3

 

Music and the aroma of meat sizzling on the grill filled the air. It looked like the whole block had turned out for a combined graduation and Memorial Day celebration. The Romano’s backyard was mid-block and as such was party central with a half-circle of grills and tables heaped with carry-in dishes. The graduate’s names had been scrawled on large sheet cakes and someone had used strawberries and blueberries to decorate another cake to represent the flag. The whole scene was idyllic Americana.

Cali felt out of place. She hung back at the corner of the house like at any moment someone would call her out as the gatecrasher she felt like rather than a declared guest of honor. She hadn’t anticipated anything like this. Emotion clogged her throat. Near the drink table stood three canvas laundry hampers. One for each graduate. Someone had used bright fabric paint to artfully apply their names. The unique gift baskets held a jumble of essentials they would need to step out on their own. From inexpensive dinnerware for four to bath towels and basic pantry staples, there was a little bit of everything. Each can opener or bottle of ketchup was one thing they wouldn’t need to buy and like gold to her.

The last month had been the longest of her life. She’d spent every hour she could at school or work. The Johnsons hadn’t bought the payroll problem ruse for long and when she’d refused to hand over even her tips, things had gotten nasty. The back of Benny’s hand had left her with a black eye and fat lip. Then she’d earned two broken fingers trying to hold onto her backpack. Desperate, Cali had threatened to call the cops and family services. It was the first time in her ten years with them that she’d played that card, but she hadn’t been bluffing. She was done. Carol had believed her. She’d stepped in and made it clear to her husband that it wasn’t worth losing their foster license over. Benny had kept his hands and dick to himself since.

Tonight would be her last night. She’d promised her foster siblings a trip to the discount movie theater for a double feature and then a blowout slumber party. Tomorrow she’d pack the last of her things and head to her friend, Nat’s, to crash on her floor for a week. First of the month, she’d be moving into an apartment with a young couple looking to rent their spare room out until their baby arrived. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than the streets and gave her some time.

She chewed her lip. Though everything was as ready as she could make it, she couldn’t shake the crawl of unease. She’d discreetly bagged up most of her clothing and her few belongings. They were already safe at Nat’s place in case the shit hit the fan. Since the blowup, Benny had been way too quiet. Carol had been more than civil, almost nice. She’d asked a couple of times about her plans and even tucked a twenty-five-dollar gift card in the graduation card they’d given her. Cali wasn’t sure which worried her more.  

The sound of her name pulled her from worry. Spotting Miss Amy, she returned her smile. She reluctantly moved through the crowd at the woman’s waved summons, pausing long enough to grab a cup of lemonade and a bratwurst.

“It’s a party. Relax.”

Cali smiled sheepishly around a mouthful and mumbled, “Sorry.”

The older woman’s bright smile faded a bit. “What were you thinking about so hard over there?”

“Just going over everything, making sure I haven’t forgotten anything.”

“Have we?” When she didn’t answer Amy continued. “You know you can still call me. I don’t just stop caring because you’re out on your own.”

Licking off her fingers, Cali shrugged. She didn’t want to be rude, but that was never going to happen. Amy had been assigned to help her with aging out of the system and had genuinely seemed to want to help. In Cali’s experience that was a rarity. Like foster parents, most of the case workers were just drawing a paycheck.

“Anyway, this is for you. It’s not much, but it will help you keep track of your work schedule, bills, and even your grocery list.”

Accepting the bright colored organizer that appeared from behind Amy’s back, Cali ran her fingers over it. She flinched when the older woman grabbed her wrist. Her lemonade sloshed.

“What happened?”

Cursing herself for not removing the splint from her fingers, she pulled her arm away. The digits seemed to throb in reminder. Heavy makeup had covered the bruises on her face, but the broken fingers had been a bitch to waitress with. “Just a little accident. I can remove the splint in a few more days.”

The caseworker’s eyes searched her face before darting around the crowd, probably looking for Carol and Benny.

“Is there something I should know?”

Cali bit the inside of her cheek. She still remembered her first days in the system, crying for her druggie mother and just wanting to go home. The bitch at the group home had grabbed her face, pinching her cheeks together. She’d hissed at her to stop her whining, it could get so much worse. Two weeks later she’d been moved to the Johnson’s. It might have been coincidence, but if so it had driven home the point. Things can always get worse. She was getting out, but what would happen when she was gone? Who would fill her bed? Who would take her place?

“I know she’s not your problem, but you should get Mindy out of there. The Johnson’s house isn’t the place for little girls,” she whispered, turning away to look for a napkin.

Amy caught her elbow and bent her head to try and meet her eye. “What does that mean, Cali? Is someone hurting Mindy?”

She jerked free, losing the rest of her drink. “Not yet.”  

Following her back to the food table, Amy refrained from grabbing her this time. Her touch was light. “You can talk to me.”

“I did. Now it’s up to you if you do anything about it,” Cali said, wiping off her hands and the new organizer. Giving the book a lingering touch she tucked it in the hamper with her name on it. “Thanks for this, by the way.”

“You’re welcome. What do you mean by not yet?”

“I mean that so far Daddy Dearest’s prejudice has been stronger than his perversion, but with me gone, who knows?”

