Page 99 of More Than Chemical
Her brow creased. “That’s great, Ade, but what does that have to do with this afternoon?”
I paused to collect myself, taking a deep breath and exhaling. “This guy, his name is Dallas. Dallas Reynolds.”
Mom frowned. “Isn’t that the name of the witness who testified today?”
I nodded.
She sucked in a breath, but still managed to check her rearview mirrors, toss a glance over her shoulder, and change lanes. After she was done, she looked at me. “That poor young man who lost his mother to cancer?”
“Yes. Him.”
“Did you know he was going to be a witness?”
“No.”
“Oh,” she said quietly.
I clenched my teeth. She wasn’t freaking out like I had.
Maybe I needed to tell her more. That he’d broken my heart. Actually, it was worse than that—he’d pulled my heart apart like monkey bread, and now it was sticky and getting all over everything.
Putting my face in my hands, I used all my willpower to keep myself from crying again, but I couldn’t control my trembling shoulders or my whimper.
She put her hand on my knee. “Sweetie, I’m so sorry. I hate seeing you this upset.”
I dragged my hands over my face. “He knew.” My voice sounded like cracking ice. “He knew exactly who I was and that he would be testifying against Dad, but he didn’t tell me.”
She placed both hands back on the steering wheel. “He knew?”
“Yes, and he didn’t say a word.” A flood was building inside me.
“That doesn’t sound very honorable, but, Ade, maybe there’s a reason he couldn’t.”
The waters were pressing against my heart, trying to find a way out. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe he signed a document that bound him to secrecy.”
“That can’t be true. If you watch any courtroom show or read any books, both sides know who’s on the witness list.”
“Maybe he just recently got subpoenaed and he hadn’t been able to tell you yet.”
“Impossible. We slept together last night.”
Silence filled the car interior.
“Then you’re not just hanging out with him.”
“Right.”
Mom stared straight ahead, gripping the steering wheel harder. “I hope you two are using protection.”
“Of course we are.”
“Should I take you to the doctor so you can get on the pill?”
“Mom!”
She flinched. “Sorry, I’m just processing over here.”
