Page 35 of Vanilla and Vice

“Yes, I’m sure. It’s just for a little while, and then I can sell it and get something nicer.”

She sighed. “Okay.”

“Next,” the man at the counter called, and we stepped up to take the place of the last customer.

“What can I do for you?”

I smiled at the man even though he didn’t he return it. “My car was towed, and I’d like to get it out, please.”

“I’ll need to see your registration and driver’s license.”

I swallowed and leaned forward. “I talked to a Dave on the phone, and he said as long as I brought cash, I could get my car out without the registration.”

He stared at me for a long minute and then gave my aunt Kennedy a once-over. Finally, he asked, “What’s the make and model of the vehicle?”

I gave him all the info and then paid the four hundred dollars cash that I needed to get the car back without the registration.

I hated giving up so much of the money I’d saved—and on this piece of crap—but this needed to be done.

Thirty minutes later, I followed Aunt Kennedy out of the impound parking lot.

While I hated that I still held a part of my past, it felt good knowing that I was free to come and go. I couldn’t wait to drive into work tomorrow.

After the tow company, we had lunch at a swanky restaurant with fish tank walls. I sat closest to the wall as I nibbled on my flounder and watched the fish float up and down at my side.

I hadn’t felt so at ease in years.

“Eden.” Aunt Kennedy got my attention.

I turned to face her with a smile. “Yeah?”

“I told myself I would let it go and allow you come to me, but I need to know. Is she okay?”

My smile slipped, and I picked up my drink, taking a long pull from the straw. Setting it down, I shook my head in sadness.

“She’s not great.”

I wasn’t sure how else to say it.

I didn’t want to drop a truth bomb on her and tell her that her older sister was into drugs pretty hard and had all but given up on me. It felt insensitive, yet not telling her felt wrong, as well.

“Please tell me everything.”

How did you start a conversation like that?

I had no idea what I was going to say, but I opened my mouth and the right words came out.

“She started dating a new guy a couple of years ago. He’s a drug dealer and a jerk. He beat us. Refused to let us work. You name it. She takes the drugs to escape. I didn’t. Instead, I ran here.”

Tears flooded her eyes, but instead of responding, she turned away, sipped her drink, and blinked away her tears like the hardass that she was.

When she looked back over at me, she was completely composed. A grin tugged at her lips.

“How about we go do some shopping? You up for it?”

I giggled, shaking my head at her quick emotional turnaround. “Let’s do it.”

A sad fog followed us around for the rest of our day out. I knew what I told Aunt Kennedy was going to weigh on her for a long time, and I hated making her feel guilty when there was nothing she could have done.

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