McKenna

I DRIVE PAST the Jade without turning my head. Barreling down the Strip with so many others, I stop at traffic lights and move forward when they turn green. Visitors mix with locals on the streets, but I don’t pay them any attention.

Driving past one of the “Welcome to Las Vegas” signs, I turn left and then hang a right. Before I know it, I’m at the cemetery. Leaving the air conditioner on, I stare blankly forward.

Peggy Laswell’s parting words to me ring true. “Thanks for your time, Ms. James. We’ll take everything you’ve said under advisement and get back to you by tomorrow as to whether your candidacy will be continued. I have to say that I, for one, am sorry your story came out this way and put such a big, black mark on you. We’ll be in touch.”

If only I didn’t need the positive press—and money—from the national competition so badly, I’d tell her where she could shove that big black mark.

I only want to help Mom. I smack the steering wheel. Is that too much to ask?

My anger is replaced by tears of frustration. Exiting my car, I take faster and faster steps on my way to the grave, clear away some leaves and fall to my knees in front of his tombstone. “I know I promised you, Daddy, that I’d take care of Mom and never put her into a nursing home. I’ll keep my vow, somehow, even if I don’t make it into the national competition.” Tears drip onto my skirt-covered legs.

“Get a grip,” I admonish myself while playing with the green in my hair. Somehow the color of sickness felt right today. “Everything’s on me. Like always. If the Project decides to go with someone else, I need a backup plan.”

“If.” I shake my head. “Ha!” I have no doubts in my mind at all that the board has already tossed my presentation into the circular file and have contacted the runner-up.

I take a deep breath and try to remember the name of the newest casino that’s being put up. Maybe I can call and get into their management before someone else scoops up the graphic design contract. Assuming, of course, they didn’t see the article and think I’m a murderess. I trace Daddy’s name in the granite. Matt is ruining my life without even having to break the restraining order I got against him.

“It’s all on you, McKenna. You need to figure this out. No one is going to come to your rescue,” I say aloud to no one.

The one and only time someone came to my rescue, Daddy ended up here.

I close my eyes as pain washes over me. If only he were with me right now. He would tell me to “Buck up, buckaroo. Things are never as bad as you think they are. Just remember to tell the truth and goodness will win out.”

My eyes pop open. I forgot to tell the board that I recently got the restraining order against Matt. This has to be considered evidence that I wasn’t in on the crime with him! Placing a kiss on the marker, I say, “Thank you, Daddy.”

Feeling like everything could work out for the first time in weeks, I blurt, “I can do this. I’m going to take care of Mom.” Standing, I tuck my hair behind my ear. “After I get this sorted out with the board, I’m going to talk with Ozzy. I’ve mucked things up with him, but he’s a fantastic guy, and I need to come clean to him. About everything. I want to live again. You’d want that for me.”

Soon, I pull into the back of the Project’s office. Determined to share what I forgot to tell the board earlier, I park and enter through the backway.

The door to the conference room stands ajar. I hope they haven’t left yet. Crossing the hall, I stop before getting to the threshold when Ozzy’s voice reaches my ears.

Ozzy? What’s he doing here? My heart skips a beat. I shove my fist into my mouth and lean in, careful to keep my body out of sight.

Ozzy stands with his feet planted wide, hands on his trim hips, his words running together. “We all know she owns this competition. But she also owns my heart. I’ve never met a more kind, giving and optimistic woman. She showed me I was a self-centered asshole, too caught up in my own shit to see what was going on right in front of me. And you need her to do that for you. You need to get out of your own way and let her soar. Because believe me, you will gain national acclaim if you let her submission move forward. Not only that, but her work has the potential to change the lives of so many people, the same way it did for me.”

I squeak. Everyone turns and looks at the open door.