Page 153 of The Broken Note

I want to.

So badly.

I want him to rescue me.

I’m trembling, but I don’t even realize it until my sister walks into me and slides her arms around my waist. I feel the tears pressing against my eyes, but I don’t let them drop.

“It’s okay,” Vi says, smoothing a hand down my back.

“I’m the one who should be telling you that.”

Vi eases back and gives me a smile that’s wise beyond her years. “We can remind each other.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat.

Suddenly, I hear a crash from outside.

Vi and I hurry out and find mom rummaging through the cupboard, looking for food.

“Do you have any chips?” mom demands.

I’m not surprised by her sudden energy boost. Mom can crash into a drunken slumber one minute and then wake up, fully present and annoyingly smug, the next.

“My head is killing me,” she complains. “Rick buys the cheap stuff. I need to teach him where to get the goods.”

I frown. “Sit down, mom. I’ll make you a sandwich.”

“I don’t want a sandwich.”

“Then you won’t eat,” I snap.

She frowns at me and sinks into a chair around the table. “Testy.”

Vi joins me. “Need some help?”

I shake my head.

“Viola, baby, can you get your mommy some water?”

Vi gives me a look as if asking for my permission first.

I jut my chin at the fridge.

While Vi pours, I slap two pieces of bread on a plate and slather it in condiments.

“I heard you had a busy day yesterday, mom,” I say tightly.

“Mff.” She makes a coarse grunt before gulping down all the water.

“What did you think about Dutch when you met him? He’s a little intense, right?”

Mom chokes and a flood of water spews from her mouth.

Vi shrieks and jumps back to avoid getting doused.

Unbothered, I slap meat on the bread, shove the sandwich together and drop the plate in front of mom. “Why did you send Dutch to Sinner’s Den?”

She glances away.

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