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“I know it isn’t any of my business, but,” Amy paused, “what happened? You two seemed perfect together.”
“He didn’t tell you?” Jane asked.
“He wouldn’t give me any details. He just said that you were no longer together. What happened, honey?”
Jane sipped at her tea again, grateful that Luke hadn’t told Amy that she was a whore who slept with her bosses on the regular. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Jane -”
“I respected your privacy when you said you didn’t want to talk about Mark.”
Amy pressed her lips together. “You’re right. I’m sorry, and I won’t pry again. But I don’t understand why you’re looking for a new place to live.”
“I can’t live with you anymore.”
“Why not?” Amy said.
“Because your brother hates me, and he’s your brother.” Jane wondered if Amy was being deliberately obtuse.
“I don’t care,” Amy said. “You’re my friend, and I like having you live with me. You don’t have to move out. Yeah, Luke’s my brother, but it doesn’t mean I’ll automatically agree with all of his choices. I don’t know why he broke up with you, but whatever it was, he’s stupid for doing it.”
Tears welled up in Jane’s eyes. “I don’t want to come between you and your brother. Family is what’s important.”
“You won’t,” Amy said. “I love Luke, and I love you, and you being my roommate won’t be a problem. I promise.”
“It might be,” Jane said. “If it does, I’ll move out. Okay?”
Amy rolled her eyes. “Yeah, okay, but it won’t be a problem.”
Jane didn’t reply, and Amy rested her head on her shoulder. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out with my brother, Janie. He’s an idiot.”
“He isn’t,” Jane said. “Besides, it’s better this way. It would never have worked out between us – we’re too different. I was a fun distraction for him, and he just got swept up in the moment.”
She forced herself to smile at Amy. “It’s good that he realized how he really felt.”
“Honey, did you tell him that you loved him?” Amy asked.
“No, and it’s good that I didn’t,” Jane said. “I’m embarrassed enough, and it would have been much worse if he knew that I fell in love with him. I was an idiot to think I could have a relationship with him.”
She wiped briskly at the tears sliding down her cheeks before sipping her tea. “This is good. Thanks, Ames.”
“You’re welcome, honey.”
* * *
“Mama J?” Adrenaline pulsed through Jane’s body as she hurried into Mama J’s room. It was Thursday evening, and she had come straight from work to see her foster mother. It was just after dinner, and it was unusual to find Mama J in bed rather than her chair by the window.
“Mama J? Are you all right?”
She breathed a sigh of relief when Mama J looked over her shoulder and smiled at her. “Hello, my Janie.”
“Hi. Why are you in bed?” She dragged the chair over and sat down. “Are you not feeling well?”
“I’m feeling a little tired today,” Mama J said.
“Do you want me to come back tomorrow?” Jane asked.
“No,” Mama J said. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, Janie. Why didn’t you visit me last night?”
