Page 108 of Steps

I hear footsteps and slide the phone inside myshorts pocket, then sit at the island to eat my cereal.

Daniel strolls into the kitchen first. Mom entersbehind him. Things seem a bit edgy between them.

The air is quiet. Mom grabs eggs from the fridgeand starts breakfast. She pauses at the stove when my phone vibrates.

Twisting, she asks, “Is that your phone?”

My eyes expand. “You can’t take it. How will Italk to Kenya?”

She purses her lips. “Yes, I can. I’m paying forit.” Leaning over the island, she opens her palm toward me. “Give it to me.”

My stomach plummets. I won’t be able to talk toVaren. “Mom...”

“Now, Toya.” Her voice and features arefirm.

“If you don’t, we’ll just disconnect it,” Danieladds, flipping through a form at the kitchen table.

Taking the phone from my pocket, I hand it to her.

She glances at the screen and scoffs. “You’ll thankme later. If you end all communication with him, it’ll be easier to move pastthis.” She powers off the phone and sticks it inside the pocket of her robe.

I’ve lost my appetite. “I’m going back to myroom.”

“Be ready to leave in ten minutes,” Daniel states.“Working will take your mind off this ridiculous attraction you have on my son,and you’ll get the experience for your resume.”

I brush over my curls. “Are you going to pay me atleast?”

He looks at me as he answers, “Yes.”

“Good. I’ll purchase my own phone then.”

They scoff in sync. I return to my room to showerand dress for work. Might as well earn some money while they’re forcing me tolet go of Varen. Even though their attempts are futile.

Daniel’s real estate company has its own floor ina high rise downtown. I like how diverse the office is. He sets me up in a smalleroffice with a lot of paperwork shortly after arriving.

Organizing folders doesn’t keep my mind off Varenat all. If anything, I think about him more.

I also think about Mom, her baby, and how sheslapped me. The last time she’d done that was when I told her about herex-boyfriend’s advances, and she didn’t believe me.

Tapping on the door zaps me out of my head. Danielscans the room as he enters. “Nice start. You work fast.”

I shrug. “Nothing else to do.”

He offers a partial smile. “How about lunch?”

“I’m not hungry,” I mutter, going back to thefolder in my hands.

“Then we can just sit and talk. Come on.” Heambles away.

A deep sigh gushes from my lips. I set down thefolder and follow him seconds later.

“When Varen started drinking and smoking weed atfourteen, he refused to stop no matter how I threatened to send him away.”Daniel gulps a bit of his lemon water, sighs, and continues. “Varen’s the kindof kid that once something offers a sweet escape, he’ll hold on to it no matterhow wrong.”

I narrow my eyes. “Are you comparing me to drugs?”

He rubs his forehead. “I’m saying the dependencyis similar. Your energy feels good to him right now, Toya. It won’t last. He’lltake as much as he can from you until there’s nothing left that you can givehim.”

Losing my appetite, I push away my bowl of salad.“That’s why your son doesn’t talk to you about anything. You have this sadperception of him, and you can’t see beyond that. Do you know Varen cries inhis sleep at night? Do you know he feels he’s disappointed you and Alison? Doyou know what he’s passionate about? His likes and dislikes? How sweet andfunny he is? Do you know anything about Varen other than he drinks and smokes?”

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