Page 102 of My Mistake To Make

‘Merida.’ Bowie calls out and runs to me, and I step down toward her, smiling, as she crashes into my legs, wrapping her arms around them, and I stroke her hair.

‘Bowie!’ the woman snaps, and I look up to see her scowl. This must be Jessie.

‘Hi, I’m Cara.’ I offer a small smile as Bowie steps back toward her mother. Jessie scrutinizes me. Her lips pressed into a tight line as her gaze travels from my head to my toes.

‘Where’s Doug?’

My stomach knots up. She knows… she must know. Why else would she be asking me that?

‘Um, I don’t know.’ I admit, honestly.

‘I can’t get hold of him, and he works here, so where is he?’ Ah, okay… this is okay.

‘Oh, no, the house is done.’ I gesture behind me. ‘He has some outdoor bits to do, but it’s Sunday,’ I shrug. ‘He’s not working here today.’

‘Fuck!’ she yells, and I wince. Bowie is right there.

‘Can I help?’ I offer since she looks pretty distressed. ‘Would you like to come in for a drink or anything?’

‘Yeah, mama, we can watch Brave.’ Bowie jumps up enthusiastically.

‘We’re not watching your stupid movie today, Bo. I need to find your daddy.’

‘Maybe Zoe or Bree will know where he is,’ I suggest.

‘Do you think I’m stupid?’ She glares at me, and my mouth falls open. ‘I tried everybody. Nobody can take her, and I have plans. Goddam piece of shit, deadbeat…’

‘I can watch her,’ I cut her off before she finishes a sentence that I won’t be able to let her come back from.

‘Excuse me?’

‘If you need someone to watch Bowie, she can stay with me. You can let Doug know she’s here, and he can come and get her whenever he’s free.’

‘You?’ she hisses with so much disgust I wonder if I’ve said something offensive. ‘Why the fuck would I leave my kid with you?’

‘Mama,’ Bowie gasps at the language, and I step forward.

‘I know that you don’t know me, but the Campbells do, and Bowie does. I’m trying to help, so please mind your language when you’re on my property.’

‘Your property.’ She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. ‘Yourproperty? You never even set foot in this town. What the hell gives you the right to sit up here in the castle on the hill, looking down, thinking you’re better than us.’

‘I think you should leave.’ I square my shoulders and try so hard not to bite. I need to not make anything worse for Doug. He didn’t get the house, and the last thing he needs is me being the reason Jessie runs.

‘Bowie, car,’ she barks, her eyes never leaving mine. ‘You ain’t welcome here, princess. Nobody wants you here.Nobody.’

Her words sting. I know they aren’t true, but they reach the part of me that’s not yet fully healed, the part that still fears rejection.

‘Goodbye, Jessie.’ I force a smile. ‘It was lovely to meet you.’

I watch as she tears off the drive and heads for the road, and I rush for my phone. I need to tell him she’s on the warpath.

There’s Someone In The House

Doug

‘Open the door, Jessie,’I call, knowing she’s in there. This shit stops right fucking now.

Cara called me, apologizing for riling Jessie up, terrified that she did something to jeopardize me getting Bo, but fuck that. Jessie turning up at her place and talking to her the way she did isn’t happening. I have to tell her.

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