Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
“Shit.”
“Yeah. Laura had to go through losing Daniella alone while I was in prison for a crime I didn’t need to commit. She’ll come around eventually, I hope. But she’s mad that I didn’t communicate with her—never even asked how Daniella felt about being added to other lists. She says I just made the decision for her, as if I knew what she’d want.” He paused. “Sound familiar?”
I sighed. “I get your point. But it’s different. I’m trying to do what’s best for Layla.”
“And I was trying to do what was best for Daniella and Laura. But we don’t get to decide what’s best for other adults, son. They get to decide for themselves.”
I understood what he was saying. I really did. But sometimes people you love won’t do what’s best for them if it means hurting someone they care about.
“Let me ask you something. Would you do it all over again?”
“What? Get myself in trouble to save my granddaughter? Of course. I’d spend the rest of my life in that shithole you just picked me up from if it meant she could’ve lived longer. But…I’d talk to her before I did it this time. Maybe not tell her my plan, but I’d at least find out her wishes. Had I done that, I’d have saved us all a lot of heartache.”
We were quiet for a while after that. Rip stared out the window, lost in thought and no doubt enjoying his new freedom. I did what I’d been doing for a solid week—ruminated over my decision to end things with Layla.
When we got close to the city, Rip said, “I couldn’t get a space at the Y in Queens. They were filled up. So I got one at the Bronx Y. You can just drop me wherever you’re going. I’ll grab a train up to the Bronx.”
I’d almost forgotten that I hadn’t told Rip about the arrangements I’d made. “I got you a place.”
“Thanks. But I can’t stay with you. I need to get back on my feet. I have enough money to last me a month or two.”
“Wasn’t inviting you to stay with me,” I teased. “I got you your own place. In Queens. Bottom floor of a two-family house, not too far from where you used to live. First month is free. If you like the place, we can work it out so you do some work around the house and help the other tenant out here and there in exchange for rent.”
“That sounds too good to be true.”
“You haven’t met the other tenant yet…”
Chapter 34
* * *
Layla
“Law & Order is much more interesting,” Etta said. “No offense.”
I laughed. “None taken. Not much goes on in traffic court that’s too exciting.”
The cashier called next, and Etta and I went to the window to pay her fines. The ADA had agreed to drop the driving without a license tickets in exchange for Etta pleading guilty to an unsafe door opening and broken taillight ticket—both hefty fines but not moving violations.
Etta had laid her confused old lady act on so thick, the ADA actually apologized for having to hit her with something. The judge, on the other hand, saw through Etta’s charade and gave her a twenty-minute lecture. I was pretty sure Judge Peterson might be a year or two older than Etta. But it was taken care of, at least.
On our way out of the courthouse, we ran into Travis Burns, an attorney I hadn’t seen in a few years. We stopped to talk, and I introduced Etta.
“You look great,” he said.
“Thanks. So do you. What are you doing in traffic court?”
“Son of a VIP client got a DWI. You?”
I looked to Etta and smiled. “Etta’s a VIP, too.”
After a few minutes of chatting, Travis tilted his head. “Let’s get together soon. Catch up over drinks?”
“Sure. I’d like that.”
Etta wasted no time commenting when we walked away. “He’s a real looker.”
“Travis is a nice guy. Good attorney, too.”
“Damn, Gray is an idiot.”
When I’d picked Etta up this morning, she’d told me Gray had visited the other day and told her about us. She’d said it was none of her business, but thought it was a shame. I’d thought maybe I’d evaded a longer conversation about what had transpired between Gray and me. But it seemed that thought had been premature.
Even though I thought his reason for breaking things off was bullshit, I tried to pretend I understood. “Our timing was just bad,” I said to Etta. “He’s got a lot going on.”
“Excuse my language, but that’s big bullshit. The man has his head up his ass. Life threw him a curveball. I get it. But you don’t stop swinging. You firm up your grip and smack it out of the park.”
We walked down the courthouse steps and headed over to the parking garage. I usually took the train to court in Queens, but I’d wanted to pick Etta up, so I drove.