Page 108 of Dizzy

“But we are done rehashing the past. And you ain’t stirring up no more drama. Times have changed. You ain’t the only one with lawyer money anymore. Matter of fact, you want to go back to court, I got my legal representation on speed dial.”

She gets an uneasy look. It’s a small town. She knows Harper Ruth.

I nod, but I ain’t done. “From here on out, you’re gonna make this as easy as can be on everyone involved. You ain’t gonna speak to Fay-Lee unless it’s about the kids. And you ain’t gonna shame that boy for a mistake that he already made right ‘cause you’re mad about what some bitch says on the internet.”

I take a breath. Force my voice back down. “If you can’t care about these kids more than what people think, let ‘em stay with me.”

Her face is frozen in a sneer, her eyes cold and filled with rage. Whatever she just heard, I guarantee, it ain’t what I said.

“You pick them up from school tomorrow, then.” She turns, flounces to the truck.

“You know what,” she spits as she climbs into the driver’s seat. “Keep them all week. I have showings.”

She slams the door, peels out, sending gravel flying.

I’m already on my way back in the house, phone in my hand, texting Wall to send Jo-Beth or another sweetbutt over here to watch the kids. I’m goin’ to find Fay-Lee, and I’m gonna throw her over my shoulder and bring her home.

Enough of the shit I should do.

I’m gonna do what I wanna.

I trip up the stairs, fully expecting to find the boys in the bed, Carson conked out and Parker playin’ games on his phone. Instead, I face the inquisition. Parker and Carson are standing in the middle of the living room, hands fisted on their hips, feet hip-width apart, like two pissed-off, miniature Supermen.

“Where’s Fay-Lee?” Carson asks.

“You can’t get rid of her ‘cause Mom’s pissed.” Parker glares, tears gone.

“I didn’t get rid of her.”

“Then where is she?” Parker demands.

“She don’t got no money, and she don’t got no phone.” Accusation shines in Carson’s eyes. “And she don’t have a jacket.”

Both boys give me the stare of death, waiting. I didn’t think I could feel lower. I run a hand through my hair.

“We had a—misunderstanding. She got upset and left. It wasn’t her fault.”

“It was your fault.” Parker says it like there’s no doubt in his mind.

“In a way. I didn’t handle it right.”

“You got to fix it. We like Fay-Lee,” Parker says.

“Yeah?” I honestly didn’t know they felt so strongly about her. Vonna was around for six months, and they didn’t bat an eyelash when we split.

“You’re happy when she’s around,” Carson says. “You’re never happy.” He frowns, and his eyes darken. “You got to get her back. She’s real skinny, and it’s cold out.”

“She’s got her phone.” I don’t have anything else to comfort him. He’s scared for her, and so am I.

“Oh. Cool.” Carson takes his phone out of his pocket, and before I can register what he’s doing, he’s got it up to his ear.

“Fay-Lee?” he says.

There’s a distant murmuring. Shit. He’s got her number.

I reach for the phone, but he ducks. Maybe I should ease off. She didn’t like what I had to say earlier, and my brain’s buzzing so fast, I haven’t thought of anything else besides “Come home.”

“Yeah. Parker’s here, too. Where are you?”

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