany’s distraction for what happens next.

For not paying attention as we go up the walk together.

For not hearing the engine of another car as it pulls up outside.

For me leaving the front screen door unlocked on an unseasonably warm fall day.

“So, grilled cheese it is!”I say brightly. “You have a choice of cheddar or provolone, Miss Paisley.”

Paisley wrinkles her nose. “What’s provolone?”

“She’s good with cheddar,” Bethany says, sinking into a chair at my tiny kitchen table. “On the other hand, this crazy kid likes wheat bread more than white. Go figure.”

“Wow. That is crazy.” I pull out the bread and a pan and get to work on lunch. “So, Paisley,” I ask, “Are you happy to get back to school?”

I almost hesitate to ask the question, knowing that Paisley has had a rough time with some of her classmates. But to my surprise, she bobs her head excitedly and flashes a grin.

“Addi’s mom says when we get to school we’re supposed to ask where her room is, so I can find it if I ever need to go talk to her. And also she said she can start driving me home after school so me and Addi can play in her classroom until she’s done working.”

“Bailey’s been so nice,” Bethany sighs. “I can’t believe she’s okay with taking care of Paisley after school. It sure will help me while I start looking for another job.”

“That’s great!” And it really is. God, things really seem like maybe they’re starting to pick up for the two of them. Funny, it seems like it’s all because of the MC, directly or indirectly.

Ironically, the only part that isn’t going great is the partIwas supposed to be taking care of.

I set some buttered bread in the pan that’s heating on the stove, and start to slice pieces of cheese to lay on top.

“Do you need any help?” Bethany asks, starting to rise from her chair.

“No, I—”

A loud crash from the front of the house interrupts me, making all three of us jump.

“Where the fuck are you?” a high, angry male voice booms.

Paisley lets out a small scream, claps her hand to her mouth, and clings to her mother.

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