Chapter 12

Animal

I understood Merck knew how to drive like a wild man, but the ride to T’s foster mother’s house really highlighted that he was like a stunt guy in a movie.

Despite my concern for T, Merck and I grinned at each other when he spun the car around a turn so quickly he left rubber.

My smile was wiped away the second I saw what was going on at T’s place.

Now she was standing in her nightgown with bare feet on the front lawn.

Her small, pretty foster mom was holding a thick afghan and shaking her head.

The trouble with T’s foster was that the woman was great. She wanted the doors locked at night for safety, not to cage T in, I was betting. I knew that the kids in her care had a good deal. They wore new clothes to school and had fresh haircuts. It was a primo gig to get. I knew Merck had pushed and pulled to get T there. He’d told me about it before the movie.

Maybe if T’s foster had been a horrible person it would have been easier.

But T only loved once. And if she were starting to feel disloyal to her real mom, she would tap out. Freak out. Misbehave on purpose—it seemed.

Taking in the fact that she was still dealing with getting attacked under the bridge in her head—probably, and my girl would be fit to be tied.

Her hair was a mess. Her lips were blue. She was visibly so, so cold.

She wouldn’t talk. All she would do was fight. There was a social worker standing in the driveway filling out paperwork like he was anywhere in the world. A straight jacket on the grass, discarded.

Merck spared me a glance. “Stay here.”

“No.” I got out of the car the same time he did.

As we approached, the social worker was noticeably ticking off boxes. “So, you said she wouldn’t take more of her meds?”

The foster mom gave the social worker a dirty look. “Can we do this later? I’d like to just get her inside. It’s freezing.”

The woman cared. Which was good, because T had only been in her house a short while.

T positioned her body so her back was to empty space. She didn’t want to be surrounded.

“What meds are we talking about?” Merck didn’t bother to introduce himself. T knew him from my relationship with the cop.

The foster mom hugged the blanket. “Antidepressants. For the selective mutism.”

I looked at T and she met my gaze. Medication. T was flashing to her mom, I was sure of it. Obviously, for her she was totally able to talk. She didn’t need the drugs.

I walked over to the foster mom. “Ma’am? Can I have this?”

She looked me up and down and then looked to Merck. He nodded.

I grabbed the blanket. “Thanks.”

After spreading the afghan like wings looking for an angel, I walked to T.

I wrapped her up. She put her cold forehead against the base of my neck.

I kissed the top of her messy head. “T, what’s going on? Just come with me. Okay?”

Just like the night under the bridge, I lifted her into my arms. I nodded at the car, and Merck jogged over and opened the back door. I leaned down and put T inside.

The social worker began shaking his head, with his mouth moving from one side to the other.

T was safe with me, and I’d do anything to keep it that way.

Merck began doing what he did best, soothing complicated situations so that the people involved could get through the night.

I slid in next to T. She was zoning out. Maybe she was allergic to what they had given her? Meds were tough. The correct combination really helped some kids. I watched how right they were when it happened. But getting the dosage correct, and the type correct was trial and error. And I was looking at an error right now with big brown eyes and a stubborn streak.

“You know, your mom would want you happy, if she had it all together. That’s how I hear moms are. This is a nice lady you’re with.”

I watched as she fumed at me. “Are you kidding? Right now?” she whispered so the adults wouldn’t hear. And even though she was mad at me, I put my arm up so no one could see her mouth moving.

“Maybe drop the not talking thing?” I offered.

She shook her head and pinched her eyebrows together. “I have one mother.”

Merck headed in our direction. I glanced at him, and he acknowledged me. A resolution had been reached, and I knew T wouldn’t be happy with it just by the way he had his shoulders set.

Animal

That night the foster mom agreed to let T keep her window open if she would come inside the house. The little girl with the asthma would sleep on the floor in the master bedroom tonight. T got out of the other side of the car, so I couldn’t stop her. She was leaving too quickly. I didn’t get to tell her that I understood and it was just a suggestion. I’d support her.

Instead, she walked back in the front door of the foster home like she hadn’t been losing it on the front lawn at all.

I knew she was sneaking out as soon as she could. She was done with a capital D. Merck and I rolled out after the social worker had finished his paperwork.

Merck scratched his jaw lightly when we were finally rolling back to the home. “I feel like that was too easy.”

“It was. T’s not likely to stay put.”  I already knew I’d sneak out as well and try to intercept her.

I heard Merck sigh. “Yeah, I’ll tell the guys to look out for her. It’s really cold, and I don’t trust that she would be able to stay warm.”

“What are the odds that we could get T into a place like I’m in? Do they have one for girls?” I was trying to think if I’d ever heard of something similar.

“They do, but it’s not in the same school district. I know you guys are close, so I was shying away from that option. I mean, that foster mom is really fantastic. She’d be great with T. She is great with T.” Merck swung the car around the circular driveway to sign me back in.

“Yeah, I appreciate that. I’ll mention it to her, maybe. Thanks for everything.”  I got out of the car the same time Merck did, and we slammed our doors in unison.

He patted me on the back after I was signed in, and I thanked him for the trip. I jogged up the back steps to my unit.

I was out the window minutes after headcount. I was good at shimmying down the latticework that normally propped up ivy in the spring. I could pop locks. Maybe that’s what I had to teach T about escaping. If she knew how to get out of anywhere, no door would ever really be closed for her.

I was hustling to the neighborhood where T was, and I knew it would take a while when a lowered Monte Carlo flashed by me down the road, illuminated by the light post I was walking underneath.

I knew I was screwed when it slowed down and reverse lights came on.

I turned to the woods and headed for them. Another car came up behind me and skidded to a halt. The Monte Carlo had company, and so did I.

T

I was able to get my clothes from the laundry room after everyone was asleep. I had a warm jacket on and my mother’s hospital bracelet. Nothing else I had mattered. I knew Marybeth, the foster mom, was a light sleeper, but I’d tuckered her out with worry. I still made sure to be extra quiet.

I was done. I didn’t want to leave, but too many adults around me were involved and official. My fine art of staying under the radar was blown. And this foster cared too much. She’d make sure I had a place to stay—even if it wasn’t here. I could sense she played the long game. Part of my traitorous heart wanted to lean into the welcome. The caring. The dedication.

But I shook it off. I hadn’t taken the next dose of the meds, so I was hoping my head would clear soon.

I had to leave Midville, and it killed me. I would have to treat this town like I was a wanted criminal here. The scars around my determination flared up. I would miss seeing my mom from a distance. I would pine for Animal’s understanding.

The only option I had was to become a missing person. Fade from memory. Become a girl that used to be. It would be best if I didn’t see Animal again, but my feet seemed pre-programmed to head in his direction. I pulled my hood up and took off into the night without looking back.