Page 21 of The Other Side of Green

Gave me a tingle of hope.

Until her words filtered into my brain, looping her conversation back around. “What did you mean, our dinner?”

Mom’s hand clattered down the teaspoon she whirled the coffee with. Oh my God. Do not tell me he’s out of prison and back here.

Then she smiled and I knew that couldn’t be the case—no one smiled when it came to that bastard.

“Don’t freak out.”

“Mom, I’ve just come back from a theoretical grave, do I look like I’m freaking out?”

“No.” She eyed me curiously. “And you’re gonna tell your momma everything you’ve done in the last four years.”

“Yes, not right now though. I’ve already talked enough to the police.”

“The police?”

“Mom. Focus. Why would I freak out?”

The front door banged open behind us and my mouth fell open as Detective Lufette walked in like he owned the place.

Oh.

“Ruth, baby, I need to tell you something.”

Mom reached her hand for my arm and gave me a squeeze. “I know. Jack’s home.”

I met the detective’s gaze, the reason for my lighthearted questioning at the precinct becoming all the more apparent.

Well damn.

“Jack.’ He stepped forward and offered his hand.

“Detective.” I shook it firmly, wanting to stay focused and calm; polite. “So you’re banging my mom?”

Or maybe not.

Chapter Six

Lyra ~ Present Day

“How you doing, my girl?”

Patience Remy patted my hand as I flopped down onto a wooden chair next to her.

“This entertaining thing is exhausting.” I stretched out a cramp in my leg, rotating my ankles.

“You’ve cooked some beautiful food; your Grammy would be proud.”

I nodded, my eyes stinging and blurring. It seemed the day wasn’t ever going to end… it was going to continue with serving, washing up, serving, washing up… never, ever ending.

Grams had a lot of friends.

I mean, I’d always known it, but had never really understood it.

Patience was the last one still here and I didn’t mind. Grams’ best friend for longer than I’d been alive, they’d grown up on these streets together, somehow never being far from the other one. Patience had also lost her husband, and since then they’d both kept each other entertained with church business, general fussing, and practicing their hard stares on anyone deserving of such punishment.

They were like sisters.