Seth nodded, like he knew what that meant.
“Anyway, Bean is helping me, and he does love Aggie, and Aggie loves him.”
“Yeah,” Seth said. “If it’s okay with you, it’s okay with me. He’s going to miss that dog more than anything when we move.”
Her heart stopped at the mention of it. She didn’t want Bean—or Seth—to move.
“Mr. Contreras told me he has a buyer,” he added. “Maybe even two.”
“Oh.” Lorna resisted the urge to squirm. “Well... maybe you can get Bean a dog if you move.”
“I don’t think so,” Seth said. “I can hardly take care of him right now, much less a dog. Between you and me, it’s a whole lot easier if he can just borrow one.” He grinned and nudged her with his elbow. “I hope you don’t mind that I am totally using you and Aggie.”
“Interestingly, I don’t.” She sort of liked that Aggie was needed, and by association so was she.
She took another sip of the beer and set it aside. This was nice. It was so nice it made her nervous. What would happen if she revealed too much of herself? Micah would have a field day with that fear. She abruptly stood.
Seth seemed surprised and awkwardly came to his feet. “You’re going?”
“Yes. I need to, ah... do some things.” Like order a blue Ranger Explorer vest.
“Oh. Okay. I was enjoying the chat.”
Lorna swallowed. “Me too.”
He looked slightly confused and put down his beer. “I’ll get your dog.”
“Bring her back in the morning. She can sleep with Bean if it’s all right with you.”
“Ah... sure,” Seth said, frowning. He glanced toward Bean’s bedroom. “Are you sure?”
She wasn’t sure at all. Aggie was a huge comfort to her too. They hadn’t been separated since she picked her up as a young pup at the shelter. But she said she was fine with it and walked to the apartment door before she changed her mind.
Seth opened the door for her, but he didn’t move out of the way. He stood so close that Lorna had to look up at him. “Thanks, Lorna. You have been a tremendous help to me and Bean these last few days. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
She could feel herself blushing, and worse, she could feel tears building. “No problem,” she said, and skirted out, her heart beating wildly.
Hey K. Tonight I went across the hall and hung out with Bean’s dad. You don’t know him, and I’m glad you don’t, because you would probably try to hit him up for something. You used to make me so nervousaround my friends. Anyway, their apartment is where Nana’s bedroom and the den were. Remember when you’d sneak in there and find bottles under her bed? You thought it was so hilarious that she was a drunk. Why was addiction always so funny to you? Well, I guess you’re not laughing so much now. The last time I was in those rooms, I cried like a giant baby because we were packing up the house. Mom yelled at me to stop, like I wasn’t allowed to have those feelings. I wonder if you have any idea how hard it was for me to leave. You were so selfish, Kristen. I know I’m not supposed to say that, because addiction is not your fault and yada yada. But you were.
Still, I take no comfort in the fact that you are having to put up with Dad now. Sorry about that.
Chapter 21Lorna Now
“What do you think?” lorna asked bean, modeling the skirt, blazer, and flat shoes she intended to wear to show Mr. Sanders she was not a loser, despite the evidence he might have to the contrary.
“Umm...” Bean studied her hard. Too hard. “You look like a principal.”
“Okay,” she said uncertainly. “Is that bad or good?”
“I’m scared of my principal,” Bean said.
Lorna groaned. “Ugh.”
While she changed into something less scary, Bean used Lorna’s phone to type in the address of the Community Celebration Church. He was wearing a giant compass around his neck; she supposed in case Google Maps didn’t work. But the geographic charting and compassing aside, it wasn’t necessary—Lorna knew exactly where the church was. It was a huge monolith on MoPac Expressway that attracted people from Austin and surrounding towns. She remembered that at one point, Kristen had gone there in hopes of spiritual healing. She wondered what happened with that. She knew only that it was a short-lived effort.
When she and Bean arrived, people were exiting out of thechurch doors, dispersing to cars in the parking lot. The rehearsal appeared to be over for the day. “Ready?” she asked Bean.
“Ready,” he said solemnly.
