“No, baby, you need more than time. You need help.” She looked away. “I know I promised not to call her, but—”
Knowing what Mom was about to suggest, I bolted upright. “No. We’re not calling her.”
Mom patted my leg. “Baby, I already did.”
Shocked, I stared at her. “You promised you wouldn’t. How could you do this to me?”
Raising her chin, she met my gaze. “Queens shine each other’s crowns, and right now, yours is about as tarnished as they come. I can’t reach you, so I’m bringing in someone who can. You promised you’d go to your appointment today. I guess we’re even.”
“Two wrongs don’t make a right. You taught me that.”
“Don’t mess with your mama. I also taught you that. And after thirty-two years, you should have learned better than to lie to me.”
“Mom, she has her own sh-stuff going on. She doesn’t need my drama.” I glanced at the neglected cell phone on my nightstand to confirm what I already knew. I had fourteen missed calls and 24 texts, all from the same person. “Goddammit.”
“Don’t you take the Lord’s name in vain in my house, young lady. I don’t care how grown you think you are, I’ll still wash your mouth out with soap.”
“Sorry, but this is a swear-worthy situation.” I pulled the blanket back over me, wishing it could hide me from what I knew was coming. “Naomi is going to kill me.”
“I tried to tell you not to play with me, Monica, I will always win. Especially when it comes to doing what’s best for you. That girl is your friend and has always had your back. I still don’t understand why you insisted on keeping this from her, but I’m not enabling you to give up any longer.”
I’d already explained my motivation. Several times. But none of my bullshit excuses would matter to Naomi. She was going to be so heated. “When will she be here?”
“In about an hour. You should probably get to packing. After you take a shower, that is.”
“Packing?”
“She’s taking you up north.”
“No. I’m not going.” Even in my own ears I sounded like a spoiled little brat, but I didn’t care. As my best friend, Naomi would insist on kicking my ass into gear while all I wanted to do was coast.
Mom’s eyebrows rose in question. “You’re fixin’ to be homeless then, because you’re not staying here. Seattle has resources for veterans that we don’t. Naomi said her brother’s club is full of veterans, some of whom know what you’re going through. They can help you.”
“I don’t need help, Mom. All I need is time.”
“This is new territory for me and your dad, and we messed up by thinkin’ you could handle it alone. You’re going north if I have to throw you out of this house myself.”
Dad would never agree to such drastic measures, and clearly I needed him to be my lifeline. “Where’s Daddy?”
“Working late.” She gave me a tight smile. “If that man knows one thing, it’s when to disappear.” She pulled an envelope out of her pocket and held it between us. “He won’t rescue you from Naomi, but he left this for you.”
I took the envelope with my name scribbled across it as she stood and went to my closet, retrieving my luggage. Unzipping the entire six-piece set, she left them open beside my bed. “There’s a box of plastic sleeves in the bathroom so you can keep your wound dry while you shower. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need help packing.”
Mom left, closing the door behind her. The sudden silence of my room was stifling, making me feel like I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t belong in my childhood home anymore, and now I was effectively being booted out. And it wasn’t like I could blame my parents… they were right to evict me. I would have done the same in their shoes.
But I still didn’t want to get out of bed.
So, I opened the envelope and unfolded Dad’s note.
Baby Girl,
I couldn’t be more proud of you and all you’ve accomplished. You’re a fighter… a champ. Now, life has knocked you down and the ref is trying to count you out. You’re bloody and hurting, but you have what it takes to get back up. I know you do. You stopped believing in yourself, but we’ve never given up on you. Your mom and I won’t sit back and watch you quit. Go to Seattle. Find your fight again.
I love you!
Dad
He’d retired from boxing when Mom was pregnant with me to find a job that paid better and would guarantee he’d be around to raise me. Tears burned my eyes as I thought about all the times my parents had sacrificed time, money, and their own dreams to help me achieve what so many had claimed to be impossible. They’d believed in me and pushed me to succeed, and it had to be killing them to watch me self-destruct. More than anything, I wanted to lie back in my bed and sleep forever, but I refused to do that to them. They deserved more from me.
