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“Rose is staying over tonight.”
“Yeah, I figured that out,” she deadpans.
My mother is in the kitchen when I reappear. Rose is in the shower now that the swelling has gone down a little.
“Jamie,” she sighs, and I already know where this is going. “You never said it was that bad.”
“I know, Mom, but she doesn’t need us to get involved. She just needs a place to sleep occasionally.”
“That’s twice this week.”
“I know.”
“Andwhere isthat twin of hers? Where is he hiding while all this is going on?”
It hurts to answer, it’s humiliating but I push the words through. “I don’t know.”
“I thought she didn’t get along with her foster family, not that they were hitting her. This is another level, Jamie.”
“Mom– ”
“No. There’s no ‘mom’. This is a dangerous situation here. What kind of adult—hell what kind ofmotherwould I be if I didn’t do something about it. We need to let the police know or at least social services.”
“Please. It’s just not how it works.”
She pinches her nose with her thumb and forefinger. “Jamie…” she sighs.
“There’s no need to worry, Mrs. Williams,” Rose’s hoarse voice cuts through our conversation.
“You showed up to my house with a black eye, Rose, I think it’s time to start worrying.”
“I got in some stupid fight with some girls from NSF. You should seetheirfaces.” She winks but mom shakes her head.
“That’s a lie and you know it, young lady.”
“Mom,” I groan. “Please let it go.”
My mother looks at us for another moment in complete silence. I can see the battle going on in her mind. She’s a good person, truly.
“Bedtime,” she concludes. “Both of you.”
Rose smiles her gorgeous smile and nods. “Thanks for having me again, Mrs. Williams.” Her eyes are shining with respect for my mother before she heads to my room.
I hang back slightly, perfectly knowing Mom has more to say.
“Does she really hang out on the North Shore of the Falls?”
I don’t know. This girl doesn’t say anything to anyone. She disappears on a weekly basis, and no one knows what the hell she’s up to.
“She’s got friends there,” I lie. It’s not the best, but at least it covers for Rose’s other lie. “She doesn’t usually get in trouble.”
Lies, lies, lies.
“Sure,” she replies, not believing one bit.
I head to my room with heaviness in my heart for lying to my only parent.
* * *
