Page 3 of Broken Prince

“Don’t worry, I’ve moved him into a room with younger kids. He’s okay now.” She answered my unspoken thoughts.

I threw her a grateful look. “I need to go now. I have to grab my bus.”

“Let me drive you home, please.”

I nodded. The bus ride to Mrs. Broussard’s was going to take more than forty-five minutes, and I had to admit that, after the draining day I had, I was more than grateful to accept.

“Why are you so nice to me”? I asked Amy as we took to the road. “Not that I’m not eternally grateful but—”

She shrugged. “Call it empathy. I’ve seen you before at the hospital; you genuinely cared about the patients, and the way your brother talks about you? You’re his whole world. I’ve seen a lot of mean, heartless people in my line of work and you’re not one of them. You’re caring and loving and so obviously unaware of your parents’ monstrosities” She threw me a quick look full of concern. “You don’t deserve to be treated the way you are so if I can help ease this injustice just a little…I will.”

I looked away, blinking back my tears. Her words somehow gave me hope. Maybe others would see it too. Maybe others would cut me some slack and help me get Jude back.

Yes, tomorrow was another day and I would turn the tide, no matter the sacrifices.

For Jude.

Chapter Two

CASSIE

I woke up to the sound of Mrs. Broussard humming in the little kitchen area and the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

I sat up and winced at the soreness of my back left by the metal bars of the thin futon. I would never say anything though; she’d given me shelter when everyone turned their back on me. She’d been my savior.

“Ma Cherie.” She smiled, putting a plate on the counter for me. “I made a little extra for you.” Her amber eyes were sad despite the brightness of her smile.

“What would I do without you?” I asked, rubbing my eyes and padding barefoot in my flannel pajamas, then sitting on a stool.

“You’ll be fine, Cherie. You're a good person; you always have been. Life will come around, you’ll see.”

“I hope you’re right,” I said, taking a bite of pain perdu. “I’m going to the temp agency today in town. If God, karma, or whatever is out there and ever wanted to grant me a favor, today is the day.”

“I can speak with Camille.”

I shook my head. Camille was a junior doctor at Hospital Central and she was not a fan of me and the trouble she thought I was putting her mother into.

I could not blame her though. Her mother had worked tirelessly for my family, who treated her no better than a piece of furniture. She’d worked that hard just to buy herself this tiny apartment in an over-fifty complex and I was now living on her meager income.

I was no better than a leech but that was stopping today. I would get a job no matter what.

“That’s not necessary. Let’s see how it goes today.”

Amy had assured me that as soon as I had a steady job, a place to live big enough to get Jude, and a little savings, she’d do everything in her power for me to get him and once I had him back we would leave, change our names, and start fresh. Just the two of us.

Mrs. Broussard looked at the clock. “Do you want me to drive you there? I have a little time.”

I smiled but shook my head, my mouth full of pain perdu. “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

She cocked her head to the side. “I’m allowed to worry about you, Cassie. I’ve watched you grow.”

I reached for the newspaper on the counter, and she rested her caramel hand on top of mine.

“Maybe you shouldn’t, Cherie.”

I sighed. “Believe me, there’s nothing they can say I have not read before.”

She hesitated for a second before lifting her hand with a sigh. “Nothing good will come from this,” she said with defeat, before turning around and putting her plate in the small dishwasher on the counter.

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