“Have you talked to Kent about this?”

Cali rolled her eyes at the mention of her longtime caseworker. When the douchebag stopped in it was to share a drink with Benny. “No one’s going to talk to Kent.”

“We can’t help if we don’t know there’s a problem.”

“I’ve said as much as I’m going to say. If you care, figure it out,” Cali said and walked away to talk to Mrs. Romano.

 

 

Mindy hooked an arm through hers, rolling her eyes at the younger kids, but Cali couldn’t help a grin. The boys danced around them, their shrill voices and laughter floating down the block as they walked. It had been a good night. Going to the movie theater was a rare treat. Two of the boys had never been. She was glad she’d been able to do this for them. The occasional rain drops that had been falling started to pick up. Anticipating the bitching if they all tromped in soaking wet, she slipped her arm free of Mindy’s and grabbed the two closest boys. 

“I’ve got these two. Grab the brothers and let’s make a run for it.”

They ran, laughing and dodging growing puddles. Thunder rolled and the skies opened just as they reached the gate. Waving the boys toward the covered porch Cali shrieked at the cold rain and struggled with the latch before running to join them. Carol looked up from the TV as the giggling herd slipped through the dining room headed for the stairs.

“Don’t you dare leave those wet clothes all over the floor,” she snapped, bloodshot eyes swinging accusingly in Cali’s direction.

“All of you get upstairs, strip and put the wet clothes in a basket. Get in your pajamas if you want to have a slumber party,” Cali ordered. “Don’t worry. I’ve got it,” she told Carol.

Jogging up the steps to make sure her directions were followed she heard Mindy ask, “What’re you doing?”

She sounded scared. Taking the rest of the stairs two at a time she flew down the hallway. Mindy was huddled against the wall across from their room. When Cali reached the doorway, she saw why. Benny stood in the center of chaos, his face red, and chest heaving. Bedding had been tossed and the mattresses were off their bed frames. The locks on both foot lockers were busted. Drawers had been pulled out of the dressers and the contents were strewn around the room.

Stepping through the doorway Cali squatted to pick up the wooden box she kept on the dresser for her jewelry and keepsakes. The hinges were bent and the false bottom was smashed. Gathering up the earrings, newspaper clippings, and odds and ends that had been in the box, she ground her teeth.   

“What in the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped, surging to her feet.

“I found your little hiding place. Do you think I’m stupid?”

She wanted to laugh at his sneer and tell him what a knuckle-dragging moron she thought he was. The tattered envelope he waved contained less than thirty dollars in small bills. She’d kept it in the box for those times she needed a couple of bucks and to give anyone searching something to find so they’d quit looking. Her shadow box stash was already safely tucked away. Playing his game, she tried to snatch the envelope from his hand. It surprised both of them when she succeeded.

“Give me that, you little bitch!”

Dodging his initial lunge, she ran. Her shoulder glanced off the door jamb making her stumble down the hall. She barely avoided Tyler, spinning around him as he stepped out of the boy’s room.  

“Cali!”

Mindy’s scream came a second before Benny’s fist snagged in her hair. Her momentum carried them to the top of the stairs and her back smashed against the railing. He spun her around and his knee caught her awkwardly in the chest. Hunching over in pain proved an advantage and she took it. She went for the low blow. A gurgling groan slipped from the man’s lips and he hit his knees groping for his junk. Strands of her long red hair stayed in his fist as she yanked free. Staggering back a step she flailed her arms for balance. She fell, tumbling heels over head down the stairs.

Hitting the bottom, she crashed into Carol like a bowling ball, bringing the larger woman down on top of her. Air left her lungs in a rush. Cali shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. She could hear Tyler crying in the upstairs hallway. Carol stirred, rolling off of her with a groan. Crawling a few feet, Cali clutched at a dining room chair.

“Cali, run!”

The fear in Mindy’s voice spurred her into motion. Pushing to her feet, she ran. Afraid to waste time fighting with the gate, she vaulted over it. The gymnastics coach at the community center would’ve loved the landing.

“You’re dead, bitch!”

Benny’s bellow made her run faster. Driving rain stung her bare skin and made her jeans heavy. She tried to slow her breathing, to control it like they’d taught her in track, but panic made it difficult. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. Nearing the corner, she glanced back over her shoulder. The glare of headlights made her jerk her head back around. For a moment, she was blinded.  Swerving, she stumbled off the curb, barely catching herself on the side of the car as it skidded to a stop. The driver cursed her, but she spun around the back of the vehicle and kept running.

Thunder rolled ominously and lightning streaked the sky. The wind drove the rain in horizontal sheets making her stumble blindly. Three or four blocks down, she slowed and pressed a hand to her aching ribs. Walking backward she searched the shadows and strained her ears. The flashes of lightening revealed no sign of Benny. She let out her breath. Soggy paper brushed her cheek as she pushed hair out of her face. She looked at the crumpled envelope in surprise. Her fingers were stiff as she forced her hand open. Tucking the cash in her purse that still hung cross-body, she glanced around. She hadn’t run with a plan, just ran. Clutching her thin flannel closed, she searched her mind for options.

