On the Plus Side

Two days later, I got to go home. I was blown away by how attentive Devin was to me. He helped me into my apartment, onto my couch, and then cared for me better than any nurse could.  He constantly asked if I needed anything or if I wanted anything. While my mother, who usually runs the world, sat from afar and watched. It was strange.

When I got my first look in the mirror I almost cried. I looked horrible. I just sat there in my bedroom and stared at the mirror in shock. There was a soft knock at the door before Devin stuck his head in.

“I was just checking on you, babe,” he said. “What are you doing?”

“Why didn’t anyone tell me I looked like this, Devin? I don’t want you seeing me like this—you should go home. I’ll call you once I’m all better, and I look normal again.” I put my head down.

No matter what, I wouldn’t cry. Yeah, I looked horrible, and yeah, bad things had happened, but now I had Devin. He was all mine, I just didn’t want him to see me this way.

I heard him walk up behind me, and then I felt him put his hand on my shoulder.

“Look at me,” he said as he turned my face toward him. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and I’m completely in love with you.” He softly traced the bruise around my eye with his fingertip. “It kills me that someone hurt you and Jenny this way. When I find out who did it I fully plan on beating them to death.”

He leaned down, gave me a soft kiss, and I felt my heart melt.

“I do have some bad news, though. Dad’s swamped at work. He didn’t ask me to help, but I know I need to. I promise to come by every night to check on you, and I’ll keep my cell phone in my pocket at all times. You call me if you need anything, OK?”

I giggled.

“Devin, I’m fine. Go help Dad and just come and see me when you can.”

“I love you.” He leaned down and gave me another kiss.

“I love you, too.”

I watched him walk out of the room. I took a long, hot shower and then spent the rest of the night in bed watching TV. Shannon popped her head in occasionally to check on me. After the fifth time, she admitted to me that Devin had been calling her almost every hour to make sure I was OK. I smiled. The terrible beating and hospital stay aside, I’d never been so happy in my entire life.

Twenty-Three

Honesty’s Best Policy

I stayed up most of the night in the garage trying to catch up. We were so behind on everything, not that it was anyone’s fault but my own. I should’ve never taken off to Florida. If I had been there instead of running away like a punk, Jenny would’ve called me and the turn-out of this situation would’ve been a hell of a lot different. My sister wouldn’t have been hurt and Lilly wouldn’t have been practically beaten to death.

I owe her so much. She almost gave her life for my baby sister and I was determined to tell her the truth. Damn the money, damn the she-devil, damn it all! I wanted to be honest with Lilly and start over. Plain and simply put, I want Lilly completely.

I called Shannon constantly to check on Lilly, she was beginning to get aggravated with me. Being away from her when she needed me the most just felt wrong, but I had to work. Dad would never be able to do all of it on his own.

I worked all night long and ended up falling asleep on the old couch in the garage. I had a rough night’s sleep and was awoken by Jenny who was digging through the paperwork on the old, ratty desk where we kept all the garage bills and stuff. I watched from afar as she figured out everything on her own. All the letters about the bank foreclosing on our property were right on top. I heard her gasp.

“Jenny, get out of those papers,” I said sleepily. “That’s not your concern.”

“The hell it’s not! Why didn’t y’all tell me about this?” She held up a bank paper. “I should know if we’re about to lose everything! All I could think about was a stupid fucking dance and you and dad were stressing over bills!” She swiped at angry tears with the back of her arm.

I jumped off of the couch and went to her.

“Jenny, you’re just a kid, sweetie. We didn’t want you to worry about it and you shouldn’t have to worry about it. I’ll take care of it,” I soothed her.

“But, Dev, we’re gonna lose everything! This is our home, we can’t lose our home!” She was freaking out and I’d never seen Jenny lose her cool that way.

The payment was due in a week and I’d already made up my mind that I wasn’t taking the money from Mrs. Sheffield. Regardless we were going to lose everything. Why was I lying to Jenny? Why not be honest and prepare her for the worst?