Page 209 of True Blue

Sober, firstly. Or at least sober enough to perform. Her makeup is done, covering the dark circles beneath her eyes and smoothing the lines of rage my words brought out last night. Her hair is perfectly coiffed, not one strand out of place, and she’s wearing one of her yellow floral dresses. The one she always saved for special occasions because of how expensive it was. She used to brag about that dress to her friends, showing it off as if it were a token of her husband’s love.

It feels like a message.

It’s a mistake.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

Her nose is firmly in the air as she walks toward us. Indie tenses beside me, and I feel her eyes on my face, bracing to see how I’ll react. I wonder if she’s scared, even now, that I’ll become the Teddy I used to be when my mother walked into a room. The thought makes my chest ache. I don’t blame her. I set a precedent, it’s my job now to fix it.

So I lift my Indie’s hand to my mouth and press a kiss there. I see her body relax, her shoulders dropping, her jaw unclenching, and she smiles at me.

Dawn’s eyes track that movement and narrow in irritation.

Then, with perfection made through repetition, her face transforms into concern.

“Theodore,” she coos, tutting in concern and taking a step toward me. “Oh, what happened to your face?”

I step back, pulling Indie a little more behind me. My eyes track up to the security camera in the corner, and satisfaction blooms in my mind.

From behind her, Dunk shakes his head once, firmly—do not speak to her. Not yet.

Turning away from her, I pull Indie back to our seats. “Theodore, why are you ignoring me? I’m your mother.”

I act like I didn’t even hear her as Indie and I sit. Leaning forward, I press a long kiss to her forehead.

“I love you,” she whispers.

“I love you too, honey,” I whisper, leaning closer to press my forehead against hers. “Just a little longer.”

She nods in understanding.

“Dunk,” Dawn says, as though noticing him for the first time. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, Dawn,” Dunk chuckles. “You know what my favorite thing about my job is, Dawn?”

“Oh, I think you’re going to tell me,” Dawn says, her voice tight and shrill.

“Checks and balances,” he says pleasantly. “I love making sure everything is fair and square. Especially when people try to tip the scales because of greed.”

Dawn hums, letting the words roll right off her.

“Well, there are some things that need to be rebalanced because of certain greedy interlopers,” she says, saccharine sweet. “Shame that in your old age, you allowed my mother to give away my children’s rightful inheritance.”

“It was what your mother wanted, Dawn,” Dunk says, his voice sharp as a whip. “I know it’s uncomfortable for you to think of anyone but yourself, but it is my job to honor her wishes. Your mother was adamant that you were secure with your husband. That he would always take care of you. That was why you stayed home to take care of the children, wasn’t it?”

Dawn’s face looks like cracked porcelain as she smiles at Dunk, but her eyes can’t lie. She’s enraged.

And distracted.

Because she doesn’t see the two uniformed officers walking up behind her. Indie inhales sharply when they pass us. Officer Sherry Dash, the officer I spoke to last night, gives me a small nod as she and her partner move down the hallway.

“My mother was a demented fool,” Dawn hisses, but not quietly enough. “Easily tricked by the people she trusted to care for her, and you⁠—”

“Dawn Williams?”

“What?” she snaps, turning to face the officers.

Officer Dash keeps her expression level. “Dawn Williams, you are under arrest for battery related to the incident involving Theodore Williams last night. Please turn around and place your hands behind your back.”