Nat would be at work and her mom would be watching the babies. If she wanted to flop there tonight she’d have to figure out another way to get there. If Lucky was home, and not otherwise engaged, he might let her in, but the other guys that crashed there scared the hell out her. The Romano’s probably would’ve let her in, but that meant going back. Besides, that would put them at odds with Benny and he wasn’t the most charming neighbor to begin with. No, her best bet was to circle back to the bus stop, head for Nat’s and hope her mom would let her in.

Approaching the corner, she checked the street name and nodded to herself. She took a little hop, prepared to dash across but something about the approaching headlights gave her pause. Stepping back from the corner, she waited. A shiver rolled down her spine as the streetlights revealed a champagne colored mini-van. There were millions of them, dozens just in their neighborhood. She took another step back, trying to blend in with the overgrown hedge behind her. The van slowed at the intersection. Lightning flashed and she looked right into Benny’s eyes.

The worn tires slid on the wet asphalt. The reverse lights came on and Cali turned and ran again. Hearing the squeal of slipping belts she knew he’d made the turn. She cursed under her breath. Why was he doing this? She turned into an alley that ran behind the houses to give people access to their backyards and garages. Headlight beams made her shadow stretch eerily out in front of her.  Her purse bumped wildly against her hip and she wished she hadn’t grabbed the envelope. If she hadn’t, maybe he didn’t chase her and she didn’t tag him in the nuts. It was an awful lot of maybes and wishing that didn’t make a damn bit of difference right now.

He gunned the engine, pulling up beside her. The windshield wipers slapped furiously, fighting the deluge of rain coming down. She screamed as he swerved at her but she cut hard behind him, crossing to the other side of the alley. Putting on a burst of speed she shot toward the next cross street. Trash cans crashed behind her, one almost taking out her legs. She stumbled around the corner, catching her balance on a wooden privacy fence. Pain sliced through her as her bare feet found broken glass. Wincing and limping, she reached down and tried to brush the slivers away. She could hear Benny cursing, but didn’t look back to see if he’d gotten out of the van.

The wall of garage doors and fence on either side felt like a tunnel. Tires barked behind her. She wasn’t going to be able to outrun him. She needed to hide. A loose board banged in the wind. Cali glanced over her shoulder and made a dash for it. Bending her knees, she squeezed through the opening, the weathered wood snagging her hair and flannel shirt. Giving a yank she fell through, splashing in a puddle on the other side.

Stumbling to her feet, she wiped mud off her face with her shoulder. Something snapped a couple of feet from her and she gave a startled yelp. Jagged lightning streaked the sky, striking so close every hair on her body stood on end. Mother Nature’s light show highlighted a blue tarp billowing and snapping in the gusting wind. Hearing the squeal of the van again, she scrambled under the edge of the tarp.

Peeking out, she could see the glare of the headlights between the boards. Heart beating wildly, she held her breath as the van bounced and splashed through deep potholes on the other side of the fence, creeping by. She didn’t let out her breath until the glow of the taillights was gone. Slumping, she leaned back against the vehicle she was sharing the tarp with. Her knees shook, threatening to give out, and her bleeding feet burned.

Holding one hand against her aching ribs she rubbed her forehead with the other. Between the pounding rain, howling wind and the sharp snap of the flapping tarp, she couldn’t hear herself think. She needed to get her shit together and figure out what she was going to do. Sliding down the side of the vehicle, she followed it deeper under the tarp. If she just rested for a bit maybe the rain would let up. The ground under her feet was still wet and muddy. She turned to the truck behind her. If she could crawl into the bed, at least she wouldn’t be sitting in mud. Her hands slid up the side to find soft vinyl. Frowning she continued to pat, trying to picture what she was feeling. Then it dawned on her, a Jeep.                 

Still feeling her way, Cali bit her bottom lip. She was cold and wet. She just wanted to sit down and take a look at her feet. On the other hand, she was wet, muddy and bleeding. She didn’t want to trash the interior of someone’s vehicle. Her fingers found the zipper for the back window. She hesitated. Shaking her head, she stepped up on the back bumper and slid into the back. Closing the flap behind her, she dug in her purse for the tiny flashlight on her key ring.

Her hands shook so badly it took her a couple of minutes to find it. Finally, the bright LED lit her surroundings. Thankfully, the seats were sturdy black vinyl that she wasn’t going to do any damage to. A flash of something orange caught her eye and she tugged a Chicago Bears stadium blanket out from under the seat. Still in its clear plastic case, the fleece blanket looked like a God send. The wind gusted, actually rocking the Jeep slightly. Cali shivered. Climbing over the back, she settled in the seat.    

Shrugging out of her flannel, she shook out the blanket and wrapped it around her bare shoulders. The ribbed tank top was wet too, but this would have to do. Resting the small flashlight on the seat she cradled one of her feet in the flannel. She winced as she carefully wiped away blood, watching for the glint of glass slivers. Trying to pick out splinters with trembling dirty fingers didn’t prove to be easy. When her teeth started to chatter she wasn’t sure if it was from the chill or nerves. Giving up for now, she cocooned in the plush throw and curled up on the seat.