Page 6 of Everything I Desire

“Yeah I know. Thanks for looking out for her, Stacey.”

“No problem. She’s doing really well despite her situation. You should be proud of her. I also let her teachers know that you are home now for her if she wants to leave early to give you a call, otherwise she’ll be home on the bus.” She sounds proud of Kayla herself. She’s taken her under her wing, and I’m glad she at least has someone looking out for her.

I should have come home sooner. But I couldn’t. I tried to help Maura, tried to get her to come to New York with me once I was settled at the shop. But she always chose the drugs over me and her daughter. We were close at one point, best friends, until the drugs took over.

Another thing I couldn’t risk again was seeing Adelaide. I would never be able to leave her a second time, and she shouldn’t be tainted by all that my life is. I still don’t know if I can survive running into her. But Kayla needs me to show up for her so I need to put my own shit aside.

Maybe my luck will start, and she’ll have moved out of town.

Two hours later, I’m standing in the kitchen, calling all the hospitals within a 50 mile radius. I’m on hold with the hospital about an hour away waiting for someone to answer the phone.

“Porter Jackson?” A voice comes through the line.

“That’s me,” I answer.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Caleb Holden. We do have a Jane Doe here that was brought in a few days ago. She’s currently in a coma, but she does fit the description of your sister. Is there any identifying marks on your sister that would help us identify her?”

Oh, besides the track marks up and down her arms?

I tell him about a couple of her tattoos that I can remember, and a scar from when she fell off her bike as a kid then I’m back on hold.

“I’m sorry Mr. Jackson, our Jane Doe doesn’t appear to have any of those identifying features on her. These addicts are always showing up and we have no way to identify them. All these deadbeatsout there on the streets living off the wages you and I get taxed on, am I right?”

I glare at the phone, wondering if he knows how insensitive he sounds. Shouldn’t he be trying to console me that he doesn’t have my sister and she’s still missing? He doesn’t know anything about our relationship.

“Uh, thanks for checking. If you get anyone else that matches my sister’s description could you give me a call?” I ask, hoping for some help from this asshole.

“Of course, I’ll let my nurses know. They usually deal with these addicted Jane Does. Good luck Mr. Jackson.” With that he hangs up and I’m left staring at my phone wondering where this jackass got his degree.

My phone immediately buzzes in my hand.

Ed:Hey kid. Hope you made it. Haven’t heard from ya.

Shit. I forgot to let Ed know I made it. I guess I need to prepare him for how long I’ll be gone.

Me:Sorry man. I’m here. Just dealing with all the shit, ya know? Sounds like it might be a little longer than I originally thought, you cool with that?

Ed:‘Course kid. You let me know if you need anything.

Once I put my phone down, something catches my eye in the front yard. I see Kayla making her way down the driveway, and I can already feel the anger radiating off her. The scowl does nothing to hide her mood.

I’m sure she’s pissed at me for not coming around, and I know Maura spun some bullshit about me to her. At least it wouldn’t surprise me if she did. I can probably guarantee that Maura threw away all the cards I’ve sent her over the years for holidays and birthdays.

The front door slams. Five stomps down the hallway, and a slam from the bedroom door.

Great.

Chapter Three

Adelaide

It’s been a few days since Porter got into town. Thankfully I haven’t seen him yet, but that little bubble of bliss is going to pop today. Stacey called yesterday and said we are going to have a meeting with Porter and Kayla. She wants all of the teachers to be on the same page as to what is going on since Maura still hasn’t been found.

Unfortunately, that means Porter will finally figure out that I’m Kayla’s homeroom and English teacher if she hasn’t already told him. She was too young when I was with Porter in high school, only a toddler, and he never let me around his family. Or Stacey may have told him but knowing our history she may not have wanted to add drama to the already dramatic situation.

Stacey pops her head in my classroom, “Hey, you ready? Porter and Kayla are here in the conference room.”

I sigh and rub my palms down the front of my dress. “I suppose I'm as readyas I’ll ever be.”

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