Chapter 8
Lily
The second Faith pulls into the driveway, Grace bursts out of the front door. It's like she was waiting for us.
"Hey?" Faith says with a lilt in her voice as she climbs out of the driver's seat and trudges up the driveway. "Everything okay?"
Dread tackles me as I inch up the path behind her. I’ve spent the past few days helping out at the community center where she works. I figured that since I had nothing better to do, I might as well volunteer my time. So, I’ve been helping with some scanning and copying she needs done while I continue my mission to ignore the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing with my life. After another long and uneventful day, she’s dropping me off.
Grace's eyes are wide with panic and they're set on me. "I tried calling you," she screeches, "Why didn't you answer your phone?"
"Uh, it didn't ring." I pull it out of my suede satchel and poke at the screen. Why doesn't it work? It was fine this morning. I don't know what hap— "Son of a bitch!" Asshat-in-Chief disconnected it.
"Some tow truck showed up," she shrieks. "I tried to stop them but they took your car away. I didn't know what to do."
My gaze darts over to the spot where my BMW was parked when I left this morning. Sure enough, it's gone. Trevor really is being a cunt right now. What did I ever see in that guy?
Yes, he was paying my way as I waded through unpaid internship purgatory at the fashion blog. But he didn't seem to have a problem with that before he knocked me up. Now, instead trying to accommodate my needs and those of our little fetus, he's going out of his way to spite me. Like he thinks I got pregnant on purpose, to trap him or something.
What a fucking loser!
I sigh as I trudge past Grace, climbing the stairs and entering the house. "I hate you so much, Trevor Black," I whisper under my breath. I hear my sisters’ footsteps following me to the kitchen. I drop heavily into a chair, pregnancy fatigue kicking my ass.
"Okay, this –-" Grace gestures manically at me "—is not the appropriate response. I just told you that someone towed your car and you're sitting here like you're ready for tea and biscuits. What are you gonna do?" She and Faith stand in front of me with worry creasing their faces.
I wave them off. "I know who took the car. Freaking Trevor, my immature, small-dicked ex-boyfriend. The car is in his name and he's the one making the payments so I guess he can do whatever he wants with it."
Faith narrows her eyes. "So, it isn't your car?"
"Technically, it is. He bought it for me." I feel defensive all of a sudden.
Grace's fists sit on her hips. "I don't care whose car it is technically. Whose car is it, legally?"
I swallow hard. I see her point. "Uh..."
Her facial expression slowly morphs from concern to something else. Indignation, maybe.
"So, you’re telling me that you left Philadelphia in a stolen car? You showed up at my house in that stolen car? You parked that stolen car in my driveway for four days?" Her face is red with anger and her voice is tight from trying to suppress it.
Faith steps in between us. "Gracie, you’re gonna need to calm down."
Grace shoots her a look. "What if the police had shown up? My baby lives here. What if they had tried to arrest me? What would have happened to Sebastian?"
"You're being a touch melodramatic, hun." Faith rests a hand on our sister's shoulder.
She shrugs out of Faith’s reach. "I'm not being melodramatic." Her eyes pin me in place. "I don't even know you."
That one sentence...That one sentence...
Grace spins on her heel and stomps out of the room. My heart cracks open and tears pour down my face. My chest heaves and ugly-cry sounds bellow past my lips. I bury my face in my hands.
My whole life, I've heard about these two sisters I have. I've wondered about them. I've imagined what their lives were like. I pictured being with them. Now, I'm finally here with them and I'm fucking up hardcore. Why can't I ever just fit in? Why am I always a burden on the people I love the most? It was ridiculous of me to think that I could just show up here and they'd embrace me with open arms, like I'm one of them. My mother broke up their parents' marriage. How could I expect them to just take me in?
Faith drops to her knees in front of me and wraps her arms around my shaking back. "Don't cry," she whispers. "It's not good for the baby."
I nod, trying to hold myself together.
"I don't know what's gotten into Gracie. She isn't usually like this. I'd bet that she and Daniel had another fight."
Daniel. That's Grace's husband. From what I understand, they got separated a few months ago and it really doesn't look like they're getting back together. But they have a child to look after so every time Daniel comes to pick Sebastian up, they fight.
Faith stands and turns toward the stairs. "I'm gonna go talk to her. Knowing her, she already feels bad about the things she said to you."
I give her a weak smile and watch as she heads to Grace's bedroom.
Fuck, Lily. You just don't fit in anywhere, do you?
I've already outstayed my welcome. And I clearly have nowhere to go and no money to get there. Maybe I should just accept defeat and call my mom to come pick me up. I reach into my satchel for my phone. Oh right, Trevor disconnected my phone. With a heavy breath, I push it back into my bag. My fingers brush up against a piece of paper. I pull it out and unfold it.
My eyes scan the words on the crumpled page. Live-In Caregiver Wanted. Call 555 7878.
Maybe...maybe this is just the opportunity I need.
I grab the landline off of the table and punch in the number. I hold my breath as it rings.