Page 14 of A Million Pieces

Brooke

I pull into my driveway, pretending I don’t see the Sold across the sign in my yard. It had been on the market for two days and I had a bidding war between two families. I made about fifteen over the asking price. That’s all great, but I haven’t been so lucky finding a place to live myself.

I’ve looked at three houses so far and none of them have jumped out at me. For the meantime, I did find an adorable little one-bedroom rental that’s within walking distance to the school.

The landlord already has a security system, and I just need to activate it. I know everyone thinks I’m rushing into this, but after the other night when I hurt Hank by saying such shitty stuff to him, it’s better if I leave, or at least move farther away from him—hell I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.

Yes, he hurt me in the past, but when I told him I forgave him, I meant it. I’d simply freaked out when I realized he came inside me. I’m not on birth control, and it was the prime time for me to get pregnant. I’d wigged out, plain and simple.

I let myself inside, disarming the security system. I set my purse on the kitchen counter, along with the bag that has my dinner in it. In my room, I change into some knit shorts and a tank top.

Inside the house, it feels bare; everything is off the walls and packed up. Most of the kitchen is packed up, and tonight I need to work on my bedroom. The day after tomorrow, the movers will come and then that’ll be it.

Back in the kitchen, I open the container that contains my chicken fried rice. I sit in silence while I eat, feeling nothing but loneliness. There has been no life in this house in a long time. Maybe the new owners can change that.

While I eat, I stare blindly across the kitchen and think about Hank and how hurt he looked when I had said what I did. Then I think about Austin—where is he? Why hasn’t he tried to contact me? Don’t get me wrong, he can stay gone for all I care, but I really wish I knew he was locked in a cell somewhere.

After I finish eating, I toss the rest in the trash. I then head back into my bedroom and get busy packing.

***

“Okay, everyone. It’s story time. Come sit in a circle on the reading carpet.” I smile as my kiddos hustle over to the giant rainbow rug that sits on the floor in front of my chair and the bookshelf.

They all sit crisscross applesauce and look up at me, eagerly waiting for me to pick the story I’m reading today. I’ve decided to introduce the kids to a book that was my favorite when I was their age,Ramona the Pest.

The kids all watch me with rapt attention as I start the story. They giggle as I try to do voices because I’m terrible at them, but I’ll always make a fool of myself for the kids.

“What did you guys think?” I ask as I close the book. They all start clapping. “I’m so glad you guys liked it.”

There’s a knock on the door and I stand up and see the secretary on the other side. I smile as I open the door and see she had some pink daisies in a vase. “Hey Kristy.”

“These came for you.” She hands them to me, and I shut the door after I thank her.

The girls all oohh and aahh…as I carry them to my desk. They rush to it, wanting to get a close look at them. “Okay, let’s go sit in our seats.”

“Who sent them Miss Burns?” One of the boys asks.

I look through them and don’t see a card. “Hmmm…I don’t know who they’re from.”

Luckily, they have a short attention span and it’s time for lunch, and they certainly love lunchtime. After the kids line up, I lead them down the hall to the cafeteria. We share high fives as they walk into the large room.

They have lunchroom attendants, so I head back to my classroom to eat my lunch. I grab my phone out of my desk, feeling slightly disappointed that I haven’t heard from Hank. I’ve heard from his mom, but not like I usually do.

He must’ve told them what I said, and now they’re all avoiding me. I text them, checking in once a week, but none of them respond—Hank’s is the only one that doesn’t say it was delivered.

I’m more miserable than ever. Yes, over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been hanging out with some work friends, but it is not the same. They don’t know me like Hank does, or Judy, for that matter. I’ve been avoiding Riley too, because she’s going to want answers I can’t give her.

Ugh, I need to stop. This was what I’ve wanted—for Hank to be out of my life, right?

I look at the time and see I only have twenty more minutes before the kids come back. I eat my sandwich and my salad, while I read the latest Aurora Rose Reynold book. As I’m finishing up, the bell rings, and it signals it is time for me to go down and get my kids.

***

I let myself into my rental and silence the alarm system. This place is so small, but it’ll do until I find a home that truly speaks to me. Maybe then I’ll finally get a dog. I drop my bag on the sofa and head back to my bedroom, stripping out of my pink hot pants and white sleeveless dress shirt.

They’re still clean, so I hang them back up. I grab a pair of nylon shorts and a blue fitted T-shirt out of the dresser and throw them on. In the bathroom, I brush out my hair and throw it up into a high ponytail.

I use a couple of my wipes to get the makeup off my face and then put a little moisturizer on. Back in the living room, I lay down on my sofa, grabbing my Kindle off the coffee table.

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